The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-30
susquehanna Governors.

From the Ph iladelphia Times.
It is quite probable that the close OF
the present year will see in the little
mountain village Of Bellefonte, in Centre
county, three living Governors Of Penn
sylvania, viz: Ex-Governor Andrew q.
Curtin, Ex-Governor James i. Beaver
and Governor-elect Daniel II. Hastings.
When it is remembered that no other
town, or even city, Of the State has ever
had two living Governors Of Pennsyivs-
mia at one time among its citizens the
rarity Of the compliment to Bellefonie
viii be appreciated. Philadelphia, with
one fifth the population Of the State, had
the first Governor under the Constitution
in Thomas Mifiin, but no Philadelphian
has filed the position Of Chief Msgis-
trate from the time Of Governor Miihin's
retirement until Governor Pathson was
inaugurated in 1883, nearly a century
later. It is worthy Of note also that
Philadelphia, with all her intelligence
and culture, has not had an United States
Senator since George NJ. Dallas, who re-
tired more than half a century ago,
while the forests Of Clearield alone fur
nished Bigler as Senator in 1856 and
Wallace in 1873.
Itis marvellous how prolific the upper
[ Susauehanna region has been in prOduc-
I ing Pennsylvania Governors. The sturdy
/ German, Simon Snyder, was the first OF
/ them. He succeeded Mifflin, and served
three terms, and his administration is
vet pointed to as one Of the most exem-
pIary in the history Of the Stste. The
next Governor from the Susquehanna
region was William Bigler, of Cleartield,
who was elected in 1851 over Governor
Johnson, and the same year his brother
John Bigler, was elected Governor Of the
State Of California. Both of them were
defeated for reelection by the Know
nothing tide, and Bigler was succeeded
by another SusQuehanna Governor in
James Pollock, Of Milton. He called
Andrew q. Curtin to his Cabinet as SIC
retary Of the Commonwealth, and thus
paved the way for Curtin's election tC
the office Of Governor six years later. Al
the expiration Of Pollock's term William
+. Packer, Of Williamsport, another Sus-
quehanna man, was chosen TO the sue
cession, defeating David Wilmot, Repub
lican, and Isaac Hazlehurst, American
Three years later Packer was succeeded
by Curtin, another son of the Susque
hanna forests, who was twice elected. Il
addition to the three Governors awarde'
to Bellefonte the Wings nominated Gen
eral James Irwin, of that place, as thei
candidate for Governor in lS47, who va!
defeated by Governor Skunk.
Thus four successive Governors wen
chosen from the West Branch region, be
ginning with Bigler in 81 and endinl
with Curtin in 1860. There was then
break in the line Of Susqnehanna Gov
ernors to Geary Of Cumberland, Hart
ranft Of Montgomery and Hoyt of Lu
zerne, when the nomination of the dOmi
nant party wss again given 20 a son O
the upper susquehanna region in GeneI
al Beaver. Hestruck an adverse pOliti
cal tide and was defeated in 1852, bu
was renominated in SO and elected by
big majority. The Goyernorship thel
returned to Philadelphia, giving Govern
or PAuison his second term, and now to,
party that is reasonably certain to elec
the next Governor has unanimousl,
nominated General Hastings, Of Belle
fonte, gho was welcomed to his hom
from his victory in the State Convention
by the two ex- Governors who vet live {
honor the community they have mad
memorable Considering Hastings ele,
tio,i as reasonably well assured, the mai
vino shall visit Bellefont any time afle
the November election viii find in ths
little mountaiR-g;Tled and heartsom
village three living Governors Of Penn
sylvaniB, while Philadelphia, with
million and a quarter population,
awarded the Chief Magistraey Of th
= State about once in a century.