VOORHEES-Daniel Wolsey
Daniel Wolsey VOORHESS, 1827-1897
Senate Years of Service: 1877-1897 Party: Democrat VOORHEES, Daniel Wolsey, (father of Charles Stewart Voorhees), a Representative and a Senator from Indiana; born in Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio, September 26, 1827; moved with his parents to Indiana in early childhood; attended the common schools of Veedersburg, Ind.; graduated from Indiana Asbury (now De Pauw) University at Greencastle in 1849; studied law (In Crawfordsville, Indiana with Henry Smith Lane- Jeff Scism); was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Covington, Ind.; moved to Terre Haute and continued the practice of law; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1856 to the Thirty-fifth Congress; United States district attorney for Indiana 1858-1861; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1861-March 3, 1865); presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Thirty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1865, to February 23, 1866, when he was succeeded by Henry D. Washburn, who contested the election; elected to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses (March 4, 1869-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress; appointed and subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Oliver H.P.T. Morton; reelected in 1885 and again in 1891, and served from November 6, 1877, to March 3, 1897; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; chairman, Committee on the Library (Forty-sixth Congress), Committee on Finance (Fifty-third Congress); died in Washington, D.C., April 10, 1897; interment in Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, Ind.
SOURCES: American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Jordan, Henry D. 'Daniel Wolsey Voorhees.´ Mississippi Valley Historical Review 6 (March 1920): 532-55; Kenworthy, Leonard S. The Tall Sycamore of the Wabash, Daniel Voorhees. Boston: B. Humphries, 1936
Source: History of Fountain County, Indiana. Paducah, Ky: Taylor Publishing Company, 1983.
b. 9-26-1827 Butler Co OH - moved age 2 months to Ft. Co IN - grew up on father's farm in VanBuren Twp few miles NE of what is now Veedersburg. Grad from Asbury (DePauw) in 1849 and admitted to Bar in 1850. Practiced law in Covington and at one time was in same law firm with Edward A. Hannigan & Lew Wallace. 1856 candidate for Congress during campaign made the statement that if he was not elected, he would move out of the district. Debated slavery issues Defeated in the election about 230 votes by James Wilson and moved to Terre Haute where he lived until his death. 1858 - appointed US District Attorney for IN - achieved national recognition when, at the request of the governor of Indiana, he defended John E. Cook, follower of John Brown. While the defense was unsuccessful and his client was exec by the State of VA his speech brought him country-wide fame as an orator. 1860 - Congress - served in the Hosue of Rep during the Civil War. Consistely supported Pres Lincoln - requests for various measures to improve the fighting strength of the Union Army and supported Pres Johnson's efforts to reunite the nation after war. Accused of being a member of the knights of the Golden Circle, an organization sympathietic to the South and in 1866, at the insistence of Thad Stevens who led the impreachment fight aginst pres Andrew Johnson he was denied his seat in the House on an almost strict party line vote. V. opposed Oliver P. Morton for US Senate seat in 1868 but was unsuccessful. He was ret to Congress in 1868 where he served from March 4, 1869 until march 3, 1873. In 1876, he campaigned intensively for "Blue Jeans' Williams, Dem candidate for governor of In who defeated Ben Harrison and in 1877, apointed by Governor Williams to fill the unexpired Senate term of Oliver P. Morton. He was then reelected to the Senate for 3 full terms - served in Senate over 19 years 3 months which is longer than any other Senator has represented indiana in the senate. V. promponent of Middle West and advanced those measures which he believed would be helpful to his section of the country. He supported most of the Populist doctrines and fought increase of currency, both through the issuance of green backs & through the free coinage of silver. He is also given credit for the establishment of the Library of Congress. In 1896, the Repub carried the legislature and elected Albert J. Beverage as senator retiring Daniel W. Voorhees and he died on April 20, 1897 and is bur at Terre Haute, Ind. In 1880, he married Anna Hardest a d/o one of the founders of Asbury college whom he met while attending Asbury and they had 4 children. He was known as the "Tall Sycamore of the Wabash."
