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2 SENATOR JOHN SHERMAN, SECRE TARY OF STATE. Senator John Sherman, McKinley’s secretary of state, has been prominent in public affairs since 1844, when ho made himself heard in advocacy of the presi dency. Ho was bom in Lancaster, 0., in 1823. He lived humbly in those early days. What education he got was such as could be had in the country schools of that time. It was not of an extensive sort. When he was 14 years old, he se cured employment in a surveying party as rodman. Afterward ho got a clerkship in one of the county offices. At tho ago of 17 ho went to Mansfield, 0., and be gan to read law in tho office of his brother. It took him four years to per fect himself in Blackstone and Kent and other worthies of the reading schedule of that date and pass the examination that secured him admission to the bar. This eventful period was reached on Sherman’s twenty-first birthday, and the celebration of that occasion made tho anniversary more than usually pleasant and memorable. His career as a lawyer and statesman is familiar to tho merest schoolboy of the laud. Beginning with his election to tho national house of representatives in 1854, his record has been one of suc cessive honors and promotions. After having served as representative ho was mado senator, and such was tho esteem in which ho was held by his constitu ents that hist re-elections to tho office were as regular us the expirations of his terms. Indeed, since 1854 there lias been only one day .vhereon John Sherman was out of offieo. That was March 3, 1881, tho day after he had tendered his resignation os secretary of tho treasury under tho Hayes administration and the day before he took tho oath of office as a re-elected senator. Not only has Mr. Sherman been thus continuously honored in connection with tho legislative branch of the govern ment, hut he has been pushed by his friends very hard for tho presidency time and time again. There is no doubt that Sherman has nourished a warm and strong ambition for this high placo, and at one time it seemed almost a cer tainty that ho would bo tho candidate of his party for tho coveted post. This Was in 1880, when James A. Garfield, Sherman’s advocate in tho convention, builded so much hotter than ho know that ho himself secured what ho sought for his chief. Four years later, too, there was a strong Sherman sentiment working in tho national convention, and again it seemed possible that the Ohio solou would bo put in the first place on tho ticket, but Harrison was selected. It is generally believed that this was the bit terest disappointment Sherman ever ex perienced. Senator Sherman is now nearly 74 years of age. Ho is white haired, and his tall, slender form bends somewhat under tho weight of these many years, but there is grim tenacity in his make up, and his vitality is many times stronger than it appears to be. Mentally ho is as keen as a seimiter, though his words are far less acrid now than they were in his younger days. His accept ance of a cabinet position is generally regarded as his political capitulation—a compromise with his higher aspirations. LYMAN J. GAGE, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. Lyman J. Gage, tho man who is to succeed John G. Carlisle as secretary of the treasury, is a well known and pio turesque character iu the middle west. Ho is a man of energy as well as ideas, tuid, though he has lived 60 years, ho can hardly be called old. Mr. Gago was born at Deruytor, N. Y., June 28, 1836. His parents were also New Yorkers, and their ancestors were among the first settlers of Now England. The father of Lyman Gago was a farmer and afterward a merchant in a small way. In 1846 the elder Gago moved with his family to Rome, N. Y., and there Lyman attended school until he was 15 years old. At that time the Gage family was so largo that Lyman thought it would bo best for liim to begin to rnnko his own way, so ho secured a clerkship iu a country postoffleo. Within a year ho was promoted to the position of mail agent on the Romo and Watertown rail road. In 1856 ho withdrew from the railroad and took a position iu the Oneida Central bank at Rome. Hero he acted as junior clerk, office boy and gen eral factotum at a salary of $ 100 a year. After serving liis employers in this ca pacity for a year or more young Gage asked for an advance of salary. This being refused, ho threw up his position, and, acting on an idea which he had long entertained, started west. Chicago was the objective point which young Gage had in his mind. Thither he mado his way, arriving Oct. 3, 1855. His efforts to get employment in a bank wore fruitless, and so he applied at Nathan Cole’s lumber yard and obtained work there. It was hard labor. He load ed wagons, steered his logs against c.ir cular saws and now and then took his turn at driving a team of balky mules. The pay was small, and the hours were loug. After awhile lie was promoted to the position of night watchman aud put iu tho long hours between sunset tuid sunrise patrolling the yard to prevent fires and thefts. A year later ho became of the