Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-01-25
Our Senator Elect.

Hon. Ephriam h. " ilson. of Worcester
county, was on Friday last chosen 10y the
General Assembly Uaited States Senator
from Maryland tn succeed Hon. James B
Groome. whose term expires March 4th,
1885. Judge Wilson was CHI sen on the
fifth ballot Of the day nd TIVE fth of the
contest. Judge Robinson maintained his
strength well TO he last, holding the lead
| of I'll other candidates. On the twelfth
and final ballot he made a decided gain.
obtaining 90 votes to % for wilson. II for
Groome, and 10 for Thomas. Afer the
vote was taken and before the resu was
announced, the Republicans. in pursuance
Of a previously formed policy, began To
change their votes 10 Judge Robinson
hoping 10 convert themselves into a bal,
| ance Of power, T. decide the 'ection 81 the
Senator, This movement had been anti
cipate,i by the Democrats and So soon as
it began to manifest itself, the Democratic
friends of Judge Robinson st once STAN
peded 10 Judge Wilson, changing their
votes in his favor. and he was thus elected
upon that ba lot. The Democrats have
seen enough of that spirit Of coquetry with
The Republicans and looking Ia them for
aid IN effecting measures over the protes,
of the Democratic majority or Of obstruct
ing action during The pas, admins ration
to thoroughly disgust them with the.prac-
ice, so it turned out that even the suspi-
cion of having countenaneed such coali-
ton proved to be The knell of Judge Ho-
binson's senatorial aspira' ions In justice
TO that gentleman il must be said, however,
that he firmly disclaims any knowledge or
commencing of such a scheme, and ex-
presses regret at the action of the Repub-
licans.
The following is a brief biographical
sketch of Judge Wilson, the Senator elect,
Hon Ephraim X Wilson the Senator-elect.
was born in Snow Hill. Worcester county.
December %, 1921. and is therefore 10 the s3d
| year of his age. His father, whose full name
he bears, was one of the most accomplished
gentlemen and lawyers OF his dav. and the
subject Of this sketch fully represents his father
in both characters. The father had represented
Worcester county number of times in the
General Assembly, had held other importan,
State offices, and had twice been a member Of
The House Of Representatives Judge Wilson's
mother, Anne d. Wilson. was daughter of
General John Gunhy. When Judge Wilson
was but a lad his father died He attended
| school at the Academy of Snow Hill until he
was Is years old, when he entered store in
Philadelphia q clerk. He remained there
one year, when Judge Asa Spence, one of the
judges of the circuit, and who had married his
sister, saw that the hoy gave promise of a use
!ul career. and generously assumed the expense
of his education. inducing him to return to
| school. Young Wilson then went to Washing
ton Academy, in Somerset county, and thence
| to Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa, where
he graduated in 1910. He taught school for
| about six years afterwards, 6rst in Washington
Academy, and then in Snow Hill Academy
studing law in the meantime. In l34T he was
elected a member OF the House of Delegates
from Worcester The spring lS4s he opened a
law Office in Snow Hill He readily obtained
clients, and for twenty years practiced success
fully. The courts nd trial tables affected his
health, and in the summer of 1867 he withdrew
from the practice of Law and retired to bis
farm, leaving his large business with his part
ner. Mr.. John Fl. Handy, now representing
the eighth ward of Baltimore city in the House
| Of Delegates, and " ho worked warmly with
DR.. Bishop and Mr. Jackson in the contes,
just closed. In 1852 be was an elector on the
Pierce and King ticket, and disting uished him.
self by his speeches 10 the CANVASS He then
became the ackno wledged leader of tho demo-
cratic party in Worcester county, and exercised
a large influence in the State councils of the
party. After retiring from the bar he accepted
the position of examiner and treasurer of the
school board Of Worcester county, which he
only held one year, resigning in 1869. In 1872
he was elected to Congress, and in the hall of
the House of Representatives earned a repdta-
ton which few men gain in a single term
His speech on civil rights, ana especially on
the mixed school proposition, was one of the
best made on the subject in either house of
Congress. He declined denomination and
again retired to private life. When Judge
Franklin died, in 1878, the Governor oppoint-
ed him to the vacancy 10 the first circuit. He
was elected TO the same position Nov. T. 1879,
without opposition In 1853 he married Mary
Dickerson, daughter OF Peter Dickerson, Of
Worcester county, who died, leaving him with
two children. In 1869 be again married, this
time Julia A. Knox, daughter of Jas. Knox, of
Snow Hill. Judge Wilson has always been
regarded as free from factional politics, and
hence was the first choice of considerable
number and the second choice of many other
members of the Legislature.