USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 28
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In 1850 the Democrats of Berks county turned with unanimity to Mr. Jones as their candidate for Congress, and at the conven- tion held September 7, he was nominated on the first ballot, receiving one hundred and two votes, twenty-five only being cast against him. He was elected at the succeed- ing election and took his seat at the opening of the Thirty-second Congress in December, 1851. He received instant recognition from
the speaker, Linn Boyd of Kentucky, by an appointment to the Ways and Means Com- mittee, the most important committee of the House. He served with credit throughout the Thirty-second Congress, although no measures of special historical importance were enacted by that Congress, it being the period of calm that preceded the stormy agitation of the slavery question. Mr. Jones, in discussing foreign relations upon the floor of the House, on December 13, 1852, predicted the establishment of the Maximillian empire of Mexico and the loss of Cuba by Spain ; defined his position upon the United States Bank question; upon the disposition of the public lands, and the Fugitive Slave law. He announced his adherence to the Democratic doctrine of revenue as the controlling prinicple of all tariff laws, holding that the incidental tariff law of 1846 afforded ample protection to home manufactures, opposing the doctrine of protection, per se. He opposed a hori- zontal tariff and looked forward to the time when American manufacturers would be able to compete with those of other coun- tries, and when no protection would be needed. He held that tariffs must fluctuate with the laws of trade and the necessities of the government-denying that a tariff could be made permanent by legislation or that legislation could regulate the laws of supply and demand. His views were those of his party at that time and have continued the doctrine of that party.
Mr. Jones declined reëlection, desiring to return to his profession. His successor, however, only attended the first session of the Thirty-third Congress and died in Wash- ington, January 9, 1854. Mr. Jones, being the nearly unanimous choice of the district, consented to again become the candidate and took his seat in the Thirty-third Con- gress, February 13, 1854. He acted with his party on the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and advocated in an able speech in reply to Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, the bill
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carrying into effect the Gadsden Treaty with Mexico. The bill appropriating $10,- 000,000 passed by a vote of 103 to 62. In 1854 Mr. Jones was reelected to Congress and although the Democratic party had lost control of the House it was the only national party, the opposition being divided into four or five sectional factions, all opposed to the Democratic doctrine of respect for the vital principles upon which the government had been founded, and which had been pro- claimed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the country. Certain that the Democratic party would be assailed by its factional opponents it was important that a leader should be selected who would boldly, clearly and judiciously define its position and defend it against hostile attack. This important and responsible duty was assigned by the Democratic representatives to Mr. Jones. This high honor coming from such a body of men shows the estimate placed by distinguished and able men upon his ability as a statesman, his skill as a debater and his clear understanding of the constitutional questions involved.
The election of speaker of the Thirty- fourth Congress required one hundred and thirty-three ballots and was not effected un- til February 2, 1856. Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, a Free Soiler, was chosen over the Democrats and Republicans, the other candidates being Know Nothings of various shades of belief, and one the choice of those who would not support either of the other five. It had been agreed that if on the one hundred and thirty-third ballot no one should receive a majority, the one re- ceiving the highest vote should be declared elected speaker. Nathaniel P. Banks was elected, receiving one hundred and three votes over his Democratic opponent, Wil- liam Aiken, of South Carolina.
During the attack that early began in the House upon the Democratic platform which Mr. Jones had drawn, he withstood with readiness, skill and rare ability and success
the fire of a running debate of four days. The broadminded statesmanship of Mr. Jones made him a leader of those who stood fairly upon the Constitution in opposition to the Abolition attacks upon the institu- tions of the South. He squarely met their assaults and in the stormy scenes that fol- lowed, as leader of the House, was fre- quently summoned to the White House for consultation by President Pierce.
In the campaign that followed the nomi- nation of James Buchanan by the National Democratic Convention of June, 1856, Mr. Jones, who had drawn the platform of the convention, and who led the Buchanan forces, took an active part, both upon the stump and in party councils, no man contributing more than he to the triumph of the Democratic party in that election. He was himself returned to Congress for the fourth time by a majority of six thousand and four, the largest ever given any repre- sentative from Berks county. As soon as Mr. Buchanan was elected, public senti- ment gave Mr. Jones a place in the cabinet. His long experience in public affairs, his thorough knowledge of men, his familiarity with the public questions of the day, and his long advocacy of the claims of Mr. Buchanan to the presidency, all tended to assign in public opinion, a high place in the cabinet to Mr. Jones, although it does not appear that he made any effort to obtain an appointment.
