Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/82

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(,'ULLOM


CULLUM


executive council of Maryland, 1825-38. He died in Denton. Md.. May IT. 1843.

CULLOM, Alvin, representative, was Imiii Sept. 4. 1797: son of William and Elizabeth (Northoraft) CuUoni. He was a brother of Wil- liam Cullom, a representative in congress from Tennessee and an uncle of Gov. Shelby Mocne Cullom, U.S. senator from Illinois. He was a laNvj-er in Tennessee, a representative in the state legislature, and was a Democratic representative from Livingston, Tenn., in the 28th and 29th congresses. 1843—17. He was a Union man dur- ing the civil war and a delegate to the peace congre.ss of 1861. The date of his death could not be ascertained.

CULLOM, Shelby Moore, senator, was born in Monticello. Ky., Nov. 22, 1829; son of Richard Northcraft and Elizabeth (Coffey) Cullom. His father was a farmer, legislator and statesman and in 1830 removed to Tazewell county, 111., where Shelby was brought up on the farm and inured to manual labor. He spent two years at Rock River seminary, Mount Morris, 111., paying his tuition by teaching school. He located in Springfield, IH., in 1853, studied law, and in 1855 was admitted to the bar, establishing himself at Springfield where he was elected city attorney. In 1856 he was presidential elector and the same year was elected to the Illinois house of repre- sentatives. In 1860 he was again elected a state representative and was chosen speaker in 1861. In 1862 President Lincoln apjwinted him a com- missioner with George S. Bout well and Charles A. Dana to pass upon the accounts of the U.S. quartermasters and commissary officers. He was a representative in the 39th, 40th and 41st con- gresses, 1865-71, and in his last term was chair- man of the committee on territories, taking a jjrominent part in national legislation. In 1872 he was chairman of the Illinois delegation at the Republican national convention at Philadelphia and placed General Grant in nomination for the presidency. He was again a state representative in 1873 and 1874 and was speaker of the house in 1873. In 1876 he was elected governor of Illinois and was re-elected in 1880. In 1884 he was again chosen chairman of the Illinois delegation at the Republican national convention, at Chicago. In 1883 the legislature of the state elected him U.S. senator, re-electing him in 1889. 1895 and 1901. In 1892 he was a third time chosen chairman of


the Illinois delegation to the Republican national convention, at Minneapolis. In tiie .senate he was chairman of thu committee on interstate com- merce, a member of the committees on appropri- ations, cen.sus, foreign relations and additional accommodations for the library of congress and also a regent of the Smithsonian institution. He was married Dec. 12, 1855, to Hanna M. Fisher, who died in March, 1861. and on May 5, 1863, he was married to Julia Fisher.

CULLOM, William, representative, was born in Monticello, Ky., June 4. 1810; son of William and Elizabetii (Northcraft) Cullom. He was a brother of Alvin Cullom, representative in con- gress and uncle of Gov. Shelby Moore Cullom, U.S. senator from Illinois. He was admitted to the bar and practised in Carthage, Tenn. He was brought into prominence through his trial when chai-ged with the murder of a Mr. David- son. He represented his district as a Whig in the 32d and 33d congresses, 1851-55; was defeated for re-election in 18.54 and was clerk of the U.S. hou.se of representatives, 1856-57. He died at Clinton, Tenn., Dec. 21, 1896.

CULLUM, George Washington, soldier, was born in New York city, Feb. 25, 1809; son of Arthur an.l Harriet (Sturges) Cullum; and grandson of Arthur and Rebecca Cullum. He was graduated at the U.S. militarj- academy. West Point, in 1833, the third in his cla.ss, and was assigned to the engineer corps by reason of his high standing. He was successively pro- moted, reaching the rank of captain, July 7, 1838. His first engineering service was in the construc- tion of government works at New Lon don. Conn., and Bos- ton, Mass. He organ ized pontoon trains for use in the Mexican war and was instruc tor of practical mili- tary engineering at West Point, 1848-55 He then .sui^erin- tended government

works at New York city, Charleston, S.C, New- Bedford, Mas.s., Newport, R.I., and New London, Conn., 1855-61. He was ordered to W^ashington. A[)ril 9, 1861, as aide-de-camp of General Scott, then commander-in-chief of the army, and was promoted major of engineers, Aug. 6, 1861. UjKjn the resignation of General Scott, Oct. 31, 1861, Major Cullum was made brigadier-general of volunteers. He was apj)ointed chief engineer of the department of the Missouri, and on Nov.


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