The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-01
The WaShburn Family.

The election of Governor Washburn, of
Massachusetts,, to the United States Senate,
has given rise to many laughable errors in re-
la.ion to the ''Washburn family" who have
become so famous Tor their success in public
life.
One of the most remarkable of them is the
fact that Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly
prints picture entitled civilian B. Wash
burn, Governor of Massachusetts and United
States Senator elect to fill the unexpired term
of the late Senator Sumner-from photo
graph by Bach," which is not likeness of
Governor William B. Washburn, but is
likeness of Ex Governor Emory Washburn,
now Professor in the Harvard Law School,
and was taken many years ago. But this Is
not more droll than the mistake OF two Mich
igan 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 to the governorship
of his state;" aud the other points out that
this statement was the result of ignorance,
but at the same time makes the equally alb
surd assertion that he Twas the oldest con-
secutive member OF Congress when Grant
made him Secretary Of State on the death of
William Fl. Seward" There has been moth
ing equal to this since the confusion of the
London paper which described the hanging
OI LII. Ddulcl WCUStCi, tuC
photographer and statesman, for the murder
of Professor Parkman."
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 Distant
ly rela.ed to them. He has always lived in
Massachusetts, was graduated at ale College,
and was member Of the Thirty-e.ghth and
rr,r-. Mr. N
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
ninth Congress.
The "Washburn brothers, were natives of
Maine, and, as the saying used to be in that
State, ''took to politics as naturally as ducks
do to water" Three of them were in Con-
gress at one time, namely: First, Elihu B.,
who represented the Galena, Illinois, dis
tr!ct in the Thrty-thrd, Thirty-fourth, Thir-
ty. fifth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, Thirty
ninth Congresses. He is the only member
of the family who uses the final in his
name. He is now, and has been for several
wears Minister to France. Second, Israel.
who represented the Bangor, Maine, district.
in the Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty
fourth, Thirty fifth and Thirty-sixth Con-
crosses. He is now collector of the port of
Portland. Third, Cadwallader c., who rep
resented the Lacrosse, Wisconsin. district in
the Thirty-fourth, Thirty-tifth, Thirty.sixth
and Fortieth Congresses. He was elected
Governor of Wisconsin In 1871, but was G Ge
feated for reelection last year, ana Is no" Nv.
ing in retirement Besides these, tnere nele
tbroo moro brothers who have been more or
iess iass known Ve in public life. namely William D.
Washhnrn now of Minnesota (the youngest
brother, we believe) who has held some local