Mr. Buchanan indeed promptly invited Mr. Jones to a seat in his cabinet, but the dissensions which culminated in the split at the Charleston convention in 1860, had already begun, and Mr. Jones declined an appointment in the belief that he could bet- ter serve the new administration in Con- gress.
During the first session of the Thirty- fifth Congress Mr. Jones' position as leader of the House was recognized by his appoint- ment as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means; and by his ability, labor and parliamentary skill he overcame the
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difficulties of his position, and handled suc- cessfully the legislative measures necessary for the administration of the government. As the recognized leader of his party in the House, he used his influence in favor of the admission of Kansas under the Le- compton Constitution, the bill passing the Senate with but one Democrat, Stephen A. Douglass, voting against it, and passing the House with but few dissenting Demo- cratic votes. Mr. Jones was engaged in many debates on various subjects vital to the period, and maintained his high position as a clear headed, forceful debater and leader.
In 1858 Mr. Jones was unanimously nom- inated by the County Convention for a fifth term in Congress, but at the following elec- tion the revolution was on, the Democratic party was overwhelmed and swept from its moorings and his opponent was returned elected. The return was not an honest one, frauds in the City of Reading alone, being discovered sufficient to reverse the return, but a contest was not considered. His de- feat was not a personal one, he shared the fate of his party, to whose principles he had always been devoted and to which he adhered faithfully unto the end.
Immediately after the election Mr. Jones was offered the mission to Austria by Presi- dent Buchanan, which he accepted, resign- ing his seat in Congress and ending his valuable congressional career begun eight years before. This appointment caused great rejoicing in Reading.
His residence in Vienna was a most agreeable and successful one, made espe- cially so by the cordial treatment he re- ceived from the Court, the Minister of For- eign Affairs and the diplomatic corps. That he was an able and accomplished diplomat, thoroughly acquainted with international law and keeping in touch with the moves of European diplomacy, is shown by his vig- orous efforts in behalf of the rights of neu- trals on the high seas and by his able diplo- matic correspondence. Six months after he
left Vienna, J. Lothrop Motley, his suc- cessor, wrote to him, "Count Rechberg, (the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs) always speaks of yourself with the greatest respect and regard."
President Lincoln first appointed Anson Burlingame Mr. Jones' successor, but the Austrian government refused to receive him. This caused some embarrassment, and on August 12, 1861, Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, wrote Mr. Jones that he hoped it would suit his convenience to await the arrival of a new minister. Mr. Jones, owing to the critical conditions caused by the Civil War, consented and was in charge of the legation until October, 1861, when he was relieved by his successor, the noted his- torian, J. Lothrop Motley. When relieved of official responsibilities Mr. Jones pre- sented his letter of recall at an audience with the Emperor and started on his jour- ney home. He arrived in Reading, Decem- ber 30, 1861, and was welcomed with the same kindly enthusiasm by his neighbors as when they had bade him godspeed thrce years earlier, upon his leaving for Vienna.
Mr. Jones died in Reading, March 24, 1878, and was buried in the family lot in Charles Evans Cemetery. He received many tributes of respect from the bar and press of the country, and over his grave the highest eulogies were spoken by men who, though differing from him politically, could unite in praising the qualities of mind and character that marked him as the great- est of Berks county statesmen.
Mr. Jones married, June 23, 1832, at "Flushing," Bensalem township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Anna Rodman, daughter of William Rodman. Flushing was the home of her widowed mother and had been the home of her immediate branch of the Rodman family since 1752.
William Rodman was born at Flushing, October 7, 1757, died there July 27, 1824. His ancestors had been prominent in the affairs of the colonies from earliest times, king's councillors, assemblymen, and mili-
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tary officers. He was disowned by the Society of Friends for affirming allegiance and fidelity to the State of Pennsylvania, as directed by the statute of 1777. On Octo- ber 4, 1781, he was appointed brigade quar- termaster with the rank of captain, and served until the militia was disbanded. He was justice of the peace for Bucks county, 1791-1800, resigning when elected State Senator. He was four years a member of the State Senate and was chairman of im- portant committees. He was elected to Con- gress in 1810, his service ending with the Twelfth Congress, March 3, 1813. In 1799 he had served as captain of dragoons in the service of the United States in suppressing the "Fries Insurrection," and in 1809 was presidential elector.
