West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-02-16
AN EMINENT STATESMAN.
Thomas Francis Bayard. One or the
Leaders OF the National
Democracy.

history of this country. io was
born at Wilmington, Delaware, Oct.
20. 1928, and is therefore i'm his
Goth year, although comparatively
young looking and remarkably
vigorous for man of his years.
His father, James Asheton Bayard,
was one Of the most eminent law
yers aud distinguished statesmen OF
Delaware, and was United States
Attorney for the State during the
administration of President Van
Buren, and was elected to the u. =.
Senate in 1881. Was reelected i'm
1857 and again in 1868, and at the
expiration Of his term In 1869, his
son, the subject of this sketch sue
ceeded him in tho highest legisla-
tive body Of our land. The latter
was reelected in January, 1875,
and again in 1881, and served con.
tinuously till he became Secretary
Of State, March 4th, 1885. His
grandfather, James Asheton
Bayard, who was born in Philadol-
phia, July Is, 1767, but moved to
Wilmington. Del, and died there
August 6, 1915, was one of the most
eminent Statesmen and diplomats
OF Continental times and served in
the Senate OF the United States
from 1905 TO 1918. when he was
appointed Minister to Russia. So
that three generations Of the
Bayard family have successfully
succeeded to the United States
Senatorship from one little State.
This is without parallel in the
history of this country. On the
day on which he was elected to the
Senate for q full term lis father
was also reelected to the Senate
from Delaware to serve for the un-
expired part Of his original term.
This is the only case of father and
son bong voted for by the same
Legislature to serve in the Senate at
the same time from the same state.
Another peculiar matter about the
family was, that the father, grand
father and great grandfather of our
hero, were all named alike, James
Asheton Bayard, and then after
three generations, they dropped
that and changed to Thomas
Francis. His great grandfather,
however, was a physician and as his
time was before we had Senate,
he Of course failed to break in to
that august assemblage as three
generations succeeding him have.
The Doctor died Jan. s, 1770, ak
years before the Revolutionary war
began. The Bayard family are OF
French Ilugueno. extraction and
came to this country from Amster-
dam in 1G47. The one we arc most
interested in just now, was intended
for mercbantile life and WAS placed
in business house in New York
City. In 1848 he returned to VII.
mington and studied law and was
admitted to the bar in 1851. like
his father he was first appointed
and served as URited States District
Attorney for the State and then
elected to tho U. S. Senate. lie
served on the following committees:
Finance, Judiciary, Private Land
Claims, Library, and Revision of
Laws. In October, 1881, be was
elected President Pro 7empore Of
the Senate. lie was a mem Dor Of
the famous Electoral Commission
Of 1867 TO settle the Presidential
contest. lie was conspicuous
upholder in Congress of Democratic
doctrines and States Rights, aud was
= prominent candidate for the Dem
ocratic nomination for the Presi.
dency in 1880 and 1884. President
Cleveland appointed him Secretary
Of State in 1885, and as such. he
was the leading mombor OF the
Cabinet. lie was an earnest and
constant al vocato for true Civil
Service reform and did much to
correct Custom House abuse and
maintain the peace and dignity Of
the United States abroad. His
fathers eldest brother, Richard
Henry Bayard, Was also IN the
United States Senate from Deleware
so that four Of the Bayard family
have been thus honored by that
State, and including the Socretary's
great-grandfather on his mothers
side Of the house, Gov. Bassett. he
is the ffth member OF the family
VINO have occupied seats in the U.