Thomas Corwin (1794-1865)
Lewis Cass (1782-1866)
Border States
Northwestern States (Continued)
No formal schooling, laborer on Erie Canal, law, practice in Ohio, partners with Giddings ’31-37, state pol, abolitionist, opposes “black codes,” judge, US Senate ’51-69, attacks “slave power,” gets 3 votes at ’60 Repub convention, heads Committee on Conduct of the War, critical of Lincoln for failure to abolish slavery & enlist black soldiers, radical anti-South bills vetoed by AL, wins creation of black troops, Homestead & Land Grant Acts ’62, favors impeachment of Johnson, Freedmen’s Bureau, loses ’68 election, Northern Pacific RR job, major pro-black force.
Grows up in Indiana before move to Iowa City, lawyer, President of Iowa Wesleyan College, Whig then Free Soil, U.S. Senator 1855-65, close friend of Lincoln, Sec of Interior ’65-66
Home schooled early by Presbyterian minister father, Jefferson College, teacher then lawyer with $ help from Edwin Stanton, state leg ’46 ad Dem, opposes repeal of Ohio “Black Codes,” newspaper editor, US House in ’45 and ’58-63, outspoken pro-states rights, slavery is legal, so is secession, radical proposals to restructure America into four sections, leader of the Copperhead Dems opposed to “King Lincoln” and the war, Emancipation violates the Constitution, called a traitor for voting against military build-ups, arrested for violating Military Order 38 (giving comfort and aid to the enemy in public statements), habeas corpus writs and martyr fears convince Lincoln to release him, but banished to Confederate land, Davis holds him as “enemy alien,” goes to Canada where he win Dem nomination in absentia for Guv race ’63, loses decisively, Lincoln ignores his return to Ohio, backs anti-War McClellan ’64, continues post-war agitation, bizarre death at 50 by accidently shooting himself while in court defending accused murderer.
Photography Book
Iowa -- Admission Date: December 28, 1846 Motto: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
Timothy Otis Howe (1816-1883)
Ohio-- Admission Date: March 1, 1803 Motto: With God, all things are possible
Corwins settle Lebanon, Ohio, father in politics, and farming, limited finances, log cabin school til 11, at 18 a “wagon boy” running supplies to Gen WH Harrison during War of 1812, studies law, prosecuting atty and state leg, US House ’31-40 as Whig, known as “terror of the house” for sharp, witty debate, Guv of Ohio ’40-42, but loses re-election, US Senate ’45-50, most famous for 2.5 hour speech challenging the Mexican War as a land grab, called a traitor, serves as Sec of Treasure ’50-53 under Fillmore, back to House ’59-61 hoping to avoid secession, then Amb to Mexico under Lincoln til ’64, law in DC til retirement.
Father a successful businessman who moves to Ohio in 1805, Miami of O, lawyer, builds reputation and wealth in banking and railroads before politics, state senate as Whig, where works to repeal Ohio “Black Codes” ’48-50, strong anti-slavery view bring him to early Republican role, Ohio Guv ’60-62, raises over 100,000 troops for war, denounces Copperheads, sends troops into WVA to support breakaway state effort, criticized for overstepping his powers, loses reelection but Chairs Rep National Com, then serves as Lincoln’s Postmaster Gen ’64-66.
One of 10 kids of widow on NH farm, sent to Ohio to study under minister uncle, Dartmouth grad ’26, law under Atty Gen William Wirt, to Cincy, successful practice and legal scholar, wife dies after 10 mos marriage, despondency, then “spiritual awakening” to fight slavery, defense of run-away sparks ’41 Cincy race riot, 2nd wife dies, local politics as Whig, joins Smith’s Liberty Party but sees need to expand base beyond abolitionists, ’48 Dem split opens way to “Free Soil” movement barring slavery in the west, US Senate ’49-55 as FS, opposes 1850 Compromise on pop sov and ’54 Kan-Neb Act, helps form Republican coalition (FS + Nativists + No. Dems),Gov of Ohio ’56-60, loses Prez bid in ’60 due to prior Dem links & anti-protective tariff, Lincoln names him Treasury Sec ’61-64, sets up national banking system and currency, hopes for Prez run in ’64, but when Taney dies, Lincoln names him Chief Justice of Supreme Ct ’64-73, dies in office.