J. Glancy and Anna (Rodman) Jones had issue: Esther Rodman, William Rodman, Anna Rodman, Elizabeth, Charles Henry, Richmond Legh, Mary, Katherine, and James Glancy.
JONES, Richmond Legh,
Corporation Lawyer, Man of Affairs.
A descendant of a long line of distin- guished Colonial and Revolutionary ances- tors, Mr. Jones in his own career has earned a position at the Pennsylvania bar and in the regard of his fellow citizens, that enti- tles him to be classed with the leading men of his day. He is a great-grandson of David Jones, who came to Pennsylvania in 1721, from Merioneth, Wales, bought a large tract of land in Caernawon township, Berks county, and there opened and devoloped iron ore mines that yet bear his name.
Colonel Jonathan Jones, son of David, was senior captain of the first regiment raised in Pennsylvania for the Continental army, October, 1775; was engaged in the winter campaign against Quebec after the death of General Montgomery, and took part in many of the historical battles of the Revolution. For "gallant and meritorious" service in the field, Captain Jones was pro-
moted to major of his regiment, and later to lieutenant-colonel in the Pennsylvania Line.
J. Glancy Jones, a grandson of Licuten- ant-Colonel Jones, and father of Richmond L. Jones, was an eminent lawyer and a dis- tinguished member of the National House of Representatives from Berks county, serv- ing from 1850 until 1859. He resigned his seat in Congress to enter the diplomatic service of his country, accepting the ap- pointment of envoy extraordinary and min- ister plenipotentiary to the Austrian Court, representing this country at Vienna during the early period of the Civil War, when our relations with European nations were ex- tremely delicate and the wisest diplomacy was necessary to prevent the recognition of the Confederacy. He married June 23, 1832, Anna Rodman, a daughter of Wil- liam Rodman, of Bucks county, Pennsylva- nia, a brigade quartermaster in the Revo- lutionary army, later a member of the State Senate and of the Twelfth National Con- gress. The Rodman family dates from the earliest colonial period in the New World, and contributed to the colonies and states many of their most distinguished citizens.
Richmond Legh Jones, son of J. Glancy and Anna Rodman Jones, was born in Quincy, Florida, February 17, 1840; was educated in the best schools in his own coun- try and finished his university training at Heidelberg, Germany. Prior to entering that world-famed institution, however, he accompanied the United States expedition against Paraguay, sailed one thousand miles up the Parana river and witnessed the capit- ulation of Lopez, which was the crowning success of the expedition. Enroute going and returning he visited the principal cities of the eastern coast of South America, and the Islands of St. Thomas and the Barba- does in the West Indies. He spent several years in Europe, later returning to the United States, and under the preceptorship of his talented father studied and qualified for the legal profession. He was admitted
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to the Berks county bar April 14, 1863, and later to all State and Federal Courts of the district ; also to the bar of Philadelphia and other counties of the State. He rose to emi- nence in his profession and attained marked distinction, having tried and won many cases involving important principles of law, which are now quoted as precedents. His reputa- tion as an exponent of the laws governing corporations is so well established that in later years he was appointed by the Penn- sylvania Bar Association to revise the cor- poration laws of the State. He is counsel for the Reading street railway system with its suburban adjuncts and for the electric and gas companies ; and many other cor- porations which he represents owe their marked success to the genius, ability and learning of Mr. Jones, who wisely guided their organization and development. He is general counsel for the United Power and Transportation Company, and Interstate Railways Company, two corporations that control over five hundred miles of street railways in Pennsylvania, and adjoining states. As legal adviser, serving well the corporations that employ him, he has no less efficiently served the public interests in both a legal and private capacity. It was mainly through his efforts that the city of Reading recovered the tract of land lost for nearly one hundred years, lying at the foot of Penn's Mount, now beautifully improved as a public park and known as Penn Com- mon. It was also through his efforts that the public library of which he is president, was rescued from obscure conditions and impending disaster, placed upon an endur- ing foundation by liberal private contribu- tions, headed by his own generous donation, and presented to the City of Reading. These and other substantial benefits due to his energy and wise counsel are cheerfully acknowledged by the prosperous community in which he lives.