concern. His first step iu tho remarkable ascent he mado to fame aud prosperity was taken Aug. 3, 1858. He had been quiet ly looking out for employment in which liis special talents could have a chance to develop. On the day named he walk ed into the Merchants’ Savings, Loan and Trust Company bank and asked the cashier for a position. To liis joy and astouisbmenV-Ms- application-wtHsToek** ed upon with favor. They wore needing the services of a bookkeeper and would give Gago a trial at #SOO a year, i It was au humble beginning, but it was all Gage wanted. His promotions bogau within six months. At the eud of that period he was made paying teller. In this position ho displayed many of the talents which have made him fa mous. Not loug afterward he became as- PR6SIP6HT - ! CABIH6T. sistant cashier. He remained with the Merchants’ Savings, Loan and Trust company until the position of assistant cashier of tho First National bank was offered him. He lms been with the latter institution over since. In time he be came vice president and afterward presi dent of this great banking institution. It was tho public record of Mr. Gage in his successful efforts to allay the dis content and rioting of 1887 that gave him his greatest prestige. He was a wonderful liarmonizer. In those days of pauics and disaster he called meetings of laborers and capitalists, some of which were held in his own parlors, and got them to confer together and set tle upon modes of procedure that would ease the friction between the classes. It was to Mr. Gage also that the suc cess of the World’s fair was largely at tributable. Ho was its first president and its strongest backer. He it was also who began the fight for its location, and it would certainly have gone somewhere else hut for his untiring efforts. Mr. Gage has been twice married— first in 1864, to Miss Surah Etheridge of Little Falls, N. Y. She died in 1874, leaving a son, Eli Gage, now a young man of 30. The present wife of Mr. Gage was Miss Cornelia Washburn of Albany. In person Mr. Gago is largo and fine looking. He stands nearly 0 feet in height and weighs 200 pounds. His manner is suave, magnetic and alto gether agreeable. Ho and his wife are great favorites in a quiet, social way and entertain their friends handsomely. The principal recreations of the great financier are whist and the theater. Ho is a member of a number of the best clubs of the city and of various associa tions devoted to business and finance. GENERAL RUSSELL A. ALGER, SECRE TARY OF WAR. Mr. McKinley’s secretary of war, cx- Govornor Russell A. Alger of Michigan, has been a public character for many years. Although a native of the great northwest, he is of New England an cestry. His parents settled in Lafayette township, Medina county, 0., in 1835, where, on Feb. 27 in the following yoar, tho future governor was born. Hard ships came to him early. At the ago of 13 ho was left alone in the world with out a dollar and burdened with the care of a younger sister and brother. Young Alger was strong and courageous, how ever, and showed his mettle at ouce. He found places for his brother and sister and went to work for his board and clothes and three months’ schooling per yoar. Afterward he exchanged his serv ices as a farmhand for a small monthly wage. But he stuck hard to his studies, and by the time ho was 20 years of ago he was able to take charge of a district school. While engaged as a teacher ho applied himself diligently to the study of law, aud in 1857 entered a law office at Akron. A year later, having been ad mitted to the biir, he went to Cleveland to practice his profession. The strain of hard work and overstudy began to tell on his constitution, and he determined to adopt some other busi ness iu which he could take better care of his health. In order to accomplish what lie desired he removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he and a friend, whom ho had taken as a partner, em barked in the lumber business. For a few months tho business seemed to prosper, and young Algor, feeling himself warranted in such a step, took to himself a wife—Miss Annette H. Henry. Misfortune came to him soon after A Chicago house upon whose welfare tho fate of tho young lumber merchants depended went to pieces, and with it went the entire business which Alger and his partner had built up. In August, 1861, the breaking out of the civil war opened another opportunity for Alger. He enlisted iu the Second Michigan cavalry and was soon after made captain of company C. At this time Philip IT. Sheridan was a captain in tho same regiment, and on the promo tion of its colonel, Gordon Granger, Alger was sent by tlie latter to Pitts burg Landing to induce Governor Blair to appoint Sheridan to the vacant colo nelcy. This Alger succeeded in doing, aud here began tho rapid advance of Sheridan in the army. In October, 1862, Alger became lieu tenant colonel of the Sixth Michigan cavalry and colonel of the Fifth in Feb ruary, 1805. His promotion to the office of brevet major general “for gallant aud meritorious service during the war” came at the close of the war, June 11, 1865. When he had finished fighting, Gou eral Alger laid down his sword and re turned to the lumber business. His great success is a matter well known. It was he who made extensive use of the railroad in getting logs and lumber out of the forests and into the markets. He has interested himself in various other (uterpftsos, all of which have thrived. One of his highest political aspira tions was realized when, iu 1884, he was eloided governor joLMichig;ui_.