Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-06-25
WILLIAM IL. ENGLISH.
Sketch of the Democratic Candidate for
Vice President,

Sketch of the Democratic Candidate fO
| Vice President,
Hon. William H. English, of Indianapo
lis, Indiana, who has received the unani
nous nomination of the Democratic con
ventiOn for the Vice Presidency, was bOrl
at Lexington, in Scott county. in tn
southern part of Indiana, on August q
1922. He was the son of the late Majo
Elisha e. English, native of Kentucky
who removed to Scott county about 1918
MIR. English's father was one of family
of fourteen children, while his mother
Mahala Eastin before her marriage, was
one of seventeen, and still lives at the ven
| cradle age of eighty-two.
Mr.. English's education was such as
could be acquired at the common schools
of the neighborhood, and course of three
years study at the South Hanover college.
He studied law and was admitted to prac-
tice in the circuit court at the early age OF
eighteen years. He was subsequently adj
mittcd to the supreme court of his state,
and in the twenty-third year of his age, to
the highest judicial tribunal in the coun-
try, the supreme court Of the United
States.
At an early age Mr. English's inclina-
tions turned to a political life. Several
years before he was of age, he was chosen
delegate from Scott county to the Demo-
cratic state convention at Indianapolis,
which nominated General Tilgham A.
Howard for governor. There was no rail-
road connection with the capital at that
time, and the roads were in such a deplor-
able condition that it took him six days
horseback riding to make the round trip.
He commenced making speeches in that
onrnnairn ap,1 continued IN
for many years. This was the celebrated
"log cabin and hard cider" campaign,
which resulted in the election of General
Harrison to the presidency.
Under the Tyler administration.
Mr.. English was appointed postmaster of
Lexington, his native village, then the
county seat of Scott county.
In 1S43 he was chosen principle clerk of
the House of Representatives of his state
over several distinguished and worthy com.
petitors. It was at this session that the
Hon. Jesse d. Bright, the then lieutenant
governor and president of the Senate, by
his casting vote postponed the regular
election of United States senator until
the next session, which resulted in his
own election.
James d. Williams, now governor of In
diana, was then, for the first time, men,
Der of the House, and he has several times
made public mention of the fact that Mr..
English then performed the same duties,
and most satisfactorily, too, with the aid
of one assistant, that in these later years
over a half-dozen are paid to perform.
In the Presidential campaign of 1874, Mr..
English took an active part in promoting
the cause of Mr.. Polk, and during the
whole of the latter 8 administration he was
an officer in the treasury department at
Washington, and clerk in the United
States senate during the memorable session
of 1850, when the compromise measures
we're adopted. He was principal secretary
If the convention that framed the present |
of Indiana, a member of the
House of Representatives from Scott coun-