The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-08-15

for three terms Governor, making In all
eleven years. Governor Mifflin's life was 80
absorbed In the service OF his country from
its opening to its closing scenes, that the
voice of detrsction will be little needed and
the best answer to csvils of the traducer is
the great life-work he accomplished which
we have endeavored briefly to sketch.
Miflin county which was formed from
part of Cumberland and Northumberland,
September 10th, 1889, was named in honor
of Gov. Mifflin.
GOVERNOR M'KEAN.
In order that we may have proper un-
derstanding of the life of Mexican, it is
necessary to remember that the State of Del
aware was originally part of Pennsylvania
and even after their legsl severance the po-
litical relations were intimate. Hence it was
that Gov. Mexican had accorded him com.
mon citizenship, holding the highest offices
in both States a: once and the same time.
Thomas Mexican, the second Governor
under the Constitution of 1890, was born on
the 18th of March, 1874, in Londonderry,
Chester county, and was of Irish extraction.
Having received a liberal education, he
commenced the study of law, and was ad-
mitted to the bar before he was twenty-one
years of age. He was clerk to the Prothon-
otary of the Court of Common Pleas, Depu.
ty Prothonotary, and Register for the Pro.
bate of Wills, before he was admitted to the
bar In 1855, he was appointed Deputy
Attorney General in Sussex county, Della.
ware, which position he resigned after two
years service. In 1867, he was admitted to
practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsyl.
vania was elected clerk of the Assembly,
and was re elected in 1853. In 1852, he was
elected to the Legislature from New Castle
county, Delaware, and was returned for
seventeen successive years, after which he
declined further service. He was appointed
one of the Trustees of the Loan Office from
1764 to l776, making a period of twelve
years. He was a member of the Colonial
Congress, better known as the STAMP Act
Congress" of 1865, which met in New
York. In IVA, he was selected as dele
gate to represent Delaware in the first Cont.
mental Congress, which met in New York,
and continued to hold this position for eight
years, although residing in another State.
He favored the Declaration of Independence
and his name appears as one of the signers
from Delaware. On the 9th of July, Nc
kean marched into New Jersey as Colonel
of regiment to the support of Washington,
and upon his return was sent to Dover as a
delegate to the Convention which devised
the Constitution of Delaware. In August.
1777, he was rendered the office of Chief
Justice of Pennsylvania, and he accepted
with reluctance, but continued to fulfill the
duties of that Office for a peIiod of twenty
two years. In the same year he was selected
as President of the State of Delaware, so
that besides being Chief Justice of Penn'a
he was at the same time a member of Con-
gress and Chief Magistrate of another Com
monwealth. He was chosen as President of
Congress on the 10th of July, 1881, but re-
signed in October. Chief Justice Mexican
was member of the Pennsylvania Con-
vention which ratified the Constitution of
the United States, and was also member
of the Convention which framed the Consti-
tuition of Pennsylvania in 1889. At the ex-
piration of Governor Miflin's term of Office
in $780, the election resulted in the choice
of Judge Mexican over Ross, Federal, by a
vote of 3S,O36 to 1854. He was twice re-
elected Governor of Pennsylvania. His Sec
ond election was over Ross by vote of A..
879tO 1907 ,and his third over Simon Snyder
Democrat, by a vote of 1854 to 3S, ,4S3.
During his third term as Governor, articles
of impeachment were were preferred against
him but he was never tried, on account of
having made replication, clearly showing
his innocence.
In 1881, the degree of Doctor of Law was
conferred upon Gov. Mexican by the Col.
lege of New Jer'ey, and in 1882 the same
degree was conferred by Dartmouth College
of New Hampshire. He died on the oath
of June, 1917, eighty-three years of age,
and was buried in the grounds of the Pres
byterian Church in Market Street, Phila-
delphia.
Governor Mexican was warm friend of
Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jeffer-
son and says John Adams in a letter, of
Gov McKean "He was among the Pat
rick Henrys, Christopher Gadsdens, Thomas
Jeffersons, the Samuel Adamses, the Roger
Shermsns-the best, tried and firmest pillars
of the Revolution"
Mexican county was formed from part of
Lycoming, March Goth, 1904, and was named
in honor of Gov. Mexican.
GOVERNOR SNYDER.
Simon Snyder, who was the third Cover
nor under the Constitution of 1890, was born
at Lancaster, on the 9Th ofNovember, 1859,
of German lineage. His father died in IVA,
and two years later, at the age of seventeen,
he removed to York, remaining there eight
years, and learned the tanning trade. He
had scarcely any education other than that
which he acquired by selfexertion. He
again removed to Selnsgrove, Snyder county
in July, 1884. He purchased a mill and
store, meeting with much success. He was
unanimously elected Justice of the Peace,
and served for twelve years. In 1888,
Mr.. Snyder was chosen member of the
Convention which framed the State Consti-
tuition. In 1897, he was elected q member
of the Legislature, and in 1902 was chosen
its Speaker, which position he filled until
1903. He was the originator of the "Hun-
dred Dollar Act" which made him exceed
ingly popular, and in 1905 was nominated
for Governor against Mexican but was de-
feated by small majority. He was re-
nominated in 1903, and elected over James
Ross, 6 man of great prominence, by vote
of 67,975 to 1855. He was reelected in
1871 over VIM. Tilghman, Federal, by a
vote of 53,Sl9 to 1909, and again in 1914,
over Isaac Wayne, Federal, by vote of 81, :
099 to 29, 9,566-thus serving three full terms.
4 r.