The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-02
LITTLE-KNOWN SIGNERS
OF THE DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

IKE the procedure OF today IN our leg
Islhture, the names were not read al
lpnaoeucally, but according to the To-
cation OF the colonies, beginning at the
most northern. For this reason the
nrst man called upon TO vote on the
adoption OF the declaration was Josiah
Bartlett. and. likewise, he was the
nrst man. after President John Han
COCK, 70 inscribe his name on that fate
tut manuscript.
probably trace their ancestry TO one OF
the signers OF the declaration had IL
/ not been for chance misfortune
Georgia sent, among her other dele
gates John Houston and Rev. ]. ].
1uoly to the congress. Mr.. Houston
t VAS forced to take sudden leave from
the debate, however, when Ii was dis
covered that DIR. zubly was on his way
posthaste TO inform the crown governor
| OF Georgia OF what was taking places
IN PHILADELPHIA. Zubly had been Civ
ing away the secrets Of the executive
sessions. He was accused on the floor
OF congress OF so doing by Samuel
Chase, OF Maryland, but denied the
charges and challenged proof. The
PROOF was given, and he perforce fed
back 70 Georgia, closely pursued by
nouston. fortunately. for the good OF
tne country. by the time they reached
Georgia the crown governor had al
ready been deposeds by the people. had
escaped and taken refuge in an armed
brltish vessel in Savannah harbor But
nad II not been for the necessity of fol-
lowing DR.. zubly the name of John
houston would have been added to
those OF the other signers.
The six men who were not members
OF congress at the time OF the signing
| or the Declaration OF Independence, but
We're elected later and allowed to sign
were BENJAMIN Rush, George Taylor,
James wilson, George Ross, George
Clymer and Matthew Thornton. or the
orlglnal 90 members, however, there
We're hve who did not sign on the I'd
0L august George Wythe, Richard
Henry Lee, Elbridge Gerry, oliver VOL
colt and Thomas Mexican. There were
TWO other men, also, who were present
curing the discussion and adoption of
the declaration voting for IL but who
never signed. They were Henry wis
ner OF New York and John Dickinson.
Lhomas Mexican is interesting not
only because he was the last TO sign
the declaration, but also because he.
was closely allied with two OF the col
onles az the same time. He was ma
i've or pennsylvania, having been born
IN New London, In 1874. Following an
elementary education, he was placed In
charge OF the Rev. Francis Allison at
newcastle, Del. Later he read law in
delaware, and was admitted to the bar
OF That colony. But his native colony
refused 70 give him up, and in 1855 he
was erected member or the Pennsyl-
Vania assembly. In the same year he
was also made Judge OF the common
pleas court for Newcastle county Della
ware. He was elected to congress- from
delaware, serving for nine consecutiye
lerIns ana In 1871 was president of the
congress. All this time, however he
had been continuously reelected 10 his
o1fice or assemblyman in Pennsylvania
Then, In addition to being president OF
Delaware, in 1777 he was made chief
Justice OF Pennsylvania. This office he
held until 1893, at which time he be-
came governor of that colony, continue
ing TO fill the latter office until 1905.
He died in 1917.
Despite the fact that two. OF the
colonies thought enough Of him to give
him their highest office, Thomas Nc
kean,s life was not without its thorns
In lI7S, shortly after he was made chief
justice OF Pennsylvania, an attempt
was made to impeach him. This, how
ever, failed But again in 1907 and
1908 another attempt was made, and
this time a committee, made up OF
members of the House of Representa-
tives, was appointed to consider and re-
port on the matter. This led TO a reso-
luton that Thomas Mexican, governor
of the commonwealth, be impeached Of
high crimes and misdemeanors." After
considerable postponement and much
discussion the resolution was carried in
the Hodse. And then, on the same day
it was indefinitely postponed, and
never again brought up.
When on August 2. 1776. the sigma
lures of the delegates were 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 outliyed all the other signers, att
tanning the age of 95. He died in No
yember 1882. Charles Carroll was not
q delegate to congress during the dis
custom of Lees resolution. Intensely
interested in the movement. however,
he visited Philadelphia early in 1776
In order to be present at the meetings.
His feelings were so well known that
congress appointed him a commissioner
to accompany Franklin and Chase to
Canada in February OF that year.
Upon his return Richard Henry Lees
resolution had already been introduced
Importance OF the occasion, Carroll
FASTENED home to aid in turning the
tide of Marylands sentiments, which
he succeeded In doing. New instruc-
tions were issued, and he himself app
pointed delegate to congress. That
was on July 4. lie arrived IN Pnlla-
delphia on the Sth, and was among the
first to place his signature on the docu-
ment.
Not all the men who signed the dec
laration were college graduates, large
land owners and high officials. Some
there were who reached the pinnacle
of distinction from the bottom Of the
ladder. Such man was Roger Sher-
man of Connecticut. Born in Massa-
chusetts, he was the son of small
farmer. When 10 his father died. leav-
ing him the only support of the family
which was large. No other employ
ment being open to young Sherman
who had small educational opportuni-
ties he was apprenticed to a shoema-
kerr In 1743 ii was thought expedient
to move, and New Milford, Conn. was
chosen. Roger made the entire jour
ney on foot. carrying the tools Of his
trade with him.
In New Milford he continued at his
trade for some time. That however,
was not his only occupation, for 1t is
said that while he was employed at his
bench he always had a book so placed
that ne could read it whenever his eyes