The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-02
STGNERS
OF THE r ZION or
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

phabetlCally, but according 10 lHe ~
cation of the colonies, beginning at eipe
most northern. For this reason, inc
first man called upon to vote on the
adoption Of the declaration was JOSIAH
Bartlett, and, likewise, he was the
first man, after President John Han
cock, to inscribe his name on that fate
full manuscript.
Many families in the south could
probably trace their ancestry to one o.
the signers of the declaration had 1t
not been for a chance misfortune.
Georgia sent, among her other dele
gates, John Houston and Rev. j. j.
Zubly to the congress-. Mr.. Houston
was forced to take sudden leave from
the debate, however, when it was dis
covered that DR.. Zubly was on his way
p~osthaste to inform the crown governor
of Georgia of what was taking place
in Philadelphia. Zubly had been Civ
ing away the secrets of the executive
sessions. He was accused on the floor
or congress of SO doing by Samuel
Chase, of Maryland, but denied the
charges and challenged proof. The
proof was given, and he perforce fled
pack to Georgia, closely pursued by
Houston. Fortunately, for the good Of
the country, by the time they reached
Georgia the crown governor had al
ready been deposed by the people, had
escaped and taken refuge in an armed
BrltIsh vessel in Savannah harbor. But
had 1t not been for the necessity of fol-
loving DR.. Zubly the name of John
Houston would have been added to
those of h other signers.
The six men who were not members
OF congress at the time of the signing
OF the Declaration of independence, but
were elected later and allowed to sign
were benjamin Rush, George Taylor,
James Wilson,, George Ross, George
Clymer and Matthew Thornton. OF the
original so members, however, there
We're five who did not sign on the I'd
OF August, George Wythe, Richard
Henry Lee, E%lbridge Gerry, Oliver VOL
colt and Thomas Mexican. There were
Two other men, also, who were present
during the discussion and adoption of
the declaration, voting for it, but who
never signed. They were Henry Wis
iler OF New York and John Dickinson.
ihomas Mexican is interesting not
only he was the last to sign
the declaration, but also because he
was closely allied with two of the col
ONES at the same time. He was a ma
1--WE OF pennsylvania, having been born
IN New London, in 1874. Following an
elementary education, he was placed in
cnarge OF the Rev. Francis Allison, at
newcastle, Del. Later he read law in
and was admitted to the bar
or That colony. But his native colony
refused to give him up, and in 1853 he
was elected a member of the Pennsyl-
wanna assembly. In the same year he
was also made a judge of the common
peas court for Newcastle county, Della
ware. He was elected to congress from
DeiaWare serving for nine consecutive
terms n in 1881 was president of the
congress. All this time, however he
nad peen continuously reelected to his
OFFICE or assemblyman in Pennsylvania
linen, IN addition to being president of
in 1777 he was made chief
3ustlce Of Pennsylvania. This office he
leid until 1893, at which time he be-
came governor of that colony, continu-
ing 10 fill the latter office until 1908
He died in 1917.
Despite the fact that two of the
colohles thought enough of him to give
him their highest office. Thomas Mo.
Means IRE was not without it's thorns
IN lIiS, shortly after he was made chief
Justlce OF Pennsylvania, an attempt
was mace 70 lmpeach him. This, how
ever, failed. But again in 1907 and
1903 another attempt was made, and
this time a committee, made up OF
members of the House of Representa-
yves, was appointed to consider and re-
port on the matter. This led TO a reso-
luton that Thomas Mexican, governor
or the commonwealth, be impeached Of
Ht5 EiiiiiSS oiiQ llllSoeIilGGIlOIS. AICGl
considerable postponement and much
discussion the resolution was carried ir
the House. And then, on the same day
it was indefinitely postponed, an6
never again brought up.
When on August 2, 1916, the sigma
lures of h delegates We're placed upon
the declaration, with but one excep-
ton, merely the name of the man was
written. That exception was Charles
Carroll, whose signature he wrote thus:
Charles Carroll, of Carrolltown." He
Is interesting on another score, also. as
he outlived ali the other signers, at
tanning the age of 95. He died in No
vember. 1882. Charles Carroll was not
a delegate to congress during the dis.
custom OF Lees resolution. Intensely
interested in the movement, however
he visited Philadelphia early in 177t
IN order to be present at the meetings
His feelings We're so well known tina
congress appointed him a commissions
to accompany Franklin and Chase t.
Canada in February of that year.
Upon his return Richard Henry Lees
resolution a already been introduced
and was being discussed. Realizing thu
Importance of the occasion, Carol
fastened home to aid in turning tn,
tide of Maryland's sentiments, which
he succeeded in doing. New instruc.
tons We're issued. and he himself an.
pointed a delegate to congress-. Tha
was on July A. He arrived in Phila
delphia on the Sth, and was among III,
first to place his signature on the docl.
!. ment.
Not all the men who signed the dec.
laration We're college graduates, larg,
land owners and high officials. Som,
there We're who reached the p@innacl,
of distinction from the bottom of tn,
ladder. such a man was Roger Sher.
man of Connecticut. Born in Massa.
c%husetts. he was the son of a small
farmer. When IS his father died. leav
ing him the only support of the tamil,
which was large. No other employ
ment being open to young Sherman
who had small educational opportuni
ties he was apprenticed 10 a shoema
ker. In 1743 it was thought expedien
to move. and New Milford, Conn, wa
chosen. Roger made the entire Jour
ney on foot. carrying the tools Of hi
trade with him.
In g Milford he continued at hi
trade for some time. That, however
was not his only occupation, for it i
said that while he was employed at hi
bench he always had a book SO place,
that ne could read 1t whenever his eve
We're not on his work. He was esne
!cially fond of mathematics. and his in
dustry and desire were SO great that r,
the time he was 81 he was making as
Ironomtca calculations that were n,lb
iished IN an almanac printed in New