Illinois Governor, US Congressman and Senator. He was known as "Mr. Republican" and "the man who looked like Lincoln" during his long political career. A native of Kentucky, he moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1853, where he was admitted to the bar and elected City Attorney in 1855. He went on to serve in the State House of Representatives (1856, 1860 to 1861), the last session as House Speaker, and three terms in the US Congress (1865 to 1871), representing Illinois' 8th District. Returning to his home state, Cullom was twice elected as the 17th Governor of Illinois and served from 1877 to 1883. He resigned to take his seat in the US Senate for the first of five consecutive terms (1883 to 1913). His most significant work as a Senator was pushing through the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in an attempt to regulate the railroad and oil industries. He was also considered several times for the Presidency. Cullom did not seek a sixth term and retired in 1913 as Dean of the US Senate after 30 years of service with that body. He died the following year.
Illinois Governor, US Congressman and Senator. He was known as "Mr. Republican" and "the man who looked like Lincoln" during his long political career. A native of Kentucky, he moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1853, where he was admitted to the bar and elected City Attorney in 1855. He went on to serve in the State House of Representatives (1856, 1860 to 1861), the last session as House Speaker, and three terms in the US Congress (1865 to 1871), representing Illinois' 8th District. Returning to his home state, Cullom was twice elected as the 17th Governor of Illinois and served from 1877 to 1883. He resigned to take his seat in the US Senate for the first of five consecutive terms (1883 to 1913). His most significant work as a Senator was pushing through the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in an attempt to regulate the railroad and oil industries. He was also considered several times for the Presidency. Cullom did not seek a sixth term and retired in 1913 as Dean of the US Senate after 30 years of service with that body. He died the following year.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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See more Cullom memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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