George Pendleton (1825-1889)
Born in Prussia, Jesuit school, 1848 revolution to create unified & democratic German State, he edits a reform newspaper, artilleryman in ’48 battles vs. Prussian army, after defeat escapes west, eventually to Wisconsin, 1st Kindergarten, passes bar ’58, Republican politics, pro-Lincoln, leading voice in German community, favors Emancipation Proc, Amb to Spain ’61, capable Major General in war, journalist in St. Louis, US Senator ’69-75 (1st German-Am in body), Grant’s Sec of Interior ’77-81, reforms Bureau of Indian Affairs, to NYC, NY Evening Post and Harpers Weekly editor, NY politics, anti-imperialism.
Benjamin Wade (1800-1878)
Father a judge in NY, studies law, ’38 bar at 19, to Wisconsin ’40, postmaster then state politics, Governor ’58-62 as Republican, outspoken anti-slavery and pro abolition, sets up Camp Randall to support Lincoln call for volunteers, ’63 Amb to Papal States, later Postmaster General under Andrew Johnson.
Family farm in Ohio, self-educated, militia in War of 1812, passes bar ’21, Ohio House ‘26 as Dem-Rep, partner with Ben Wade ’31-37, loses big in Panic of ’37, shifts to politics, long-term career in US House ’43-59, quickly becomes the leading opponent of slavery, appeals to natural law/higher law, focuses first on DC where fed gov has power, allies with JQA in defying the Gag Rule, links to Garrison, radical language, support for violent slave insurrections, opp all efforts to expand slavery west (Texas annex/Mex War/1850 Comp/Kan-Neb), moves from Whig to Free Soil to Republican, Lincoln opp his extremism, but names Amb to Canada ’61-death in ’64.
Racial zealot who becomes the pivotal figure in the admission of Oregon to the Union in 1859 under a “black exclusion clause” and is instrumental in the 1860 break-up of the Democrat Party over slavery. Born in NC, he moves to Indiana 1820-46, serves in the state legislature and the militia before earning military honors in the Mexican War, where he reaches the rank of Major General under Zachary Taylor. Polk appoints him as 1st Territorial Governor in Oregon in 1848 and he becomes its dominant political voice, as first delegate to the US House and then the state’s first Senator. He is overtly pro-slavery and joins the Southern Democrats in 1860, running for Vice-President alongside John Breckinridge. When he supports secession his political star fades. He takes no part in the Civil War, essentially retiring from the public stage.
George Read (1733-1798)
Quaker father a doctor and abolitionist, mother runs general store, Kenyon College, lawyer in Cadiz til ’47, to DC in ’56, gains acquittal for Dan Sickles for killing his wife’s lover, other high profile court cases, named U.S. Atty General by Buchanan ’60, convinces Buck that secession unconstitutional, Lincoln asks him to “oversee” Sec of War Cameron and, after firing, he is named successor ’62-68.
Edwin Stanton (1814-1869)
Father in US House, Cincinnati College, travel abroad, law to state politics, US House as Dem ’57-65, backs the South and states rights, links to Copperhead, opposition to war, runs as VP with McClellan ’64 for peace now, votes against 13th Amendment, election losses, Prez of Ky Central RR, US Senate ’79-85, Amb to Germany.
Private Sec to WH Harrison during War of 1812 then a famous lawyer and financial investor in western Ohio. For Colonization to “solve slavery.” In US House 1823-38 as “watchdog of the Treasury.” After losses in Panic of 1837, serves as comptroller of Treasury for Taylor/Fillmore, Pierce and Lincoln
Joshua Giddings (1795-1864)
James Rood Doolittle (1815-1897)
Clement Vallandigham (1820-1871)
Politicians/Diplomats
Born in Maine, Readfield Seminary which touts Wesleyan values, bar ’45, state leg, moves to Green Bay WI, ardent Whig, circuit judge, two failed attempts at congress, then US Senate ’61-79 as Republican, abolitionist, declines Supreme Court post, US Postmaster General under Arthur
NY birth, Hobart College, bar ’37, successful law practice, District Atty, NY state militia, moves to Racine, WI as judge, switches from Dem to Rep after Kansas-Neb Bill, US Senate ’57-69, member of ’61 Peace Conference, head of Indian Affairs, exposes corruption, loses run for WI governor in ’71 as Democrat, President of U Chicago, teaches law there, Prez of Dem National Convention ‘72.
