The Cairo bulletin., 1912-02-24
FAMOUS men WHO VISITED CAIRO
iBY MICHAEL ). HOWLEY

cordiug to the Cairo Weekly Sun oil
! that time, Louis kossuth, the Hun
! garian patriot and exile, was a pas
Isenger on 4 steamboat in the port OF
Cairo. He was called upon by
number of prominent citizens Kos
suth had come to this country on the
| United States warship Mississippi
(which had been detailed by our gov
eminent to convey him to America
as the nations guest. At Washing
ton he wasyfeceised with the highest
flsnors. #kogsuth returned 20 Ear6pe
in ygpyaffql!awing his. receftfoH a'ih
cAHeAzf \
\ ~lnAA ! Matepeacels rhackefHy,
tinguished novelist aud1ecturer, was
visitor in our city on Monday,
March "a, 1856, as stated in the
Cairo Times and Delta newspaper,
published at that time. This was 8
few weeks previous to his return to
England, after his second visit to
the United States. Mr.. Thackeray
had been lecturing throughout the
country on The Four Georges"
England's Hanoverians kings, and
came north after a tour through the
Southern states. The reporter of the
local paper was evidently d close OBJ
server of Mr. Thackeray's move
ments, as he noted that "the gem
tleman takes his brandy without"
John C. Breckenridge, Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, was an
hono-ed guest of Cairo on April 81,
1858 The Weekly Times and Delta
said 'He was given hearty re-
ccption and farewell. The Sons of
Malta "a prominent local society
got out with their flags and cannon
ard made the occasion lively one
Mr. Breckenridge is a fine looking
young man Of about 80. He made a
short address, returning thinks for
the demonstration"
A year and a half previous to this
visit of Mr. Breckenridge, the Buch-
anan and Breckenridge ticket had
carried Cairo, receiving 107 votes
while the American, or Know Moth
ing ticket had IS votes, and the Re-
publican ticket, II votes. In 1860,
MIR. Breckenridge was the nominee
of the Southern wing of the Demo
cratic party for President, In Cairo
he received 70 votes. while Douglas
received 347, Lincoln rs, and Bell
81 votes. In the same month that
Vice President Breckenridge visited
Cairo, Rev. Alexander Campbell was
In town. This clergyman was the
founder of the Disciples Of Christ"
commonly known as Campbellites or
Christians. While in Cairo Mr..
Campbell preached In tho old Pres
byterian church on Eighth street,
Rev. Mr.. Campbell was born In Coun-
try Antrim, Ireland, in June, 1885,
and came to the United States In
1909.
The Weekly Gazette noted that Ed
win Booth, the celebrated actor, was
passenger on a steamboat In the
l'ork Of Cairo, ON January 4, 1859.
fte4wAs then rs years OF age John
G, ,Heenan, noted prize fighter Of
ks day, was fellow passenger OF
Tooth. Both celebrities we're visited
fbyxa number OF townspeople during
their stay in port
! stephen A. Douglas visited Cairo
il, September, 1858, and was guest
Of the Taylor house, on the southwest
corner of Commercial avenue and
Fourth street, then the leading hotel
of the city. He left next morning
for Jonesborc where he met Abraham
Lincoln In Joint debate Mr. Douglas
!, was, also In town on, October ~
1860. during his campaign for tn,
4 presidency, as the nominse of thu
Northern wing Of the Democratic