The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-27

HON. CuAuNCEY FORWARD BLACK FOR
GOVERNOR.

HON. CIIAuNCEY FORWARD BLACK FOR
| GOVERNOR.
Hon. Chauncey Forward Black, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, is
a son of the late Judge jeremiah S.
Black. and was born at Somerset, in
this State, in November, in 1889. He
was educated at the Monougahela
academy, in West Virginia, and after
wards attended Jefferson college, in
Washington county. He was under
instruction at Hiram college a. the
time the late President Garfield was a
student there. A friendship was es-
tablshed between the men, and their
relations were most cordial up to the
time of the death of the late Presi-
dent Young Chauncey studied law
with his father, and in 1861 was ad-
mitted to the Bar of Somerset county.
He practced but little, the profession
of the law not suiting his tastes. Lit
erary work was more suitable to his
tastes, and Mr.. Black began as cor
respondent for several of the daily
newspapers. For six or seven years
he was regular contributor TO the
columns of the New York Sun, and
his letters showing the inside move
ments of Pennsylvania politics always
attracted considerable attention. AL
though he has not published any books
written by himself, there are numer-
GUS publications from his prolific pen
in existence under the names of other
persons. Although he has manifest
liking for the whill and excitement of
politics, he did not become much of an
active politician until he was brought
forward four years ago as candidate
for Lieutenant Governor. He was,
indeed an aspirant for the nomination
as Congressman in the York ard Cum
berland district in 1874, but was de-
feated by Hon. Levi Maish, the gen
u-man who placed him in nomination
for Lieutenant Governor in the State
Convention of 1882. BY that body he
was placed second on the Patlison
ticket on the first ballot by vote of
l753 to 73I for George II. Irwin, Of
Dauphin. In 1880 he was member
of the Cincinnati Convention, and
voted for Judge Field at first, but
changed his vote to General Hancock.
He went through in 1882 with the
rest Of the Democratic ticket. Mr..
Black is credited with being the author
of revival of the so-called jefferson
ian system OF politics, which consists
in the establishment of societies
throughout the country for the study
and practice of the Jeffersonian princi-
Piles. He is the President of the or
ganiz of that name in York Co.,
at the capital of which he resides.
For many years before he was made
Lieutenant Governor nearly all the
platforms adopted by Democratic State
Conventions were his handi-work, and
be always attended the Conventions
well provided with planks of all sorts
His counsel was sought by the leading
men of the party, and his acquaintance
has been extensive with the promi-
nent men of the country of all shades
OF political opinion. Mr.. Black mar
ried the daughter of Hon. John L.
Dawson, who represented the Fayette
district in Congress and was a promi-
nent politician in his time. In per-
sonal appearance he is tall, of good
physique, and bears strong resem-
blance to his distinguished father.
COL. r. BRUCE RICKETTS,.
| Colonel r. Bruce Ricketts,, who re-
ceived the nomination for Lieutenant
Governor, comes of Scotch Irish pa
rentage, and was born at Orangeville,
Columbia county, Pa, on April 20
1889. He was educated at the Wy.
oming Seminary, near Wilkes Barre
| and was reading law when the Rebel
ion broke out. He promptly entered
the Union service, and having assisted
in recruiting battery of artillery, wa,
mustered in as a member of Battery
F, First Pennsylvania Artillery (For
ty-third Regiment, on July s, 1861
and promoted to be First Lieutenant
August 8, 1861; to Captain. May 8
1868; to Major, December ], 1861, ,anc
to Colonel, March Is, 1865. Battery
F was furnished during the month o
August, 1861, with horses and equip
ments and four smooth-bore pieces
As early as September II following i
was ordered to JOIN Gen. Banks com
mand at Jamestown, Md, and from
that date on was in active service con
stantly until the close of the war. Fo
a time the battery was divided int,
two sections, one under Lieutenan
Ricketts, and the other under Lieuten
ant Brockway. The former had il
first engagement December 20 with
, body of the enemy's artillery and cav
> airy, which was attempting the de
, , struction of Dam No. ) on the Uppe
Potomac. For more than three fu
years from that date, Ricketts, was a
ways in the front, and his battery be
came one of the most famous in tn
Union army. In almost every one c
the great engagements of '62, '63, All
e GA in Maryland and Virginia, and i
, scores of minor conflicts, it was prom
inently engaged and at Gettysburg e.
:, y pecially it did brilliant service in al
II sisting to repel the fierce terrific ol
slaught of the Confederates upon ii
, right of the Union lines. In this ba
v tie Colonel Ricketts, lost forty hors,
i and twenty-seven men, and the groun
# on which his guns were planted
!. among the historic spots of that grei
, contest. He was under fire one hui
, dred times, and engaged in fifty-seve
:, battles. AT the lose of the war Colon
! Ricketts, returned to Wilkesbarre, an
> has since been engaged in managir
= his large lumber estate at what
, known as North Mountain in Sulliva
y county. He has been an active ar
- consistent Democrat ever since
i reached manhood, but has never be,
=. an office-holder.
\. j. SIMPSON AFRICA.
y; j, Simpson Africa, who was select,
D, as the candidate for the office of Sc
retary of internal affairs, was born
the town of Huntingdon, which is st
his home, on September Is, 1882.
is descended from Revolutionary sto
III | throuph the Simnsons rf Ructs n,