Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-01-04
ALL THE GOVERNORS.

The Harrisburg Patriot has per-
formed commendable historical duty
by compiling list of governors of the
state of Pennsylvania, from the date of
the adoption of the first constitution,
down to the present. time. From this
compilation it appears that Robert +.
Pattison will be the nineteenth COVER
nor Of the state. The first constitu-
ton for the government OF Pennsylva'
mia as "A state went into effect on the
2d day of September, 1890. An cleo
tion was held under it the following
month aud Thomas Miiilin, of Phila.
delphia, who had been president ofthe
supreme executive council since Octo.
her. 1888, was elected, and on the Dist
day of December, 1879, inaugurated
as governor in the city ot Philadelphia,
with much ceremony He was Cover.
nor that time until December, 1899, n
period of nine years, having been
twice reelected, Thomas Mexican, of
Chester. who succeeded Mitliiu, was
governor from December, 1899, until
December 1908, like his predecessor,
filling the office for three terms. For
the next three terms, or until Drccm-
her, 1917, Simon Snyder, OF Union
county, was governor. William Flnd.
lay, of Franklin county, was governor
from December, 1917, to December,
1920; Joseph Hester, Of Bucks coun'
ty, from December, 1920, to Decem'
Der, 1928; John Andrew Shultz, Of
Lebanon county, from December, 1923,
t. December, 1929, two terms; George
Wolf, of Northampton county, from
December, 1929, to December, 1888,
two terms; Joseph Ritner, of Washing.
ton county, from December, 1888, un-
Ill the third Tuesday ofJanuary, 1889,
the beginning Of the gubernationoI
term having been changed by the
amended constitution of 1888 from the
third Tuesday of December to the
third Tuesday of January. David K.
Porter, of Huntingdon county, was
governor from January, 1923, until
January, lS45, two terms; Francis Il.
Skunk. OF Montgomery county, from
January, 1915, until July 5, 1913.
Having been reelected in 1917, Gov.
ernor Skunk resigned on the OH Of
July, 1S4S, wnen William +. John
stOn, of Armstrong covnty, who was
speaker of the senate by virtue OF his
office became governor until the third
Tuesday of January, 1919 In the
meantime Governor Johnston bad
been elected in lS4S, and on the third
Tuesday of January, lS49, was inau-
gurated and served a full term, until
January, 1851. William Bigler, Of
Clearfield county, was governor from
January, 1852, until January, 1890:
James Pollock, Of Northumberland
county, from January, 1870, to Janua.
ry, 1888: William f. Packer, of Ly-
coming county, from January 1888, to
January, 1862: Andrew G.. Curtin. Of
Centre county, from January, 1861,
until January, 1867. two terms, cover.
ing the entire period Of the war; John
w. Geary, of Westmoreland, from
January. 1867. to January. 1872, two
terms: John F. Hartranfi, Of Mont.
gomery, from January, 1873, to .Janua'
rs. 1879, two terms; Henry NJ. Hoyt,
of Luzerne, is the present incumbent.
He was elected to serve from January
1879, to January, 1888. OF these
eighteen governors of the state four
are now living, namely: Pollock,
Curtin, HariraUit, and Hoyt. Gov.
ernors Mlfflin. Mexican, Snyder. Find.
lay. Shultz, Wolf, Porter, Skunk,
Bigler and Packer we're Democrats.
Mexican at his third election ran a.
an Independent Democrat against
Simon Snyder. Hester was elected
by the federalists, Ritner By the
anti.Masons, Johnston as n Wing,
Pollock by the know.Nothiugs, and
Curtin, Geary, Hartranft and Hoyt a.
Republicans. The constitution of 1890
provided that a governor could be
elected for three terms successfully.
The amended constitution of 1888
limited the time tn two terms and that
of 1874 to one term, making 1t four
years. Philadelphia was the capital
of the state until 1899, when the seat
of government was removed TO Ian
caster to Harrisburg in 1912, since
which time all inaugurations have tax.
en- place in that city.
And, il might be added, Mr.. Patti.
con. who will be thirty-two when he i.
inaugurated. will be the youngest
governor the state has ever had
Thomas Mifilin was forty.six years OF
age when he was inangurated Thorn
as Mexican was sixty-fve. Simon SDy
der forty.nine, William Findlay forty
nine. Joseph Hester sixty.eight, John
Andrew ShuIiz forty.eight, George
Wolf ffty.two, Joseph Ritner, fity.fv,
David r. Porter, filty.rine, Francis X
Skunk ffty-seven. William +. John
ston, forty. William Bigler thirty.eight
james Pollock fortyfive, William +