The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-05-13
From the New York Post.
The Washburn Family.

J The election of Governor Wash
burn, of Massachusetts,, to the United
States Senate, has given rise to many
laughable errors in relation to the
"Washburn family" who have be-
come SO famous for their success In
public life.
One of the most remarkable of them
is the fact that Frank Leslie's Illus
trated Weekly prints picture entitled
William b. Washburn, Governor of
Massachusetts, and u. S. Senator elect
to fill the unexpired term of the late
Senator Sumner-from a photograph
by Balch, which is not likeness of
Governor William B. Washburn; but
is likeness of Ex-Governor Emory
Washburn, now a professor in the
Harvard Law School, and was taken
many years ago. But this is not more
droll than the mistake of two Mich
iean newspapers, one OF which asserts
that the new Senator was Minister
to France, where he remained during
the memorable Franco-Prussian war
and upon his return to this country
was elected Governor of his State
and the other points. out that this
statement was the result of ignorance,
but at the same time makes the equal
ly absurd assertion that he was the
oldest consecutive member of Cun-
gress when Grant made him Secretary
o; State on the death of William III.
Seward There has been nothing
equal to this since the confusion of
the London paper which describes
the hanging of ''Dr. Daniel Webster,
the distinguished lexicographer and
statesman, for the murder of Prof.
Park ham,
These curious errors justify the
statement of few facts concerning
the "Washburn family" Senator
William B. Washburn is not brother
of the Maine members of the family,
although We believe that he is dis
tantly related to them. lie has always
lived in Massachusetts, was graduated
at Yale College. and was a member of
the Thirty eighth and the Thirty-ninth
Congress. Mr.. Henry ID. Washburn
has been also enormously classed with
the "Washburn brothers" He was
born in Vermont, removed to Indiana
in early life, and was member of the
Thirty Congress.
The "Washburn brothers" were ma
tives of Maine, and, as the saying
used to be in that State, took to poll
itics as naturally as ducks do to water"
Three Of them We're in Congress at
one time, namely: First, Elihu B.,
who represented the Galena, Illinois,
district, in the Thirty third, Thirty
fourth. Thirty fifth, Thirty sixth.
Thirty-seventh. Thirty y-eighth, and
Thirty ninth Congresses. He is the
only member of the family who uses
the final e in his name. He is now,
and has been for several years, Minis
ter to France. Second, Israel, who
represented the Bangor, Maine, dis
trict, in the Thirty second. Thirty
third, Thirty fourth, Thirty. fifth, and
Thirty y-sixth Congresses. He is now
Collector of the port of Portland.
Third, Cadwallader c., who represent
ed the Lacrosse, Wisconsin, district,
in the Thirty-fourth, Thirty fifth,
Thirty sixth and Forticth Congresses
He was elected Governor of Wiscon-
sin in 1871, but was defeated for re-
election last year, and is now living in
retirement. Besides these, there were
three or more brothers who have been
more or less known in public life,
namely: William D. Washburn, now
of Minnesota, (the youngest brother,
we believe) who has held some local
Office, and expects to be member of
Congress if Ignacius Donnelly ever
ceases to hate him; another, Charles
A. Washburn, who at one time was the
editor of political newspaper in Cal.
ifornia, and recently was our Minister
Resident in Paraguay; and still an
other, who has been prominent
banker in the city Of Hallowell,
Maine. Er
So far as 'the returns have been
received" this is summary of the
result. There may be several States
yet to hear from.