John Rhoderic McPherson (May 9, 1833 – October 8, 1897) was a businessman and politician from Jersey City, New Jersey. A Democrat, he served as a United States Senator for three terms, 1877 to 1895.
John Rhoderic McPherson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from New Jersey | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen |
| Succeeded by | William J. Sewell |
| Member of the New Jersey Senate | |
| In office 1871-1873 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 9, 1833 York, New York |
| Died | October 8, 1897 (aged 64) Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Resting place | Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Edla Jane Gregory (m. 1867-1897, his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Meatpacking business owner and executive |
A native of York, New York, McPherson raised livestock and worked as a butcher before moving to Jersey City, New Jersey in 1858, where he dealt in livestock and became a prominent businessman in the meatpacking industry. An inventor, he devised or created improvements that enhanced sanitation and efficiency in slaughterhouses, many of which were later employed as industry standards.
Active in politics as a Democrat, McPherson served on the Jersey City Board of Aldermen, as president of the Board of Aldermen, and as a member of the New Jersey State Senate. In 1877, McPherson was elected to the United States Senate. He was reelected twice and served from 1877 to 1895. During his Senate service, McPherson spent several terms as chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee.
After leaving the Senate, McPherson resumed his activities in the meatpacking business. He died in Jersey City on October 8, 1897. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Early life
McPherson was born in York, New York on May 9, 1833.[1] He was educated in the public schools of York and attended Geneseo Academy.[1][2] He farmed, raised livestock, and worked as a butcher before moving to Jersey City, New Jersey in 1858.[1][2]
Career
In Jersey City, McPherson became a prominent livestock dealer and slaughterhouse owner.[1] As an inventor, McPherson designed or improved several devices and processes to promote efficient and sanitary slaughterhouse operations, many of which were adopted as meatpacking industry standards.[1] McPherson's other business activities included serving as a director or officer of several banks, and president of Jersey City's People's Gas Light Company.[1]
McPherson was active in politics as a Democrat.[1] He served on the Jersey City Board of Aldermen from 1864 to 1870, and was the board's president for three years.[1] In 1871, he was elected to a term in the New Jersey Senate.[1] McPherson was a Democratic presidential elector in 1876.[1] Democratic nominee Samuel J. Tilden carried New Jersey, and McPherson cast his ballot for the ticket of Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks.[1]
U.S. Senator
In 1877, McPherson was elected to the United States Senate.[1] He was reelected in 1883 and 1889, and served from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1895.[3] He served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs in the Forty-sixth through Fifty-third United States Congresses (1879-1895).[4]
McPherson was a delegate to the 1884 Democratic National Convention.[1] Initially pledged to Thomas F. Bayard, when it became clear after the second ballot that Grover Cleveland had garnered enough votes to win the nomination, McPherson backed Cleveland.[1]
McPherson planned a favorite son presidential candidacy in 1892,[5] but supported Cleveland as a delegate to the Democratic Convention once Cleveland decided to become a candidate.[6] When Cleveland became president for the second time, McPherson became an opponent because Cleveland did not consult with him on questions of federal patronage for New Jersey.[7]
Later life
After leaving the Senate, McPherson actively managed his livestock and meatpacking business, the Western Stockyard Company, from an office in New York City.[8] In May 1897, William Van Aken, a former McPherson business and political associate, attempted to shoot McPherson over claims that McPherson had cheated him in a business deal twenty years earlier.[8] Van Aken, who was nearly blind, was acquitted of attempted murder.[9] He was subsequently indicted for carrying a concealed weapon.[10] Van Aken pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a $10 fine.[10]
Death and burial
McPherson died in Jersey City, New Jersey on October 8, 1897.[2] He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[11] McPherson's sometimes used "MacPherson", the original Scottish spelling of his name, and his family grave marker is inscribed with the "Mac" prefix.[12] In addition, some sources including his gravestone indicate that his year of birth was 1832, though most sources give it as 1833.[13]
Family
In 1868, McPherson married Edla Jane Gregory (1845-1901). Their children included Gregory (1868-1896) and Edla (1873-1901), who was known as Ella.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Fitzgerald.
- ^ a b c "John R. M'Pherson Dead".
- ^ U.S. Congress (1903).
- ^ U.S. Congress (2005).
- ^ "The Chicago Convention".
- ^ "Instructed for Cleveland".
- ^ Brodsky.
- ^ a b "Saves McPherson".
- ^ "Van Aken is Acquitted".
- ^ a b "Van Aken Pays a Fine".
- ^ "Laid at Rest".
- ^ U.S. Congress (1877).
- ^ U.S. Congress (1893).
Sources
Books
Brodsky, Alyn (2000). Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. p. 356. ISBN 978-0-3122-6883-1 – via Google Books.
- Fitzgerald, Thomas F. (1891). Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: MacCrellish & Quigley. pp. 171–172 – via Google Books.
- U.S. Congress (1877). Official Congressional Directory. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 43 – via Google Books.
- U.S. Congress (1893). Official Congressional Directory. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 74 – via Google Books.
- U.S. Congress (1903). A Biographical Congressional Directory, 1774 to 1903. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 676 – via Google Books.
- U.S. Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1504 – via Google Books.
Newspapers
- "Instructed for Cleveland". The Wilkes-Barre News. Wilkes-Barre, PA. May 27, 1892. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Saves McPherson". The Boston Globe. Boston, MA. May 19, 1897. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Van Aken is Acquitted". New York World. New York, NY. June 22, 1897. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Van Aken Pays a Fine". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, PA. June 25, 1897. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- "John R. M'Pherson Dead". The New York Times. New York, NY. October 9, 1897. p. 1 – via Times Machine.
- "Laid at Rest: Former United States Senator McPherson Buried in Washington". Trenton Evening Times. Trenton, NJ. October 11, 1897. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
Magazines
- "The Chicago Convention". The Illustrated American. New York, NY: Illustrated American Publishing Company. June 25, 1892. p. 265 – via Google Books.
External links
- United States Congress. "John R. McPherson (id: M000593)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- John R. McPherson at Find a Grave