James Whitcomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Whitcomb
|
|
|---|---|
Posthumous portrait by James Forbes
|
|
| 8th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office December 6, 1843 – December 27, 1848 |
|
| Lieutenant | Jesse D. Bright Paris C. Dunning |
| Preceded by | Samuel Bigger |
| Succeeded by | Paris C. Dunning |
| Indiana State Senate | |
| In office December 5, 1830 – December 4, 1836 |
|
| United States Senator from Indiana |
|
| In office March 4, 1849 – October 4, 1852 |
|
| Preceded by | Edward A. Hannegan |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Cathcart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1795 Windsor County, Vermont |
| Died | October 4, 1852 (aged 56) New York City |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Martha Ann Hurst |
| Relations | Claude Matthews (son-in-law) |
| Children | Martha Renick Whitcomb |
| Alma mater | Transylvania University |
James Whitcomb (December 1, 1795 – October 4, 1852) was a Democrat who served as a United States senator and the eighth governor of Indiana.
As governor during the Mexican–American War, he helped get soldiers ready for the war. He also led the effort to change the state's rules and helped stop the government from borrowing too much money. Whitcomb is often seen as one of Indiana's most successful governors because he guided the state through its money problems. After being governor, he was elected to the United States Senate but sadly passed away just three years later.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Family and Background
James Whitcomb was born in Rochester, Vermont, on December 1, 1795. He was the fourth of ten children. In 1806, his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they farmed land. James loved to read, but his father wanted him to focus on farm work.
Despite this, young James found a way to teach school and attend Transylvania University in Kentucky. There, he studied law and picked up some customs from the southern states. When he returned north, people noticed his very nice clothes and polite manners. He was also a talented musician who could play many instruments, especially the violin. He often played music, sang, and danced for his friends.
After finishing his studies in 1819, he moved to Fayette County, Kentucky. He became a lawyer in March 1822. In 1824, he moved to Bloomington, Indiana, and continued his law practice. He quickly earned respect in the community. From 1826 to 1829, Governor James B. Ray appointed him as a government lawyer for Monroe County, Indiana. He became well-known for successfully handling several important cases.
Starting in Politics
In 1830, James Whitcomb was elected to the Indiana Senate. In the Senate, he was a strong voice against big state projects that cost a lot of money. He was one of only nine people who spoke against the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act. This act was a huge plan for canals and roads. Even though he spoke against it, he voted for the bill after his local voters asked him to support it.
From 1836 to 1841, President Andrew Jackson appointed Whitcomb to be the head of the General Land Office in Washington, D.C. While in this job, he learned French and Spanish so he could read old land agreements. His main work involved mapping out large areas of land in Iowa and Wisconsin. He also helped solve arguments over land in the recently bought Florida Territory. After leaving this job in 1841, Whitcomb moved to Terre Haute. From there, he started his campaign to become governor.
Governor of Indiana
First Term as Governor
In 1843, James Whitcomb wrote a popular paper called "Facts for the People." In it, he argued against the federal government putting taxes on imported goods. That same year, he was chosen as the Democratic candidate for governor.
The state of Indiana was facing serious money problems. A big plan for canals and roads had failed, and the state had lost a lot of money. Whitcomb campaigned on this issue, blaming the Whig party for the financial mess. He also gained a lot of support from the large Methodist community because his opponent, Samuel Bigger, had made some negative comments about Methodists. Whitcomb, who was a Methodist, won the election against Governor Samuel Bigger.
When he became governor, the state government had no money. Indiana was trying to recover from spending too much on those failed projects in the 1830s. During his time as governor, the state began to get back on track. Whitcomb pushed for big spending cuts, including lowering the pay for government workers. These cuts, along with more money coming into the state, helped the government manage its debt.
Whitcomb also supported creating the Indiana School for the Deaf and a hospital for people with mental illness. Both ideas were approved, but funding was put on hold until the state's money problems were solved. As his first term ended, he ran for reelection. He won again, showing that people approved of his efforts to fix the state's finances.
Second Term as Governor
In 1845, Indiana faced money problems again. A representative for the state's lenders, Charles Butler, came to negotiate. The lenders agreed to reduce Indiana's total debt in exchange for partial ownership of the Wabash and Erie Canal. This canal was the only successful public works project. This agreement helped the state lower the interest rates it paid on its loans. By 1847, Indiana's financial crisis was finally coming to an end.
Whitcomb married Martha Ann Renick Hurts, a wealthy widow, on March 24, 1846. They had a baby girl on July 1, 1847. Sadly, his wife passed away just sixteen days after giving birth. This was a very difficult time for Whitcomb. His daughter later married Claude Matthews, who became governor of Indiana in 1896.
During Whitcomb's second term, the United States declared war on Mexico. Whitcomb was in charge of getting soldiers ready from Indiana for the Mexican–American War. The state was not prepared for war because of its money troubles. The state's military was not well-equipped, and there were hardly any weapons.
Since the state had no money for the war, Whitcomb took a personal loan of $10,000 from the Bank of Indiana on his own credit. He used this money to buy weapons for the state's soldiers. He also asked other banks for similar loans. This allowed Indiana to gather the five groups of soldiers requested by the government. Once the state legislature met, they paid him back and took over his debts to the bank. A bronze statue of Whitcomb was later placed in Monument Circle in Indianapolis to honor his role as a wartime governor.
One of Whitcomb's less popular actions was his refusal to reappoint two Indiana Supreme Court Justices. He believed they were too slow in handling cases and that younger judges were needed. This decision was a major reason why the way judges are appointed changed in the 1851 constitution. In 1848, Whitcomb called for a meeting to change the state's constitution. He wanted to remove the state's power to take loans and make other government improvements.
Whitcomb was also a very active member of the Masons, a social organization. He was the first person in Indiana to be honored as a Masonic Knights Templar. He even started a Masonic group that met in his home for several years.
Senator and Death
In 1848, before his second term as governor ended, Whitcomb was elected by the state legislature to become a United States Senator. He left his role as governor and served in the Senate from 1849 until his death in 1852. In the Senate, he strongly opposed taxes on imported goods. While in Washington, D.C., he also served as the Vice-President of the American Bible Society.
Whitcomb became ill with kidney disease and sought medical treatment in New York City. He passed away from the illness in New York City on October 4, 1852. His body was brought back to Indianapolis and buried in Greenlawn Cemetery. Later, in 1892, his daughter had his body moved to Crown Hill Cemetery.
In his will, Whitcomb left his large personal library and part of his money to the Methodist Indiana Asbury College, which is now known as DePauw University. He also gave a large donation to the American Bible Association. Some people believe his library is haunted. There is a statue of Whitcomb on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
The famous poet James Whitcomb Riley was named after Governor Whitcomb because the poet's father was a close friend. Whitcomb's paper about taxes on imported goods became popular again after his death. Even though he made some enemies during his time in office, James Whitcomb is remembered as one of Indiana's most important governors.
See also
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)
- List of governors of Indiana
