The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-12-20
John CESSNA DEAD.
PennsyIsania's Grand Old Man
Passes Peacefully Away.
BEDFORD H0URES The DEATH OF HER
MOST PROMINENT CITIZEN,
End Of e Long. Active and Honora-
bIs Career Of an Eminent Law
yer and Statesman.
In the death Of Hon. John ceszns, which
occurred at his residence in Bedford We'd
uesssy night, Pennsylvania lost one Of nef
most brilliant and distinguished sons

For many years Mr. Cessna has occupied
a prominent place in National and state
politics sad his fame as s lawyer Ess by no
means confined 70 tbelimits Of this, bis IA
tive STATE
Here ID Somerset county. his nsms was a
household word, and the announcement Of
bis death VII be received with s&dnezs in
alnos; every home.
John Cessna was born in Colerain town
ship. in Bedford county, Pa, June -, ls-l,
and vas the eldest child Of family OF
twelve His father vGs farmer. John was
educated primarily in the common schools,
but graduated IN ts42 from the Marshall
College. a. Mercersburg. since then united
with the Franklin College, Of Lancaster
under the name OF Franklin & Marshall
College, Of which NJ. Cessna has been Pres
ideut OF The Board Of Trustees for twenty
nine wears. with much pleasure be made sn
annual address TO tie youths OF that lnse-
tuition
He read Law, and Was admitted to the
/ Bedford Bar in 1915 since that ume-ior
almost fifty years-hs has been one Of the
3 fssg men n the Ssase who have been contln-
/ uonslr active IL public affairs. Judge Black
I and his Associates on the Supreme Benea
appointed him Revenue Commissioner n
/ ls57. for the counties Of Somerset, Bedford,
Blair and Franklin.
In Is50 1Ir. Cessna was elected q member
[ Of The Legislature ss Democrat, and was
reelected IN ISL. His unusual energy sud
ability attracted the attention Of the isadlug
I men Of The State. aud he was elected SPEAK
I er Of tie House before be was thirty years
/ OF ace. In ls62 he was again elected a.
I Democrat but not being pTo-slavery, and
I being War Democrat be left that party
and voted f1r Curtin for Governor n lsbj,
? VIXEN he was again elected 10 the Hc1se, as
s Tuioa Democrat, and EGs for the second
{ tine c5Osen Speaker Of the House He
/ again returned, and vas The leader Of the
/ Hou- e II 1855, snd member at tie time o.
{ his death.
Mr. Cessna was one Of the leading psriis
uentarisus, OF the country, and as early as
| 1856 this Eas recognized By the leaders OF
/ National politics, for in thstyear and al tie
| personal request Of James Buchanan, he wss
| a DELICATE and Secretary Of the Penusylve-
MIA delegation 70 the Cincinnati National
Convention that nominated Buchanan. In
/ IsfO ne was 8 Douglass delegate 10 the
I Charleston COnvention, where be introduced
tie anti-unit rule and fought il through the
Committee and the Convention which gave
Douglass thiriy-siI votes. BE was p-omi-
nent member u the adjourned Convention
Al Baltimore. and made the motion subsii-
tuting Governor Todd, Of Ohio, as Chair
Z man, il place OF Caleb Cushing, who bad
expressed sympathy for the seeding South
erners who nominated Breckenridge. Like
/ most Of the DOuglass Democrats, be was 3
strong Union man. and gave Lincoln an en-
tLusisstic support He was 8 delegate 70
the Republican National Conventions oi
! 1865 and 1876, that nominated Grant and
HAYES, and in 1850 Ess one Of the Grant
guards who remained faithful 70 bis ehiei
through thirty siX ballots, ending IN defeat
{ for the s306" From the time be entered
politics IN ls45 there were few State Con-
veniions Of which be was not member,
and, as when be was in National Convel-
tiOns, be invariably was on the COMMITTEES
Oh Resolutions or on kIies.
/ In the Cincinnati convention Of lo7G Mr..
Cessna was the leader Of the delegation
from his State, and in fact one OF the proml-
nent men Of the Convention. When the
break vas made between the Blaine and ths
anti Blaine forces, the Pennsylvania delega-
tion asked permission 70 retire Tor c0nsul-a-
ton. and when they returned 10 the conven'
ton. Mr.. Cessna was the Spokesman FOL
those X 10 desired delay. his speech in sup
mort of adjourn uent attracted the anti
Blaine delegates. ana incesssBt calls Tert
made from all over the convention 70 -taks
tie platform he continued fighting the
call for a vote, standing on his chair on the
lo0r. but being small in stature II was diff
( cult to make himself heard through the i'm.
mense hail, and The call TO take the platform
vas 50 great that be went on the platform
and remained there as the leader OF th'
Hayes delegates until he succeeded IN hav-
ing adopted the motion to adjourn, which
action nominated General Hayes.
- 4fN Tr~l
Assistant Attorney General Of the United
States. which appointment be declined.
Mr. Cessna served two termes in the Ma
tiOnsI House Of Congress being in the For
y. first and FOrty-third Congresses. IN 1852
and 1872, from the Bed ford Adams district
and was always leading member. In 1874
he was the choice OF Bedford county IN the
conference that nominated the late Ssmuel
s Blair; also in 1870 when General Camp
bell received the nomination, and again IL
1880. when Edward Scnll vas nominated
IN l565 and again in 1880 be was chairman
Of the Republican State Committee, Snd II
was be was be who introduced the Cana
boat" scene in the Garhell campaign
ID 1851 be Was prominent candidate foi
United States Senator to succeed Wallace
after the oaucls nOminee-HErTy ". Olive
failed 70 receive the support Of the anti
I caucus Republicans that eventually elected
John l. Mitchell. Mr.. Cessna always feli
that II be had received the sid.of the state
leaders be would have been successful in thi:
contest, and sfier that Withdrew from state
politics
In 1881 be was candidate for Judge in tbs
Bedford-S Somerset district, and received ih'
nomination. The contest between him ant
Judge Baer was vigorous, Mr.. Cessna beins
positive force and never doing things bl
} Slies, bat not possessing the AT Of suayiiy
and compromise. be was defeated by thirteen
votes. After this be devoted his great abili
ties 10 the law, and was the leader Of the
Bedford bar. IN 1891 be was Delegate at
Large 10 the proposed Stzte Constitutions
convention, sBd received the largest vote on
the ticket. With the exception CT the two
labor leaders