New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-02
Correspondence OF the Weekly Cincinnati Times
washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, December 20.
The only relic of tho past century left IL
the United States Senate is
/ SIMON CAMERON,
OF Pennsylvania. He was born in Lancaster
county, in that Stale, March 8, 1899. His
official term expires the 4th of March next
when he will lack but four DAYS of being
seventy-four years Of age. Yet there are
several Senators who are older-looking men
than Senator Cameron. His hair is white
and has been for many years, but the quality
OF cheertulncSs has been well cultivated. and
does not torsake him now. The Senator is
by no means in his dotagc, but is evidently
good for several years of active business life
yet. The Congressional Directory tells US
that Mr.. Cameron, at an early day, "learned
the art of printing, worked as journcyman
in this city, and cftorward edited newspa.
pers at Doylestown and Harrisburg; after
ward became interested in important banking
and railroad interests, and served as Adiu-
tant General of Pennsylvania; was Secretary
OF War in 1861, organizing the Union armies
and initiating the arrning of colored men he
resigned when appointed Minister Plenipo-
Tertiary to Russia IN 1862; was elected to the
United States Senate in 1915; serving until
la49, and was reelected in 1857 for the term
ending in 1868, but resigned in 1861; was
again reelected as Union Republican to
succeed Edgar Cowan, Democrat, and took
his seat in 1867"
Among tho Senators who come nearest in
age TO Mr.. Cameron are George Vickers, of
Mary land, born November 10, 1901 William
Gannaway Drownlow, of Tennessee, born
August 20, 1905, and J. w. Flanagan, of
Texas. born September I, 1906. The term
OF Vickors expires in March next, and of
Brownlow and Flanagan in 1875.
The youngest member of the Senate is
Spencer, of Alabana, and next to him, o.
born, of Florida.
George Z. Spencer, Of Decatur, Alabama,
was born in Jefferson county, n. Y, No
vember l, 1886, and was consequently thirty
six years old IN November last. He was ed
ucated at Montreal College, in Canada; was
admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1857; was
Secretary Of the Iowa Senate in 1856; en-
tered the army as Captain, Assistant Adju-
tant General Of Volunteers, in 1852; re-
cruited and raised the First Alabama Caval-
ry, United States Volunteers, in 1863; CON-
manded brigade Of cavalry on Sherman's
grand march; was brevetted Brigadier-Gen-
eral tor gallantry on the field; resigned his
position in the army July 4, 1865; was ap-
pointed Register in Bankruptcy for the Fourth
District Of Alabama in May, 1867; was
elected to the United States Senate as Re-
publican, and took his seat July 25, 1868.
Thomas w. Osborn, Of Pensacola, Florida,
was born at Scotch Plains, New Jersey,
March 9, 1876, and was thrty-six years old
last March. He served meritoriously in the
Cnon army during the war as Captain and
Colonel; was Chief Of Artillery in the Army
OF the Tennessee; member Of the Corsti- |
tutional Convention under the reconstruction
acts; and was elected to the United States
Senate as Republican, and took his seat
June 80, 1868.
The Oldest member IN the House of Rep
-
ELI PERRY,
of Albany, Ncw York He uis ssza in
Washington county, y Nv York, December |
18th, 1902; received common school edu |
cation until be was thrown upon his own |
resources at fifteen years of age; commenced |
business at twenty-ene years of age as |
dealer In provisions, and continued it for !
twentE-flve years; was;eleetsd A laessnas .ssr !
tAreA scars, and afterward q member of She.
uen> Assembly Of the State of Now York:
in 1851 was elected Mayor of Albany, which
office he held by reflections twelve years.
and was elected to the Forty-second Congress
as Democrat, receiving II TIC votes, AGAINST
1926 votes for Harden, Republican
CAKES AMEs,
of Massachusetts, is next in wears to Mr..
Perry. He was born at Easton, Massachu-
sets, January 10, 1904; received public
school education; was engaged largely in
railroads and manufactures; was elected
member of tho Executive Council of Massa-
chusetts in 1860 and 1861; was elected to the
Thirty-eighth, Thirty ninth, Fortieth, end
Forty-first Congress, and reelected to the
Forty-second Congress.
The youngest member in the House is
JOSIAH II. WALLS,
the Representative from Florida. He was
born at Winchester, Virginia, December
30th, 1912. Received a common school edu-
cation, is planter, was elected member of
the State Constitutional Convention in 1868;
was elected a member OF the House of Rep
resentatiyes of the State Legislature in 1868;
after serving one year was elected to the
State Senate for four years in 1869, and was
elected to the Forty-second Congress as q
Republican by less than l, 900 majority.