Source: Bartlow, Bert S. Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio. Indianapolis?: B.F. Bowen, 1905 p 926
Daniel W. Voorhees was born in Liberty Township, not far from the old Spring meeting house, Sept 26, 1827 and was only two months old when his parents removed to Fountain County, Indiana where they later resided. His father, Stephen Voorhees was born in Mercer County, Kentucky 1798 and emigrated with his parents in 1804 to Butler County Ohio and in December 1827 moved to the farm in Fountain County Indiana where he died several years ago. His grandfather, Peter Voorhees was born in NJ and soon after the close of the Revolutionary War emigrated to Kentucky. Peter Voorhees' wife, whose maiden name was Van Arsdale, was born at Brant's Station then a fort. Her father, Luke VanArsdale, fought at the battle of Blue Licks, and distinguished himself there and elsewhere against the Indians under Daniel Boone. His great grandfather, Stephen Voorhees was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and fought at Princeton, Monmouth and other celebrated historic fields. His paternal ancestors came from Holland, the original name being VanVoorhees. Mr. Voorhees' mother, Rachel Elliott born in Maryland of Irish ancestry was married in 1821. Daniel W was the third child and was brought up on a farm about 10 miles from Covington Indiana remaining there until 1845. In 1845 he entered Asbury University whence he graduated in 1849. Soon after graduating he entered the law office of Lane & Wilson at Crawfordsville and the following spring settled to practice at Covington, the county seat of Fountain County. Here E.A. Hannegan, formerly US senator having heard him deliver a 4th of July oration made proposales for a law partnership taking effect April 1852. In June 1853, Mr. Voorhees was appointed by Governor Wright prosecuting attorney of the circuit court, in which position he soon established a fine reputation as a criminal lawyer and broke up a nest of desperadoes whose headquarters wer ein lafayette. In 1856 he was nominated by acclamation Democratic candidate for Congress but was defeated by 230 majority in a district previously Republican by 2600. In November 1857 he removed to Terre Haute, the county seat of Vigo County, and the ensuing April 1858, was appointed US District Attorney for the state of Indiana by President Buchanan in which position he increased his reputation as an orator and lawyer. He was elected to congress in 1860 and 1862 and in 1864 was again a successful candidate but in this last election his majority was contested by his opponent, Henr D. Washburne who obtained the seat. IN 1866 Mr. Voorhees refused the nomination but in 1868 was elected and again in 170. In 1872 he was defeated by Morton C. Hunter. As a precursor of the late war the insurrection at Harpers Fery, VA in which John Brown and others were convicted and hanged in 1859, will always stand prominent in the history of the country. At that time the gifted A.P. Willard was governor of Indiana and the chairman of the Indiana Democracy and it was with sorrow and dismay that his friends learned that Col. J.E. Cook, arrested with "Ossawatomie Brown," was a brother of Governor Willards' wife. Governor Willard was not the man to turn his back upon a brother or a friend. His first thought was of "Dan" Voorhees who was then at Vincennes arguing a case before Judge Michael F. Burke. Governor Willard sent a message to Vincennes and Judge Burke continued the case while Mr. Voorhess immediately started to consult Governor WIllard. Several gentlemen advised him not to undertake the defense, but he emphatically declared his resolution to defend his friends brother regardless of consequences. He went and took part in that celebrated trial. The result is known. John Brown was convicted of murder and treason, but Mr. Voorhees succeeded in having a Virginia jury convince Cook of murder only, thus brining him within the pardoning power of the governor. Governor Wise however refused to pardon and Cook was executed among the others. This was, however, the beginning of Mrs. Voorhee's national reputation. His speech was listened to byt he vast audience with rapt attention and met with unequaled approbation. He was the recipient of enthusiastic congratulations, and his speech was published all over the country and in Europe. From this time forward he occupied a conspicuous place in the eyes of the public. At the bar on the stump and in the halls of congress, he soon became a man of mark. Mr. Voorhee's political career and principles, his power as a parliamentary orator and statesman are now a portion of the history of the nation. From the sobriquet of the "tall Sycamore of the Wabash," so often and familiarly applied to Mr. Voorhees, it will be inferred that he was of tall stature. He stood 6' and 1" in height and weight over 200 pounds. In 1850 he married Miss Anna Hardesty of Greencastle Indiana and to them were born four children. Mr. Voorhees was appointed November 6 1877 to succeed Governor Morton in the US Senate. The issue in the eelection of 1878 in Indiana was wehterhe should be elected by the legislature to succeed his appointment. On this issue the legislature pledged to his support was elected by a majority of over 30,000 over all opposition. He was elected to succeed himself in 1885 and again in 1891 and served continuously until March 4, 1897, a period of almost 20 years in which he accomplished a notable work in diverting the county from the sectional issues growing out of the Civil War. As a politician Voorhees ranks with Lincoln himself. As senator he was assiduous in his attentions to thepublic needs. He was always present, and allowed no measure of his political opponents to pass wihtout the severest scrutiny. With him vigiliance was the price of liberty. He died soon after retiring from the senate on April 10, 1897.