-The ~vofo winch made him chief executive in the state was the highest the Republican party ever cast iu Michigan. His ad ministration was characterized by strict integrity, and his business methods were Vastly useful in the conduct of state affairs. Although he was pressed to become a candidate for re-election, he persistently refused to allow his name to be put forward. Though threescore years of age, Gen THE TIMES: BRUNSWICK. GA., MARCH 5, 1896. eral Alger is as vigorous of body as he is of mind, and in every way he is equal to the duties to which ho will devote himself in his new office. HON. JOHN D. LONG, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. Ex-Governor John D. Long of Massa chusetts, who takes control of Uncle Sam’s war fleets and attend to the other duties devolving upon the secretary of the navy, is one of the most prominent of the public men of tho Bay State. John Davis Long was bom at Buck field, Me., Oct. 27, 1838. He was pre pared for college at Hebron, Me., and entered Harvard at the age of 14. He made a brilliant record at college and showed particularly as a poet, a gentle art which he has practiced as a pastime occasionally in later years. After his graduation from Harvard, in 1857, ho Was engaged as principal of the West ford academy, where ho taught until 1859. He then began to attend the Har vard Law school. In 1861 he was ad mitted to tho bar and opened an office in his native town. Ho did not remain long there, how ever, for he concluded that a young man had a better chance in Massachusetts. \ \><Vus § He therefore returned to Boston, later removing to the town of Hingham. Here in 1869 bo became interested iu politics and went before the peoplo as Republic an candidate for member of tho legisla ture from the Second Plymouth district. His election followed. In 1876 he was re-elected to tho house and was after ward chosen speaker. Iu this position he was very popular, aud his re-electious in 1877 aud 1878 were by such great j majorities as to surprise everybody. In 1878 he was elected lieutenant gov ernor of Alassachnsetts, aud in 1879 he was chosen governor by a plurality of more than 13,000 votes, and iu 1880 was re-elected by a plurality of 52,000 votes. This extraordinarily large vote Was regarded as au ovation. After he had, by election and re-elec tion, served as governor until January, 1883, ho was elected to the Forty-eighth congress. He was returned to his seat in the lower house for two more terms— tlie Forty-ninth and Fiftieth congresses. After liis decision to retire from public life he returned to the practice of the law, wherein his success has beeu phe nomenal. During all tlie time of his arduous pu'biie~l<n)hTs"'Mr~Loiig ‘ continued to indulge his taste for literature and to keep pace with the march of science and art. He is a many sided man. He has not only published a scholarly transla tion of Virgil’s “iEueid, ” but has con tributed to current literature many choice bits of original verse of truly classic quality. Ho is also said to be a connoisseur of art in all its forms of ex pression. His personality is impressive. His features are finely drawn and full of ex pression, and his sociable nature mani fests itself in a maimer at once cultured, simple and-dignified. While in congress he and Major Mc- Kinley were warm friends, and the honor conferred upon the Massachusetts man by the president elect was a matter of personal gratification as well as a recognition of special fitness and general worth. JAMES A. GARY, POSTMASTER GEN ERAL. James Albert Gary, now widely known because of bis selection as post master general under tho new adminis tration, is a man who has long been prominent iu Maryland, where he has resided since his early boyhood. Mr. Gary was bom in Uncasville, Conn., in 1833, from which place his father re moved to Maryland a few years later, taking with him his family. Young Gary was sent to school at Ellicott City, Md., and afterward became a student of Alleghany college, Meadville, Pm Pres ident Elect McKinley was also attend ing this college, and it was here that he and Gary formed the friendship that has lasted all the years that have inter vened between that time and the pres ent. j During the war Air. Garywas loyal to tho Union. He has always been a stanch Republican and prominently identified with the interests of his party. The elder Gary was an extensive manu facturer of cotton duck, the business of fices and warehouse being located in Baltimore. In 1861 James A. Gary was admitted to the firm, and the business was conducted under the name James S. Gary & Son. The active influence of the new member was soon felt, and the growth and