Mr. Jones has also given much of his time and energy to the public of the State
and Nation. In 1862, when Maryland was invaded, he enlisted as a private and partic- ipated in the battle of Antietam. In 1863 he was again in the field as captain of a company of Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1866 he was elected a member of the State Legislature from Berks county, was twice reëlected, and during his second term in 1868, was the candidate of his party for the speakership of the house. His speeches on the amendments to the National Consti- tution then being debated, attracted wide attention and ranked with the ablest argu- ments delivered in the House during the debate. Political life, however, had little attraction for him and on the expiration of his third term, he returned to his much more congenial profession, the law, and never again accepted public office, save as a member of the Valley Forge Commission, to which he was appointed by Governor Pennypacker, and reappointed by Governors Stuart and Tener.
Mr. Jones is a member of various law associations and societies, is a member of the patriotic societies Sons of the Revolu- tion, Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Wars, Society of the War of 1812, and the Grand Army of the Republic ; he belongs to the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, and is a vestryman of Christ Protestant Epis- copal Church of Reading. In his political faith he is a Democrat, though latterly he has acted independently upon national ques- tions.
Mr. Jones married, November 26, 1870, Margaret Ellen, daughter of James Mc- Carty, a prominent ironmaster of Reading. Her mother was Rebecca MacVeagh, sister of Wayne and Franklin MacVeagh. His only child, a daughter, Anna Rodman, now deceased, married Nathaniel Ferguson of Reading. Their three children, Margaret Legh, Grace Rodman and Richmond Jones Ferguson, survive. Margaret is at Bristol School, Washington, D. C., Grace at The Misses Shipley's School, Bryn Mawr, Penn-
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sylvania, and Richmond is a cadet at the Military Academy, Wenonah, New Jersey. May, 1914.
Mr. Jones maintains offices in "Lawyers' Row," Reading, and has a beautiful coun- try residence, "Merioneth," located on an adjacent hill overlooking the city.
CADWALADER, Richard McCall, Lawyer, Litterateur.
An honored member of the Philadelphia Bar since 1864, an author of legal and his- torical works, a high official of patriotic societies, church and social organizations, Richard McCall Cadwalader stands as one of the prominent men of his day. He comes from a family distinguished in Pennsyl- vania under both colonial and state govern- ment, and is one of the many men distin- guished in professional and military life who have borne the name Cadwalader. He is of the fifth American generation of the Pennsylvania family founded by John Cad- walader, of Wales, in 1697.
John Cadwalader was born in county Merioneth, Wales, about 1677, and at age twenty years came to this country bearing testimony from the Friends of Pembroke- shire that they had known him since his thirteenth year and that he "hath the repu- tation of an apt scholar and hath attained to as good a degree of learning as any at school." Furthermore they gave testimony that "his demeanor has been sober and inno- cent." The young man settled on the "Welsh Tract" near Philadelphia, and on December 26, 1699, married Martha Jones, daughter of Dr. Edward Jones, who came from Wales with the first immigrants from that country in 1682. Dr. Jones married Mary Wynne, daughter of Thomas Wynne, a physician who came with William Penn on the "Welcome." After his marriage John Cadwalader located in Philadelphia, where he taught school, later became a mer- chant, was elected a member of the common council in 1718, and in 1729 a member of
the General Assembly. He died July 23, 1734, leaving a son, Thomas, to perpetuate the family name, the only son to survive childhood.
Thomas Cadwalader became a noted phy- sician, obtaining his professional education largely in England. He practiced first in Philadelphia, then located at Trenton, New Jersey, where in 1746 he became the first burgess under the charter granted by Gov- ernor Belcher of New Jersey. In 1750 he returned to Philadelphia and there rose to eminence in his profession, served in many positions of honor and trust, was an ardent patriot and lived an honorable, useful life that terminated November 14, 1779, at the age of seventy-two years, at his farm "Greenwood," about one mile from Tren- ton, New Jersey. He is known in history as Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, the "Coun- cilor," having served with Chew and Mif- flin as a member of the Provincial Council from November 2, 1755, until the Revolu- tion. He also served as a member of Phil- adelphia common council, 1751 until 1774. He married, June 18, 1738, Hannah, daugh- ter of Thomas Lambert, of New Jersey ; she died in Philadelphia in 1786, aged seventy- four years, and was buried in Friends' bury- ing ground at Fifth and Arch streets; Dr. Thomas Cadwalader was buried in Friends' burying ground in Trenton, New Jersey, in which city he had founded a public library. His daughters married distinguished men of their day, except the youngest, Elizabeth, one of the flower girls at Washington's re- ception in Trenton in 1789, who died un- married ten years after that event, aged twenty-nine years. His sons, General John and Colonel Lambert, were distinguished men of their day.