Source: Daily Press and Dakataian (Yankton, Dakota) Wed Nov 14, 1877
“The Tall Sycamore” – Daniel Voorhees is a native of Ohio born in Butler County in September 1827. His parents settled in Fountain County, Indiana about 10 miles from the town of Covington. Here he lived his early years a farmer’s boy and at the age of 18 entered Asbury College at Greencastle where he was graduated with honors in 1849. He studied law in Crawfordsville and began practice there in 1852. It will thus be seen that Voorhees is entirely a “Hoosier” production in early college education and in the later one of law and it is in state practice and state politics that he has made his reputation. At the age of 26 he was commissioned prosecuting attorney by Gov. Wright and three years later in 1851, was a candidate for congress and was defeated by James Wilson. In 1857 he moved to Terre Haute where he has since made his home. In 1859 he was employed by Gov. Willard to defend Cook, one of the John Brown raiders and gained considerable reputation by his brilliant oratory. In 1860 he was elected to congress from that district, elected again in 1862 and defeated in 1864 for a contested seat by HD Washburne. In 1868 he was again sent to congress reelected in 1870 and again defeated in 1872 this time by Morton C. Hunter. He was a candidate for Senate in 75=76 but gave way to Joseph E. McDonald before the nomination was made. He engineered the last political campaign in Indiana was the right-hand man of Gov Williams during the contest and meets a reward for his political services by this appointment to serve the remainder of Senator Morton’s term which expires in 1879. He is the most popular of the democratic leaders in the state among the masses of his party.
Source: "Obituaries - Year - 1950 Volume B" from the Covington Public Library (thanks Brenda) p 154
Tall Sycamore of the Wabash to be honored by countians by F. Hugh Miller
Belated honors will be paid the late and noted US Senator Dan W. Voorhees, “the tall Sycamore of the Wabash” who was reared two and one-half miles northeast of Veedersburg by Fountain countians when a plaque in unveiled in the Continental Library in Washington DC late next month. The plaque is the gift of the Business & Professional Women’s Club of Covington. The plaque will be unveiled by Congresswoman Cecil Harden at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday June 27 and the Indiana Society in Washington will have charge of the program. Dan Voorhees was a son of pioneer residents of Indiana practice law in Covington succeeded Lew Wallace, son of an early Indiana governor as prosecuting attorney in 1852 and later moved to Terre Haute and was elected US Senator in 1877. Wallace is said to have been elected as a Democrat as was Voorhees in the years before the Civil War when the Republican party had not been born. Voorhees’ appointment as prosecuting attorney came when Wallace resigned under fire because he did not favor grand jury indictment of Edward A. Hannegan who had served as US Senator from 1841-1849. He was defeated for reelection by Henry S. Lane of Crawfordsville and then was appointed by President Polk as US minister to Prussia. Hannegan’s chances for a comeback were blighted when while under the influence of liquor he quarreled with his brother-in-law, Capt John R. Duncan who upbraided him for his drinking while both were living in Covington and stabbed the latter fatally with a sword cane. Hannegan was disconsolate over the affair and gave up all thought of running for the presidency for which he had a strong following. His withdrawal from the contest was followed by the nomination and election of Franklin Pierce. Hannegan, regarded as one of the most brilliant orators of his time died of an overdose of narcotics in St. Louis and was buried in Terre Haute although his wife was interred in the old Covington cemetery. Hannegan did not even attend the burial of his wife and never entered that cemetery after the interment there of Capt. Duncan. The can rapier was obtained by the late George Glascock, a former sheriff who gave it to his late brother, Harry Glascock and now is in the possession of the latter’s daughter, Mrs. Wayne Cory. Isaac A. Rice also an attorney at Covington and editor of the Fountain Ledger was so critical of Hannegan that the latter’s friends stirred up antagonism to a degree that caused Rice to move to Attica where the paper became the Attica Ledger.