prosperity of the business were most marked. Iu 1862 a branch house was opened iu St. Louis, which gave tho concern a footing in the west that proved most profitable. In 1870 James A. Gary succeeded his father in business, and during tlie 26 years that have elapsed since he assumed control the business lias continued to prosper. Among the business men of Baltimore he has a “gilt edged” standing that is only to be attained by years of business probity and proved stability. For several years Mr. Gary was presi dent of the Alorchants aud Mauufactur efs "assoe'iatTiTuT TTe ls iiow vice ]presi dent of the Consolidated Gas company aud vice president of the Citizens’ Na tional bank. He also holds directorships in the Savings Bank of Baltimore, the Warehouse company, the American In surance company, the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Insurance company and the Baltimore Trust and Guarant. com pany. His greatest prominence has been achieved in the political field. In 1870 the Republicans nominated him for con gress iu the Fifth district. As the entire state of Maryland was at that time largely Democratic it was a foregone conclusion that he would be defeated. Wheu nominated for governor, in 1879, his very handsome vote was overcome by the same expected Democratic majority. Mr. Gary has been a delegate to every national convention of his party since 1872, and from 1880 to 1896 has repre sented Maryland on the Republican na tional committee. Tho home life of Mr. Gary has been quiet and happy. In 1856 he was mar ried to Miss Lavinia W. Corrie, daugh ter of James Corrie, a highly respected citizen. Seven daughters and one son were the fruits of this union. The son, E. Stanley Gary, is now junior partner in the old firm. JUDGE JOSEPH M’KENNA,SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. Judge Joseph McKenuaof California, in President McKinley’s cabinet as sec retary of the interior, is a native of Philadelphia. He was born Aug. 10, 1843, and removed with his parents to Benicia* Cal., in 1855. His education, commenced in the public schools of Philadelphia, was completed at the Benicia Collegiate institute, now St. Augustine college, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1865, and in the same year, at the age of 22, was elected district attorney of Solano county, the duties of which office he dis charged faithfully for four years. Iu 1875 he was elected to the Cali fornia legislature. While serving his constituents in this capacity he made a reputation for himself as champion of the public school system, then suffering seriously from sectarian attacks. Iu the following year he was nominated for congress, but was defeated by a small majority. His friends were determined, however, that their champion should have a seat in congress, so they contin ued to push young McKenna for the office, and finally, in 1884, he was elect ed by a handsome majority. In 1888 he was again nominated and elected, and in 1890 the same honor was conferred upon him. On Feb. 11, 1892, President Harrison appointed Mr. McKenna to the position of judge of the United States circuit court to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Lorenzo Sawyer. It was while both were serving on the ways and means committee that Ma jor McKinley and Judge McKenna form ed the friendship which binds them now, and it was here that each recog nized the special capabilities of the oth er. President Elect McKinley has always held a high opinion of Judge McKenna’s ability as a jurist, and his appreciation of Judge McKenna’s knowledge of west ern affairs and the general interests of the interior have no doubt Lo—ely influ enced him in making this s; • ion. Judge McKenna is describ a as being a studious man devoted to liis judicial duties, but affable aud easy in his man ner. His popularity iu California has been continuous and ever increasing, and he is regarded as iu every way worthy of the honor conferred upon him. COLONEL JOHN J. M’COOK, ATTORNEY GENERAL. Colonel John J. McCook, the man designated by Mr. McKinley for tho of fice of attorney general, is one of the fighting McCooks of Ohio who fought for the Union throughout the civil war. There were niue of these McCooks. Eight of them w r ere brothers, the other was Major Daniel McCook, father ol the eight. Colonel John J. McCook was horn at Carrollton, 0., May 25, 1845. When the war broke out, he was a student at Kenyon college, and at tho beginning oi his freshman year he enlisted in the Sixth Ohio cavalry. Soon after passing his seventeenth birthday he was pro moted to a first lieutenantcy and was assigned to duty on the staff of General Thomas L. Crittenden, commanding a corps of the Army of tho Ohio which subsequently became the Twenty-first corps of the Army of the Cumberland. He served in the campaigns of Perry ville, Storm River, Tullahoma, Chatta nooga and Chickamauga and was with General Grant in his campaign with the Army of the Potomac from the battle oi the Wilderness to the crossing of the James river. He was commissioned a captain and aid-de-camp of United States volunteers in September, 1863, and was brevetted