US Congressman. Born near Hartford, Kentucky on August 19, 1835, he moved to Missouri then to California and later that part of Utah territory that eventually became the state of Nevada. He taught school, studied law, and began practice in Virginia City, where he developed an interest in mining. At the end of the Civil War, he returned to Missouri and continued the practice of law, eventually settling in Lebanon. As a Democrat, he was elected to the 43rd and to ten succeeding Congresses, serving from 1873 until 1895. He was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining for the 44th Congress and chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures for the 48th through 50th Congresses and the 52nd and 53rd Congresses. In 1878, he co-sponsored the Bland-Allison Act, which established bimetallism through the purchase and coinage of two to four million dollars worth of silver each month. He was defeated for re-election in 1894, but elected again in 1896 and 1898, serving until his death on June 15, 1899. In 1896, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, heading the silver faction of the party that was eventually championed by the more electrifying William Jennings Bryan.
US Congressman. Born near Hartford, Kentucky on August 19, 1835, he moved to Missouri then to California and later that part of Utah territory that eventually became the state of Nevada. He taught school, studied law, and began practice in Virginia City, where he developed an interest in mining. At the end of the Civil War, he returned to Missouri and continued the practice of law, eventually settling in Lebanon. As a Democrat, he was elected to the 43rd and to ten succeeding Congresses, serving from 1873 until 1895. He was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining for the 44th Congress and chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures for the 48th through 50th Congresses and the 52nd and 53rd Congresses. In 1878, he co-sponsored the Bland-Allison Act, which established bimetallism through the purchase and coinage of two to four million dollars worth of silver each month. He was defeated for re-election in 1894, but elected again in 1896 and 1898, serving until his death on June 15, 1899. In 1896, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, heading the silver faction of the party that was eventually championed by the more electrifying William Jennings Bryan.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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