Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-07-03
SIMON CAMERON IS NO MORE.
Death Comes to Pennsylyania's
Great Politician.

dispatch from Lancaster, Pa, says
General Cameron is dcad. Death came sud
denly from a weak spell Up to the last at.
tack he was conscious and had no trouble to
swallow the food given him and which he ap-
peared to assimilate. Around the death
bed were cX-Attorney General McVeagh and
wife, Mrs. Haldeman, James Cameron Simon
b. Cameron and wife, and Mrs. David Watts,
n granddaughter
Simon Cameron. who was for over half "A
century identified in the eyes of the country
with Pennsylvania politics, began life as a
poor hoy, and was mainly indebted to his
own efforts or his early education. He was
born at Lancaster, Pa, on the Sth of March.
1893. Left an orphan when but nine years
of age, he was early apprenticed to the print
ing business and gained the chief part of his
education within the walls of n newspaper
Office, first in Harrisburg, Pa and atterward
ut W Washington, d. &. At the age of twenty
one he became editor of paper at Doyles-
town. Pa, the Pennsylvania Intelligencer.
Two years later he had transferred his edi-
torial ability to the service of paper at Har.
risburg He warmly espoused the cause of
General Jackson when the latter was nOm-
mated for the Presidency His business abi-
ity had fully developed ITSELF and within "A
few years he was known as one of the ablest
fnanriers of the State. He established the
Middlctown Bank, becoming it's president.
He was appointed Adjutant General of the
state and in 1Sl5 he was elected to the
United States Senate for four years, to fill
the vacancy caused by the resignation of
Mr.. Buchanan. At this time still democrat,
he voted for the war with Mexico and for the
proposition to extend the Missouri Compro-
misc line to the Pacific The repeal of that
compromise in 1854, and the lawless and
bloody struggle to force slavery upon Kansas,
made him "A sincere aud earnest member of
the new free soil party, and MS such he upheld
and N-ntp1 fpr Euppmnut in 1SbH In 1897
lie was reelected to the United States Senate.
When the year 1860 arrived Mr.. Cameron
was named as one of the prominent
candidates for the Presidency In the
Chicago Convention he stood third on
the first ballot, Before the second ballot he
withdrew, and his friends cast their votes for
Mr.. Lincoln.
On Mr. Lncon's entrance upon the active
duties of his Office, March 4, 1861, he nom
mated Mr.. Cameronas Secretary of War. Mr..
Cameron accepted, resigning his position in
the Senate to take charge of theWar Depart
mcnt He was the first officer of the Govern.
ment to recognize slavery as the real enemy
and assnnnt of the nations life, and to
recommend in December, 1861, that the war
should be fought out by the destruction oI
slavery.
Mr. Cameron resigned his position in the
Cabinet in January, 1862, being succeeded
by Mr. Stanton. Mr.. Cameron was appoint
ed Minister to the Russian Court, but re
manned only until November OF the sam,
year. lie was delegate to the Baltimor
Convention in 1864, by which Mr.. Lincoh
was renominated for the Presidency, and il
1SG6 to what is known in history as th
" Southern Loyalists' Convention" held il
Philadelphia, with n view to bring abou
more amicable feelings among the reunited
States In 1867 he took his seat for thirC
term in the Senate of the United States. Ir
1871 he was appointed charmuuor the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs to succeed Mr.
Charles Sumner, and made an cXCccdingl.
efficient and satisfactory record in thn
capacity. On the expiration of his term Il
Senator, in 1878, he was reelected for
fourth term of service
Mr.. Cameron resigned his seat in the Senat
in March, 1877, and his son Don" Cameron
was elected by the Pennsylvania Legislator
to I'LL the vacancy.
The estate of General Cameron is said t.
be worth from 81 10000 to $1,000, 00O
There are eight heirs in the regular line o
inheritance. These are United States Senate
j Donald Cameron, the wife of ex-Unite
States Attorney General Wayne MacNcag
and Mrs. Richard Haldeman, who are tn
Generals children. and five gran dchildren.