OBIT: James Donald CAMERON, 1918, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JudyBoo Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ _________________________________________ DEATHS CAMERON - James Donald Cameron, on August 30, 1918, in the 86th year of his age, at Donegal, Lancaster County, Pa. Funeral services at his late residence, 407 North Front street, Harrisburg, Pa., at a time to be announced later. ----------------------------------------- Senator Cameron, Former War Secretary, Dead Ex-Secretary of War, Who Died Today at Donegal Former Senator J. Donald Cameron [photo] James Donald Cameron, secretary of war in Grant's second administration, United States Senator from Pennsylvania for twenty years, chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1880, and the last conspicuous figure remaining from the period of American reconstruction, died at his summer home at Donegal, Lancaster County, this morning in his 86th year. He had been failing in health for several months. Senator Cameron, who was the son and successor to the political power in Pennsylvania of his father, the late Senator Simon Cameron, sought to avoid publicity in the closing years of his life. He spent most of his time at the old family seat at Donegal, where his ancestors had settled on fleeing from Scotland after the Battle of Culloden in which they had espoused the cause of the unfortunate Prince Charlie, going to his plantation, St. Helena's Island, in South Carolina in winter, or cruising in southern waters on his houseboat "Conewago." Senator Cameron was a public benefactor, to the city of Harrisburg in particular, and was a leader as agriculturist, a railroad builder, a financier and a statesman. While keenly interested in current affairs, he took no active part in politics after retiring from the United States Senate, but devoted himself to his business and family affairs, and associated with himself in the management of his affairs his son, J. M. Cameron, and his eldest grandson, so that he might be sure that they would be conducted along the lines in which he had faith. Born in Middletown James Donald Cameron was born on the 14th of May, 1833, Middletown, where he was educated until he entered Princeton College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1852. Soon after that he married in Harrisburg, where his father had moved, Mary McCormick, the only daughter of James McCormick, at that time a leader of the Pennsylvania bar. By this marriage he had six children, who are still living. There are five daughters, Mrs. William H. Bradley, Mrs. Alexander Rodgers, Miss Mary Cameron, Mrs. J. William Clark and Mrs. Chandler Hale and one son, James M. Cameron. His second wife, who was Elizabeth Sherman, survives him. His business career began as soon as he left Princeton, when he became a clerk in his father's bank in Middletown, later becoming cashier and president of it when it became the National Bank of Middletown. After moving to Harrisburg, he became interested in the First National Bank here. He soon purchased from his father the farm on the Susquehanna River, south of the city, called "Lochiel," and there made his home for many years. President of the N. C. R. In the meantime his business interests broadened and he became identified with the Northern Central Railroad, which extended from Baltimore, Md., to Canandaigua, N. Y., opening a route from Buffalo to the South. Under his direction as president of the Northern Central it prospered amazingly and was finally leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and is today one of that system's most important lines. He brought many industries to Harrisburg, through his connection with them, among them the Pennsylvania Steel Company and the Elliott-Fisher plant. With his two brothers-in-law, Henry McCormick and James McCormick, he became a trustee of the James McCormick estate, and took an active part in developing the business interests which had been left by his father-in-law of which the Dauphin Deposit Trust Company, and the blast furnace and steel rolling mills, now known as the Central Iron & Steel Company, were part. Agricultural Activities On his farms he took an active interest in agriculture, being among the first to introduce Jersey cattle into southeastern Pennsylvania. He helped to raise the standard of horses by breeding and distributing hackneys, and was the owner of "Royalty," in his day a famous Hackney sire. For many years he was the oldest member of the Farmers' Club of Philadelphia, whose monthly dinners have been the gathering place for men of national reputation in business and politics for generations. As a philanthropist he sought to hide his extensive generosity, rather than to publish it, and was active, in assisting to place the Pine Street Presbyterian Church and the Harrisburg Hospital on a secure foundation, and at the time that an extension to Harrisburg's beautiful parkway was agitated, he was the first to donate land needed, giving that part of his "Lochiel" farms which lay along Mill Creek from the Susquehanna River to the Dauphin County almshouse. It was this gift which gave much impetus to the development which has made Harrisburg one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. Succeeded His Father Senator Cameron's career as a public man began by early association with his father, Simon Cameron, one of the founders of the Republican party, and it was the confidence established by the father and son in drawing about them in the organization of the party, the people of highest reputation in every community throughout the State which has enabled the Republican party in Pennsylvania to maintain its prestige and power ever since. James Donald, the son, was Secretary of War in President Grant's cabinet from May 22nd, 1876, to March 3rd, 1877, when he succeeded his father in the United States Senate, having been elected to fill the unexpired term from which his father had resigned. The distinction of a son's election to succeed his father as a Senator has as yet only been achieved in one other case, that of Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware, who was elected to succeed his father James A. Bayard. Senator Cameron was a member of the United States Senate thereafter continuously until March 3rd, 1897, being elected for three successive terms. He rendered distinguished service there, and withdrew only because he wished to devote himself to his private affairs. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868 and 1880, and in 1880 was chairman of the Republican National Committee, and a member with Logan of Illinois and Conkling of New York of the triumvirate which sought the nomination of Grant for a third presidential term. During much of his time in the Senate, the Democrats were in Control of Congress, but such was the friendship and respect they held in him, that he wielded an influence beyond that of his Republican colleagues. Helped in Civil War The active period of his lifetime began before the Mexican War. During the period which intervened before Lincoln's election he was gaining the experience with men and affairs which made it possible for him to take over his father's business interests when Simon Cameron became Lincoln's first Secretary of War. During the Civil War he rendered signal service as a railroad man in maintaining and improving the transportation of troops and supplies. At the close of the war he found himself drawn more and more into the problems of reconstruction and active political life. Then followed a period of twenty years in office, - during which the country was developing the national resources and its international relations, - which was brought to a close by the war with Spain. After that another twenty years was devoted to business and family affairs. For fifty years he has been a national figure. For sixty years he enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the leaders of business, finance and politics. In his old age he was fortunate in retaining those qualities which marked him in his youth. Alert, energetic and optimistic, he was quick to form a judgment and to act unhesitatingly upon it, and to bear the consequences. He left a record of which he was not ashamed, and to which those who come after him may point with pride. He came of sturdy stock and worthily represented it. He was the able son of an able father. The funeral of Senator Cameron will be held from his Harrisburg residence, 407 North Front street, at a time to be announced later. The Evening News, Harrisburg, Penna., Friday August 30, 1918