Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-02-10
PennsylEania's Candidate for the
Presidency

FECSIuCHCye
The following brief sketch outlines tho life
of Que whose steady, manly and forward course
has clustered about him thousands of devoted
friends. 1t is striking commentary upon our
republican institutions. 1t marks the upward
advance of poor, friendleSs, earnest boy to
position to be coveted by the noblest and
proudest in our land. 1t tells its own story
A life like that here SO succinctly detailed,
speaks many words of good cheer to him who
is struggling onward in his honest poverty
Energy, integrity and intellect here bave the'T
reward-sueh qualities cannot but succeed
To every young man dependent upon his own
resources for success, this sketch has its own
message. 1t is the plain lesson of what may
be won and accomplished when high purposes
rule the heart and conduct For here Is tue
illustration OF the power of strong and faith
full mans efforts to lift himself up from penury
aud obscurity to wealth and honor. To the
patient aud the toiling such life has It's own,
teaching of hope and advancement. Add this
little history is but glance at the career of
him who, always true hearted, has won the
proud title of ''the poor mans friend and
Peunsylvapia's champion Of the rights of lar
Dor p
Gen. mon Cameron was born in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania. Reverses and misfor,
tunes iu his fathers family cast him very earl5
in life - the world, to shape and carve out his
own fortune. After having removed to Sum
bury in Northumberland Co., his father Gied
while Simon was yet boy. In 1917 he can't
to Harrisburg and bound himself as an appren-
tice to the printing business, to James Pea
cock, Esq, who is still resident of HarIisy
burg, and one of our most worthy and respect-
ed citizens During this time he won the re-
gard and esteem of Mr.. Peacock aud ali bis
! fellow workmen by his correct department, his
industry, intelligence and faithfulness. His
days were devoted to labor and his nights to
study Having completed his apprenticeship,
he went to Washington city, and was employed
as a iourneyman printer on the National ln-
teIligepcer, under Gales & Seaton, between
whom and Gen. Cameron there sprung up a
! friendship that has continued till the present
dag. When elected to the y. States Senate
es Democrat, he always voted for ,Lese gen-
/ t!emen as printers to the Senate, even against
candidates of his own party. Returning to
| Harrisburg, he purchased an interest in the
! Pa. IuteIigeneer, and thus within two years
Of the termination of his apprenticeship be was
part proprietor and editor of the paper upon
! which be had learned his trade, and the lead
ing Democratic journal in the State.
And whoever will examine the editorials of
that paper, written more than thirty years ago,
by Gen. Cameron cannot fail to discover a
marked degree of ability and sagacity display
ed by the young editor. His furtune whatever
it may be, is the result of bis industry and IN
aided enterprise; for except loan of $40Q
when he began business, from q relative, him.
self comparatively poor, he never had any Pc
cuniary assistance from any one. That rels-
tive still lives, very aged man, whom Ger.
Cameron has for more than 40 years visited
annually, duty.
In 1894, though scarcely Of competent age
be bad attained such position and infuenae
that his party, then in the ascendency in tie
Congressional district, proposed to nominae
him for Congress, an honor which he promptly
declined, as interfering with the enterprise u
which he was then engaged. He was appon-
ted Adjutant General of the State in 1928, 40
OuiCS WuiSu uS uliOO Ci0OlaOA1 wv
Shultz's term And in 1881, unsolicited, he
was appointed by Gen. Jackson, as a visitor to
West Point, compliment, at that time, tsn-
! dered only to the most prominent citizens.
To no single man within her borders is Pean-
sylvania more indebted for her great systems
of public Improvement and public instruction.
Through his paper, and by his personal eter-
, tions and influence, he sustained and encdnra-
ged these great means of wealth and progress.
Nor did he hesitate to invest his own mans,
when prosperity aud fortune dawned upon him,
, in enterprises of great public Importance. La
1884 he originated and carried to successful
,onpIetiou. the Harrisburg, Mount Joy and
f Lancaster Railroad, surmounting difficulties
and preiudices which would have appalled, and
lparaiyzed man of ordinary energy and de-
termination. La 1888 be was nominated tor
, Congress, but declined He was engaged Id
public enterprises from which no woultnot
permit himself to be drawn aside, bT any Fon-
siderations of Office or personal elevation In
1851 hs was mainly instrumental in the fSfrna-
ton of the Susquehanra Railroad ComPlny,
now consolidated With the Northers CsLfrai
Railway, by which tho Capital of the State,
and all our improvements with those oi tue
State of New York There was still aa1ther
! link wanting TO form a,direct and continuous
Railroad from this point to New York ,'ty,
the great commercial metropolis of the Unon.
Gen. Cameron's practical mind soon suggested
the mode aud manner OF supplying this Sint'
and the Lebanon Valley Railroad ComiaDy
was organized and that Road built, and low
consolidated with the Philadelphia and L ad-
. ing Railroad.
In 1882 Gen. Cameron was elected CASHIER
of the Middletown Bank, q position which he
held for twenty seven consecutive years DO
g that about the year 1854, he was at che SINE
time President of the Susquehsnna Railprad
lCompany, President of the Commonwealth