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Wade (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN an American)

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an American statesman; born in Springfield, Mass., Oct. 27, 1800. About 1821 he removed to Ohio, where he was employed as a school teacher for several years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1827. In 1837 and 1841 he was elected State Senator; in 1847 was chosen presiding judge of the 3d Judicial District of Ohio; and in 1851, 1857, and 1863 was elected United States Senator. He was an advocate of the Homestead bill, voted for the repeal of the Fugitive-Slave Law, and opposed the Nebraska-Kansas bill of 1854. During the Civil War he was prominent in public affairs. In the session of 1861- 1862 he was appointed chairman of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. He also served as president of the Senate and acting Vice-President of the United States. At the Republican National Convention, in Chicago, May 21, 1868, he received more votes on the first four ballots for the nomination for Vice- President than any other candidate; but failed to obtain the nomination. Excepting to serve as a commissioner to Santo Domingo, he took no prominent part in public affairs after 1869. He died in Jefferson, O., March 2, 1878.