Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1907 — Exactly. SPEAKERS of CONGRESS from INDIANNA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Exactly. SPEAKERS of CONGRESS from INDIANNA

John W. Davis, speaker of the house of representatives, \yas born at New Holland, Pa., April 10, 1799. and died in Carlisle. Ind., Aug. 22, 1859. He remained on his father’s farm until he was seventeen, then studied medicine and graduated from the University of Maryland In 1821. In August of that year he arrived at Carlisle with only 3 cents in his pocket. Entering politics, he was successively sergeant-at-arms of the Indiana house, judge of the probate court, member of the legislature, speaker of the house and congressman. He was elected to congress in 1835 and 1839, and in 1841 was defeated, returning to the state legislature, where he again served as speaker. In 1843 and 1845 he was sent to congress and was chosen speaker by the Democrats. In 1847 he '-as United States commissioner to China, and in 1851 was returned to the legislature and once more served as speaker. la 1852 he-wasi chairman of the Democratic national convention and a year later became governor of Oregon territory. Mr. Davis was six»*feet two inches high, was powerful and well proportioned. As a presiding officer he ranked with the best, and atryt/safe and prudent legislator was the equal of any man in his state in his day.

JOHN W. DAVIS.