The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-07
THREE FAMOUS FAMILIES.
The Bayards, HarrisOns and Adamses
Who Have H0nOEed Their Country.
Cleveland Leader.


Who Have HonOred Their Country.
Cleveland Leader
The death of Thomas Francis Bayard. a
senator of the United States secretary of
state, ambassador to Great Britain and
more than once a prominent candidate for
the Presidents great office, naturally at
tracts attention TO the peculiar distinction
of his family that ii has furnished four
United States senator's Of three generations,
all of them able and worthy men, 1t may
also stimulate interest in the few note
worthy instances of hereditary and family
eminence in the public life of the United
States and the comparative achievements
and honors of the three, and especially the
two, families most distinguished.
The Bayards are without doubt most re-
markable for the number of senators which
they have given the country. No other
family can boast so many representatives
in the upper house of Congress- That dis
tinction, however. loses some of it's value
by the smalness of the State which elected
them ALL 1t is one thing TO gain seat in
the Senate in little Delaware, and another
to achieve such distinction in a common
wealth twenty times as populous; yet it
must be admitted that Delaware has shown
character as New York or Pennsylvania.
Aside from the senatorships of the Bayards
the first James A. Bayard was a member
OF Congress and the American minister to
Russia. Richard H. Bayard was American
charge d'affaireS in Brussels Finally.
Thomas F. Bayard was not only senator.
but secretary of state and ambassador to
the Court of st. James.
Surely the Bayards have a great record in
the public, life of their country, but they
WELD 81
Ohio and Indiana, and to the Adams family,
OF Massachusetts. Those two are the fam
mes whlch nave distanced all others in the
extent and nature of their public honors.
Each has furnished the Nation with two
Presidents, and in both many lesser honors
have fallen to strong and Justly famous
men.
OF the first Harrison distinguished in the
history OF the American Republic. 1t is re-
lature of Virginia; that he served in the
Continental Congress and the convention
of the United States thsf be was
OF the Declaration of independence, and that
he was Governor of Virginia. Truly, fine
list of services and honors for the Benja-
min Harrison whose son and great-grand-
son were to hold the highest offices in the
gift OF their country. General William
the Declaration of Independence, was ter
ritorial delegate to Congress, a famous ma
Jor general of the United States army, the
Governor of the Territory of Indiana, a
member of Congress, United States senator,
minister to the United States of Colombia,
and finally President of the United States.
Again, a great record for any man.
William Henry Harrison's grandson, Ben
Jamin Harrison, has been President of his
country United States senator from Indi-
ana, and a brigadier general of the United
states army. In every position of trust and
name and his career united with those Of
his distinguished ancestors easily surpasses
the record of the Bayards, of Delaware.
Even the HarrisonS must yield, however,
to the Adams family of Massachusetts for
varied and Astounding honors well won and
enjoyed through several generations. There
is nothing like the work of that house in
any other American family.
Samuel Adams and his second cousin.
John Adams. were leaders in their native
State at the same time, but Samuel was the
elder and the first to achieve fame. He was
more noted for his influence and his patri-
otto work outside of his official duties than
for the positions of trust which he held,
but his feiloW-citizens made him member
Of both houses of the Legislature of their
State, sent him to the Continental Congress,
where he signed the declaration of indie
pendence, and afterwards chose him for
lieutenant governor and lastly for Gov
ernor of his native commonwealth. IT is a
fair list of offices. but not one which by
any means measures the scope of impor-
tance or the services of Samuel Adams to
his country
John Adams entirely eclipsed the record
of his cousin in the number and character
of the honors heaped upon him. He was
member of the Massachusetts Legislature
and Of the Continental Congress. whereA he
which he helped to frame, and he served as
a member of the commission which negou-
ated the treaty with England that ended the
war of the revolution. He had earlier been
a commissioner TO France, and he was min
lister to Holland for brief period AS min
lister to England he rendered great services.
Finally his career was completed by two
dent.
John Quincy Adams, SON of the second
President, began his long and remarkable
career at an early, age. Washington made
MN minister 70 Holland at twenty-seven,
and at thirty he was minister TO Prussia
Then came seat in the United States SEN
ate. the ministry to Russia, membership in
the commission which negotiated the treaty
with England that ended the war of 1872
followed by the British mission Next he
became secretary of state The climax was
reached in the presidency, but afterwards
came seven years of able and famous serv-
ice in the national House of Representa-
tiVeS, which only death terminated. 1t was
wonderful career.
Charles Francis Adams. the son of Presi-
dent John Quincy Adams. was a member of
the Massachusetts Legislature represent
alive in Congress. United States minister 10
Great Britain and one of the American
members Of the commission which settled
the Alabama claims controversy with Eng
land. His son, Charles Francis Adams. jr..
was brave and competent soldier in the
mission. Later his career was marked by
literary and business distinction. but not by
public services in official positions.
Clearly the Adams family still holds first
place among the few American houses
which have been greatly distinguished from
generation to generation. Next come the
Harrisons, and then the Bayards. The other
instances of like nature are strangely few.
They include the Idncolns, the Camerons of
PENNSYLVANIA the Pinckneys of South Caro-
lima and a few others of really national
distinction. OF course, more or less local or
state prominence in public life has passed
from generation to generation in a great
number Of families. But the cases OF true
national fame, won more than once by men
of the same blood, but different generations.
are rare indeed.
In that respect history is singularly
like our avowed beliefs and democratic prtn-
ciDles.
For the People 10 Decide.