The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-15

tory He studied in the public school aud
was graduated from an academy; then took
up law as a profession, and in 1856. when FL
years Of age, was admitted to practice al
Keokuk. He took a pronounced position
among the people Of that city at once. aud In
1857 was sent to the State Legislature. Ia
1851 he WAS elected to the State Senate.
where he served until the close OF the war.
taking an active part in the legislation ln"i
dent to that period. He gave the remaining
years until 1868 to the practice of his profes
sion, and was then elected to Congress. He
was there appointed one OF the committee
oil,i,ayal affairs, and also served on the con,
mlttee to revise the laws, Of which Mr.. Po-
land was chairman. He WAS reelected t"
tile succeeding Congresses. receiving in 1874
1884 votes against 9.52l for Leroy q.
Palmer. tile anti-monopoly candidate. lie
was not candidate for re-election last fall.
In the Forty second Congress tile familiarity
he had shown witt election laws recon
mentled him for the craftsmanship sd TIN
committee on elections. In the foil owing
Congress he was chairman OF the com nittet
on railways and canals, and In the Forty
fourth served on the judiciary. Mr.. Nc
Crary is credited with having taken tn G first
step III the legislation which created the lafe
electoral tribunal. On December last he
introduced a resolution providing for joint
committee Of the, two houses to consi der a
mode OF counting the electoral vote. The
10 20 bo md nj
Imittee, OF which he was member. They
reported it promptly, and it was assed.
Mr.. McCrary was one OF the joint conf nitt' e
on the part OF the House, and when the cleo
toral bill was finally laid before that bW y
for action he was the first speaker i'm ils
support.
RICHARD W. THOMPSON, SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
Richard w. Thompson, Secretary Of the
Navy, is virginian by birth, and whig
politician Of tire old school He was born il:
Culpeper county on June 1909. and re-
ceived good classical education. He was
fond of aiven urc, and loagsbefore he was
OF age he set his face toward the wihd- Il
Kentucky. In 1881 he settled in Loui svii'.
as clerk in small store. Subsequently
he removed to Lawrence county, Indiana.
where he taught school for a few months.
/ and then went into store, selling goods BY
| day and studying law by night. In 1884 b..
| WAS admitted to the bar, and was almost inn
mediatcfy elected to the Indiana Leg>ia
turc. He was reelected IN 1885, and in the
following year went to the Senate, where u
served two years, being president pro TEN,
| OF that body. III the campaign Of 1910 H.
| worked zealo,,sly for "'rippecanoe and I'y
| Ter too,'' being presidential elector an,i
speaking constantly from che stump. IL
| lS4l he was rlrcteda Representative in Con
gress. In 1874 no WIS again chosen a presi
| Congress. President Taylor offered flinp thu
/ appointment OF charge tl'atfaires to Au stri.
and Presitl, mt Fillmore the office Of re, :nrd
4 er OF the general land Office, but he pie
4 ferred to practice his profession. In Is 81 h.
/ was elected Il presid htial elector, an d i,
i 1858 was delegate to the republican, Iii.
tional convention. In political circle h
has the reputation II being an exc, lien
platform maker, and his friends say tn at Il
has constructed more party platforms tina
4 any other politician in West. The res,
4 lutions adopted by the Chicago conve l.tio
III 1860 were drawn up and re- all by hil.
He WAS chairman Of the Indiana drIes alto
at the Cincinnati con ,entoti last year, All
4 voted for Mr.. Morton until the break wa
made for MIR. Hayes. Mr.. Thompson is
man of exceedingly fine presence, tai
straight, with white hair, and count eManc
/ tlenotinS great decision of character. He
considered one Of the best stump ORE ,tors /
Indiana.
/ DAVID n. KEY, POSTMASTER GEN ERAL.
A Tenacssee neighbor of Hon. D. NJ. Ke,
now in Washington, furnishes the ollowiu
sketch Of his career: ~
David NJ. Key, Postmaster General
born in Green county, East Tennessee.
r 1924 His father was Baptist minist G
Young Key was reared on a farm, and at t
obtaining a common school education tau z
school himself TO obtain means to pay #
way through COlioxe. LII LOU lie was n a
uated at Hlawasse College, East Tennes 81
studied law, was admitted to the bar in l. 8;
and settled in Chattanooga, where he e,
since resided. In 1851 he joined the Ct
federate army, entering the service as lii
! tenant colonel Of the forty-thlrd Tenne s.
! regiment, served through the war, and s
" rendered In North Carolina under Gen.
l. Johnston. In 1865 his old friend Ant lr
: johnson pardoned him. He returned ,
= home In Chattanooga and renewed the II
Is tice Of the law. In 1869 he was elecse d
u the constitutional convention. and was I'd
est in securing the rights Of full citizen Is
e to the colored people, with whom he is '
popular. Although democrat, his ca },
: has been SO liberal as to win the respect i,
miration and often the sd port of rep Il
ID cans. The county Of Hamilton, in waA h
., resides, Is republican, but its mernbe r.
\. the Legislature were his jealous s,lvssm t
10 In 1878 Mr. Key was appointed by Gox. ]