This section of materials includes the extraordinarily well researched analyses of three Congressional campaigns; one article covers the 1866 and 1876 campaigns for the district that included Vermilion County and a second article covers the 1884 campaign. Both articles were written by noted historian Timothy Smith who, in various other publications, has chronicled the political life of Vermilion County resident Joseph Gurney Cannon.
“Uncle Joe” Cannon served for almost five decades (starting in 1873) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1903 to 1911. As part of Mr. Smith’s research, he has written the following articles about the three Congressional campaigns where John Charles Black was an unsuccessful candidate. It was not until 1892 when General Black succeeded to election for his one and only term in the House of Representatives. Thereafter, General Black was appointed to serve as the U.S. Attorney in Chicago and subsequently served as the head of the U. S. Civil Service Commission in Washington, D.C.
These articles represent a remarkable insight into the relationship between Cannon and Black who, while being political rivals, also certainly held one another in substantial esteem. A great gratitude is extended to Tim Smith for his momentous contributions.
Mr. Smith has granted permission to reprint these materials.
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