Elisha Whittlesby (1783-1863)
Born on a New Hampshire farm to a father who fought at Bunker Hill, Cass is schooled at Phillips Exeter Academy before heading to Ohio in 1800. He passes the bar, enters the Ohio House in 1806 and becomes deeply involved with the Freemasons. He is appointed U.S. Marshall for the state by Jefferson ’07. General during the War of 1812, distinction at Battle of Thames where Tecumseh killed. Named Guv-Mich Territory by Madison, serves 1813-31. Sec of War for Jackson ’31-36. Oversees Indian removal. Minister to France ’36-42. Lose Dem nomination for Prez on 9th ballots to Polk ’44. Favors Texas Annex and with S.A. Douglas proposes pop sov voting to decide free vs. slaves status in west, this begins split in Dem Party, loses ’48 Prez election to Zachary Taylor, US Senator ’49-57, Buchanan’s Sec of State ’57-60, resigns when Buck fails to act aggressively against Southern threat.
Grows up in Ohio, Western Reserve College, moves to Kenosha, WI, opens academy and edits Whig paper ’43-46, helps found Republican Party in WI, state senate ’54-58, elected Guv in ’62, but drowns in Tenn River during expedition to bring supplies to soldiers at the Battle of Shiloh, his wife Cordelia wins fame for nursing role in war, w honorary Col rank from AL.
James Harlan (1820-1899)
James Ashley (1824-1896)
Oregon-- Admission Date: February 14, 1859 Motto: She flies with her own wings
Carl Schurz (1829-1906)
Wisconsin -- Admission Date: May 29, 1848 Motto: Forward
Louis P. Harvey (1820-1862)
Michigan -- Admission Date: January 26, 1837 Motto: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you
George Read grows up in New Castle, Delaware, where he opens a law practice and enters the state legislature. He opposes the British Stamp Act in 1765 and, with John Dickinson, participates in the Continental Congress, where he signs the Declaration of Independence in 1776, albeit still hoping for a reconciliation with the crown, and the US Constitution in 1787. He serves in the US Senate (’89-’93) as a Federalist, and then ends his career as Chief Justice of Delaware.
John Potter (1817-1899)
Delaware -- Admission Date: December 7, 1787 Motto: Liberty and Independence
One of four famous sons of Israel Washburn, Sr., first to head west to make fortune, teacher in Iowa, law in IL and then WI, businessman, mining, land, banking, lumber and mills, enters politics as Republican, joins brothers in US House ’55-61, anti-slavery, supports peace attempts, then into army, MG in west, Grant praises admin skills, back to US House ’67-71 and Guv of WI ’72-74, donates Edgewood College land in WI.
Alexander Randall (1819-1872)
Born in Pa, father an Evangelical preacher, sees slave coffles in Ky visits, rejects ministry, works on Miss R boats, helps run-aways in ’39, Ohio in ’48, edits Portland Democrat paper, abolitionist, Republican for Fremont ’56, attends John Brown hanging ’59 with widow, US House ’59-69, bill to end slavery in DC ’63, 13th Amendment leader, Radical Rep during Reconstruction, initiates Prez Johnson impeachment (for So. sympathies), pro education for all, towering anti-slavery figure.
Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873)
Born in Maine, Phillips Exeter Academy, lawyer in WI then judge ’42-46, delegate to Whig National Con ’52 and ’56, US House ’57-63 as Republican, outspoken opponent of slavery, challenged to a duel on floor of House ’60 by Roger Pryor, who retreats when Potter chooses “Bowie Knives at 4 feet,” presented at ’60 Convention with 6-foot knife and nickname, BK Potter, ’62 Homestead Act, Counsel General in Montreal ’63-66.
William Dennison (1815-1882)
Joseph Lane (1801-1881)
Cadwallader Washburn (1818-1882)