Colonel Lambert Cadwalader, second and younger of the two sons of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, "the Councilor," and his wife, Hannah Lambert, was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, in 1743, died in Green- wood, New Jersey, September 13, 1823, and is buried in Friends' ground in Tren-
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ton. He was a merchant of Philadelphia, associated with his brother, General John Cadwalader, and as early as May 18, 1766, his letters show his feelings concerning the dispute with the Mother Country. On that date he wrote to George Morgan :
I have now the pleasure to communicate to you the joyful news of the repeal of the Stamp Act; news that almost calls back youth to the aged, gives health and vigor to the sick and in- firm. The act to repeal the Stamp Act received the Royal assent on the 18th of March and a copy was brought here in a vessel from Poole. If ever the Americans should fall into Paganism, place dead men among their gods and worship them, there is scarcely any one who will have a better chance of being enrolled in the number of them than Mr. Pitt. This great man by his abil- ities, virtues and extraordinary courage has gained a never dying name. America is again free! God bless her! long may she remain so! As to the Act of Parliament to tax the colonies, we shall regard it as waste paper. Let us only enjoy liberty but half a century longer and we will defy the power of England to enslave us.
Lambert Cadwalader was chosen, with his brother John, as member of the Com- mittee of Superintendence and Correspond- ence for Philadelphia, and Lambert was sent to the Provincial Convention which met in January, 1775. When the call to arms came, he promptly responded and was chosen captain of one the companies of the "Greens." When the Congress of Deputies called upon Pennsylvania for four bat- talions, the committee sent in a list on Janu- ary 3, 1776, with Lambert Cadwalader's name at the head for one of the lieutenant- colonelcies. He was attached to the bat- talion under the command of Colonel Shea, and Graydon says in his memoirs: "Ours was on a footing of the most promising on the continent." On June 18, General Heath wrote in his diary: "The Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Colonels Shea and Magaw, have the appearance of fine troops." That same month, under command of Gen- eral Mifflin, they erected Fort Washington on the Hudson, with Forts Constitution and
Lee opposite. On the report of General Heath that Shea and Magaw's regiment were among the best disciplined troops of the army, General Mifflin was ordered with them to New York. When their time ex- pired, Colonel Shea returned home, but the Third Battalion reënlisted for the war as the Fourth of Foot of the Army of the United States, and Lambert Cadwalader, who had been in command, was commis- sioned colonel. At Fort Washington, while in command of his regiment, he was taken prisoner, though Irving, in speaking of that battle, said of General Washington that nothing encouraged him more than the gal- lant style in which Colonel Cadwalader, with an inferior force, maintained his posi- tion; "it gave me great hope," he wrote to Congress, "that the enemy was entirely re- pulsed." With the rest of the captured gar- rison, Colonel Cadwalader was marched to New York, and although sent home was un- able to procure his release by an exchange of prisoners. He was compelled to remain inactive, and finally resigned from the army. He took a prominent part in the Constitu- tional Convention of 1776; and in 1784 was elected a deputy to the Continental Con- gress, serving until 1787. He was a mem- ber of the grand committee to which was referred the report of the Annapolis Com- mission, recommending the calling of the Federal Convention, resulting in the Con- stitution of the United States. He was elected a representative from New Jersey to the first Constitutional Congress, begin- ning March 4, 1789, serving in the First, Second and Third Congresses, finally re- turning to private life in March, 1795, at the expiration of the Third Congress. He bought in March, 1776, the country seat "Greenwood," in Ewing township, about a mile from the city of Trenton, New Jersey, a portion of which is supposed to have been of the original tract hield by his father, and the place of his father's death. Here he resided until his death in 1823, full of years and honor. He married, in 1793. Mary,
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