Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-27

and eventful years were spent either di- rcctly or indirectly, as public man in the service of the tate.
 Simon Cameron wa bora in Lancas- ter county, Pa., on M arrh $, 1799, and he was left an orphan Ut tl.o age of 9 years. His paternal ancestors were Scottish, and on his mothers side he was of Ger man descent.
 In 1S1e he became apprentlced to An drew Kennedy, of tho Northumher County Gazette. The concern failed and he made his way on foot to Harrisburg, where he obtained employment in the printing office of James Peacock, the quently he found an opening on the Bucks County Messenger. He went to Washington in 1922, where he worked as journeyman on the National Intelli- gcnccr at S1O a week.
 He saved his earnings, and In return- ing to Harrisburg he formed co-part- nership with Charles Norway and they published the Pennsylvania Intelligencer, which became the recognized organ of tho Democracy of the state. For some years young Cameron was state printer, and was afterwards honored with the position of adjutant general of the state. He washed his hands of printers ink | with a snug capital of $2O,OOO to his credit.
  | fire While working on his canals he chartered tho Middletown bank and be- l came its cashier, and at the same time 1 he planned and built several railroads 1 leading from the interior of his state to | the south and west. At one time he was president of the four railroad companies. He never took his eye off the political situation while his hands were filled with l private enterprises.
 He was chosen a United States senator In 1S45 to fill the vacancy caused by the | resignation of James Buchanan, and he l filled the position till the expiration of 1 the term in 1S49.
 l Up to this time he had always been a l Democrat, but after the repeal of the Missouri compromise he Identified him. l self with what was known as the People 8 party of Pennsylvania. He became known as foe to the extension of slav- cry, if not to it's continuation. He was returned to the United States senate in
 1857 by combination of Wings, native | Americans and tariff Democrats, and he
 gradually drifted into the Republican
 party which was then in it's infancy.
 He was the favored candidate of his
 own and other states for the presidency
 when the Republican National convon-
 tion assembled in Chicago i'll 1860. On
 the first ballot he received fifty votes,
 when his name was withdrawn in favor
 of Abraham Lincoln, who received the
 nomination.
 He was made secretary of war in the
 new cabinet. and held that position unti
 he was superseded by Edwin M. Stanto1
 on Jan. II, 1862. He favored prepara
 tions for war on q more extensive seal,
 than some of his colleagues though
 necessary, and President Lincoln coul,
 not withstand the opposition aroused
 against him and accepted his resignation General Cameron was sent on an i'm
 portant mission to Russia after retirin, from the war department. On his return . he was an accepted counsellor at tn
 White House and he worked with viRo
 to secure the reelection of Prcsiden
 Lincoln.
 He was reelected to the senate in 1873 , but resigned his seat i'll 1877. when h was succeeded by his son. J. Donal , Cameron who still retains the place. , | the latter year he made a trip to Europe 3 where he was received with distinguishe honor