Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-12-09
HEREDlTY IN CONGRESS.
Families Which Have Been Represented
for Several Generations.

Families Which Have Been Represented
for Several Generations.
Sons of great men sometimes eyince
not the slightest indications of either
genius or of the trend of mental tenn
permanent which leads to prominence,
yet as a general rule children inherit
the ruling traits, mental and moral of
one or the other parent, although cir
cumstances may be such that it may
not be exhibited to the world. In
studying the question of heredity the
history of the National Legislature af-
fords a good field for inquiry, says the
New York Commercial Advertiser.
We find that there are numerous in
stances in the House of Representa-
tives where sons have succeeded faith
ers, and in some instances where men,
bers of the same family have served
at the same time in the House and
Senate.
The following is an interesting rec
ord, eXemplifying the influence of
blood. Young Mr.. Price, of Wisconsin,
was chosen to succeed his father, Con
gresham William L. Price, who died
shortly before the expiration of the
Forty-ninth Congress. S. NJ. Robert
son, of Louisiana, succeeded his father,
Representative E. w. Robertson, who
died during the Fiftieth Congress
John G.. Houk was elected to fill the
vacancy created by the death of his
father, l.. G. Houk, of Tennessee, pend
ing the Fifty-tirst Congress, and was
reelected as a member of the Fifty
third Congress. Mr.. Mutchler has
been renominated to succeed his faith
or, the late Congressman Mutchler, of
Pennsylvania. Heredity to the third
generation is eXemplitied by the case
of Il. l.. Thompson, Representative
from California in the Fiftieth Con
sress. His grandfather, Philip II.
Thompson, was Il Representative in
Congress from Virginia from 1901 to
1907, and his father a Representative
from the same State from 1917 to
1S49. A son of Senator ID. w. Voor-
hees served in the Fiftieth Congress
as a delegate from Washington Terri
tory. J. b. Kerr, who served in Con
grcss from 1919 to 1851, was a son of
Representative and Senator j. l.. Kerr
j. A. King, of New York, Congressman
from and Governor of that State, was
son of Rufus King, previously Sen
ator from New York and Minister to
England. Another son of Rufus King
was Il Representative in Congress from
w" JtIStN 1IOlu 1919 W 1901. CNIuS
King. half brother of Rufus King, was
Representative in Congress from
Massachusetts from 1913 to 1917. Con-
gresham Breckinridge, of Arkansas,
is the son of John G. Brecllinridgc
once President of the United
States and the Senator from Ken
lucky. Lawrence o. B. Branch, Rep
rcsentative from North Carolina in
the Thirty fourth, Thirty fifth and
Thirty-siXth Congresses, was the
nephew of John Branch, of North
Carolina, Governor, Senator and Sec
retary of the Navy. Congressman $.
X. Mallory, of Florida, is the son of
5. r. Mallory, Senator from Florida
from 1871 to 1861, and who was sub
Scquently Secretary of the Confederate
Navy. Senator George f. Hoar. of
Massachusetts. served in the House
with his brother. T.. r. Hoar. Both
were sons of Samuel Hoar, who was
once Il Representative in Congress-
sherman Hoar, a son of Il. X. Hoar
WAS Il member of the Fifty second
Congress. w. d. Washburn. the pres
ent Senator from Minnesota. is Il
brother of Governor Israel Washburn.
of Maine, who was Il member of Con-
grcss from 1851 to 1861; of Il. b.
NaShborn, of Illinois, Il Representa-
tive from 1852 to 1869, and of Gen
c. G. Washburn, of Wisconsin, who
was a Representative in Congress
from 1850 to 1861, and from 1867 to
1871.
The United States Senate has of it,
self n big hcredity roll, although the
instances are few in comparison with
those of the numerous popular branch
of Congress. The field is quite an in
tcrcsting one for study and reflection,
and is impressive as to the power and
tendencies of blood. The fact that
various members sprung from the same
ancestor have recorded about equal
achievements as public men is strik-
ing, but when we see the same myS-
FERROUS law operating to the third gen
Grafton it is decidedly impressive.
While the promising son of an illus.
trlouS man may contemplate the above
record with confident anticipation of
future distinction, if he be a philoso-
pher he will ackno wledge that he must
look at the reverse side of the picture
and also know that he inheritS with
about the same degree of certainty the
vices and the weaknesses of his grand
parents. The subject is certainly an
interesting one for contemplation