Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-07-04

"l1ZK'I!.IMnEL VAGSsSMXWN-
Generas Simon Cameron
ex-Attorney General Wayne MacVeagh
and wife; Mrs. Haldeman; James Cam
eron; Simon B. Cameron and wife, and
Mrs. David Watts, a grand daughter.
The funeral will take place in Harris
burg.
just previous to the sinking spell
which terminated fatally the Genera
appeared to recognize several friends.
His general condition while very weak
was such that the doctors had hopes tina
his life might be prolonged until the re-
turn of Senator Don Cameron. who cabled
that he would sail from Liverpool yes.
terday.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Simon Cameron was born in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1899. He was
OF Scotch origin, a descendant of the Clan
Cameron, and in his life exemplified many of
che rugged and vigorous qualities which dis
tinguish the race. Left an orphan at an early
age, he obtained common school education
by the exercise of these qualities, and while In
his teens served an apprenticeship to the print
ers trade. Arriving at his majority he found
himself the editor and proprietor of 4 weekl y
paper, published at Doylestown, Pa, after hav-
ang worked as journeyman in the newspaper
office, o. Lancaster, Harrisburg and Wash
fngton. With this experience added to his
natural equipment, he was not many years in
acquiring both means and reputation and two
years later, in 1922, he was called to the man
agement OF the Democratic State organ OF
Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg. In that wider
deld his abilities found larger opportunities oil
display, and ten years later he was not only
prominent in the politics of the State, but ha d
interested himself largely in banking and
financial and commercial enterprises. He was
moving spirit in all schemes of public i'm
Supho fhn htrTl1 inn md py tons inn
of The Nat onaI road the construction OF
canals, and all plans for overcoming the
engineering difficulties in making a
roadway over the Alleghenes. He was a
prominent figure in the earliest railroad enter
prises of this country, and 1915 found him the
president of two companies with lines projected
and under way in Pennsylvania. 1t is related
of him that after fast railroading became the
marvel Of the age he enjoyed telling story of
how he had once startled Pennsylvania au-
dience by predicting that railroads would en-
able "a traveller to travel from Harrisburg to
Philadelphia between breakfast and supper-a
distance which is now comprised within few
hours.
HIS public spirit led him into public life.
He was for time AdiutantGsneral of the
State, and in 1915 was elected to the United
States Senate to serve aueXpired term
of four years. He acted with the Democratic
party throughout the entire term. After his
retirement he was separated from his party on
other questions arising out of sectional and
slavery agitations. He identified himself with
what was then known as THE Peoples Party
which subsequently became merged in the Re-
publican organization, and it was as Repub-
lican that he was again elected to the United
States Senate in 1857 for the full term of six
gears. He never completed the term, how
ever At the Chicago Republican convention
: of 1860 he was prominent candidate for the
presidential nomination, and after the selec-
Iion of Lincoln for first place, would have
rbeeu nominated for Vice-President but for di-
visions in the Pennsylvania delegation.
President Lincoln, in pursuance of his policy
OF selecting his opponents in the Republican
convention as members Of the Cabinet select
ed Mr.. Cameron as Secretary of War. This
took him out of the Senate again. He ut once
assumed Cabinet duties, but did not long dis
charge them. There has been some degree OF
mystery surrounding his resignation of the war
portfolio before the expiration OF year OF
service. 1t is believed that his extreme views
regarding questions growing out OF the war
were not fully Endorsed by the
President. His orders to General Butler
and General Sherman, directing them to en-
ep.oy all fugitive slaves coming to them on
forts, Notifications and other work pertaining
70 military service, are records of the War De-
partment and one of his b:ographers states a
fact that the original draft of his annual report
to Congress in January, 1852, containing urgent
recommendation OF the eHplOyHcHi Vi iusiti'e
slaves in the Federal army was so greatly mod
flied in Cabinet council as to amount to prac
teal elimination. His resignation followed
soon after this, January II, 1852, and Presiden,
Lincoln at once appointed him Minister to Rus
STA
At that court he was successful in secur
ing to the Federal Government the friendship
of the Car, but his diplomatic policy
was attacked, and only escaped censure by
Congress on the 3Oth OF April of that year b,
the President sharing the responsibility of his
acts. He resigned as Russian Minister in No
yember following, and returned to this country
and to private life. In 1866 he was elected tt
the United States Senate from Pennsylvania
Serving out that term, he was reelected at tht
expiration of it. This was his fourth election
to the Senate, and his last. In 1877 he resfgnes
his senatorial seat in favor of his son. j. Donald
Cameron.
After his resignation and the election OF the
younger Cameron as his successor he retired tt
overlooking the Susquehanna river at Harris
burg, but did not at once relax his hold on the
politics of his State. He was potential in con
trolling Pennsylvania for Grant as agains
Blaine in 1880. He remained close observer
of political events, and, although not an active
participant in them in the fullest sense of tht
word. never failed to take interest in contest:
In which he considered the fortunes of hi:
party or his friends to be involved. He re
tanned to the last the respect, confidence ant
devotion OF Pennsylvania Republicans.