32 Facts About James Whitcomb

James Whitcomb was a Democratic United States senator and the eighth governor of Indiana.

James Whitcomb led the movement to replace the state constitution and played an important role at the convention to institute a law that prevented the government from taking loans in response the current fiscal crisis in Indiana.

James Whitcomb was elected to the United States Senate after his term as governor but died of kidney disease only three years later.

James Whitcomb loved to read books, but his father would often discourage him from reading, believing that his son needed to take up manual labor to have a successful future.

James Whitcomb loved music, and was able to play many different instruments, but his favorite was the violin.

James Whitcomb became well known for his talented playing and would often dance, sing, and play for friends throughout his life.

James Whitcomb moved to Bloomington, Indiana, in 1824, where he continued to practice law.

James Whitcomb's position earned him some fame in the area because of several high-profile cases that he successfully prosecuted.

James Whitcomb was one of only nine men to speak against the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act in the Senate debate, his chief cohorts being Dennis Pennington, Calvin Fletcher and John Durmont.

James Whitcomb was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to serve as the Commissioner of the General Land Office in Washington, DC, from 1836 until 1841.

James Whitcomb probably secured the post with the help of Congressman Ratliff Boon.

James Whitcomb campaigned on the issue and overcame the Whigs, who received most of the public blame for the debacle.

James Whitcomb, who was a Methodist, played up the statements and gained a great deal of support from the large Methodist community, as Bigger became the object of fiery sermons in their churches.

James Whitcomb won the election and defeated incumbent Governor Samuel Bigger in a close election, 60,784 votes to Bigger's 58,721 with 1,683 going to Elizur Demming, who was fielded by the newly formed anti-slavery Liberty Party.

James Whitcomb advocated the creation of the Indiana School for the Deaf, and an asylum for the mentally insane.

Touting the success of current measures to resolve the debt situation, Whitcomb won reelection with 64,104 votes to 60,138 to Whig Joseph G Marshall, and 2,301 going to Liberty candidate Stephen Stevens.

James Whitcomb married his wife, the wealthy widow Martha Ann Renick Hurts, on March 24,1846.

The death was very troubling to James Whitcomb, who shut himself away for several days.

James Whitcomb's daughter grew up to marry a prominent Terre Haute lawyer, Claude Matthews, who was elected governor of Indiana in 1896.

James Whitcomb criticized them for allowing the docket to get backed up, and claimed that younger men were required to catch it back up.

James Whitcomb became the first person to be knighted as a Masonic Knights Templar in Indiana, on May 20,1848.

James Whitcomb organized a Masonic lodge which for several years met in his home.

In 1848, before his second term ended, James Whitcomb was elected by the legislature to become a member of the United States Senate.

James Whitcomb resigned as governor and served in the Senate from 1849 until his death in 1852, and was a staunch opponent of tariffs.

James Whitcomb became afflicted by kidney stones and sought medical treatment in New York City for kidney disease.

James Whitcomb died from the illness in New York City on October 4,1852.

James Whitcomb's remains were returned to Indianapolis, to be buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, where the state erected a monument over his grave.

James Whitcomb left a large donation for the American Bible Association.

James Whitcomb's library is thought to be haunted by some of its patrons.

James Whitcomb Riley's father was a close friend of Whitcomb and named his son after the governor.

James Whitcomb's pamphlet on tariffs became popular again after his death and was circulated nationally during the failed reelection campaign of Benjamin Harrison, who was a proponent of tariffs.

James Whitcomb was not the most popular of Indiana's politicians and gained many enemies during his time in office, but was well respected and remembered as one of Indiana's most important governors.