major of volunteers for gallant and meritorious service in action at Shady Grove, Va., where he was dangerously wounded. In tlie same campaign he was afterward made lieu tenant colonel and colonel for the same reasons. It was once said of him by a friend who knows him well, “This boy soldier—not over 20 years of age when the war closed—showed at every step ol his military career the splendid dash of an enthusiast and the iron courage of a veteran.” .... the close of the war Colonel Mc- Cook returned to K t > nybii collegewlrerr' he received the degrees of bachelor of arts in 1866 and master of arts three years later. Not content with a mere academic education, he turned his at tention to the law aud entered the Har vard Law school, from which institution he graduated with honor iu 1869. Four years later he received the honorary de gree of master of arts from Princeton. Iu 1890 the University of Kansas, which has honored very few in a like manner, conferred upon Colonel McCook the de gree of doctor of laws. Colonel McCook settled down to the practice of law hi New York city, and at once began to take high rank in the profession. His practice grew large and lucrative, and upon his opinions many weighty matters are decided. He mar ried a daughter of Henry M. Alexander, the head of the firm of which he has long been a member. Colonel McCook is an elder in the Fifth Avenue Presby terian church aud is active in tbe prac tical and benevolent work of the church. He is also a member of the Metropolitan, City, Union, New York Athletic, Har vard, Kenyon, Ohio and Tuxedo clubs, the Bar association and the Military Or der of the Loyal Legion. T EX-CONGRESSMAN JAMES WILSON, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. Ex-Congressman James Wilson of lowa, to whom President McKinley ten dered the agricultural portfolio, is a man well fitted for the position which he is to fill. He is not a native of Amer ica, but from the time ho was 16 years old his life and work have been devoted to the interests of his adopted country, and particularly in the liue of her agri cultural development. Mr. Wilson was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 16, 1835, and came, with his parents, to America in 1851. The Wilsons lived first in Connecticut, re moving to lowa when James Wilson was still in his “teens.” The education of the lad was of the common school va riety, but years of reading and other self education developed his mind liber ally, and by the time he was 21 years of age he was able to teach school himself. This he did for a number of years in the neighborhood of Buckingham and West Union, la. At this time young Wilson was very poor, and it was said that he often went about barefooted because he could not afford to wear shoes. How ever, his frugal habits of life soon en abled him to lay by a snug fortune, and he retired from pedagogy aud bought a farm. His interest in agricultural pur suits led him to devote nearly all his time to the management of his fine es tate. He became prominent in all move ments for bettering the condition of farms and farmers, and also in the im provement in the breed of cattle. Recognizing his peculiar abilities, his neighbors elected him to the state legis lature, where he served three terms. A few years later—in 1874, in fact—a larger constituency elected him to the Forty-fourth congress. He was re-elect ed for a succeeding term, and after a lapse of six years was again sent to Washington, this time as a member of the Forty-eighth congress. At the close of his congressional ca reer he returned to his home in lowa and again centered his attention upon his beloved hobby, agriculture. Besides the management of his magnificent farm he found leisure to devote much time to assisting the researches of agricultural societies and writing largely for agri cultural publications. Iu further recognition of his worth and usefulness in his chosen field of ef fort. Mr. Wilson was made professor of agriculture in the University of lowa, at Ames. Personally Mr. Wilson is quite popu lar. He is an easy and fluent talker in public or private, and is said to make friends merely by his pleasing aud un affected manner. GONE AND FORGOTTEN. Few Members of the Cabinet Make Names That Live Long:. “Can you name the members of Pres ident Garfield’s cabinet?” asks the Washington Post. “Do you recall the distinguished gentlemen that made up President Hayes’ official family?” And then it goes on to answer its own ques tion. The career of Timothy O. Howe of Wisconsin is an instance. He was a vet eran senator for many years from the Badger State and a most efficient post master general under President Arthur. Several of the Wisconsin delegation in congress were asked the other day about General Howe’s career and acknowl edged that it was quite unknown to them, except in a general way. William Windom of Minnesota, who died so tragically at a dinner in New York, was secretary of the treasury un der Garfield. Robert T. Lincoln of Chi cago was secretary of war and the only member of Garfield’s cabinet that Ar thur retained. Thomas L. James of New York, Garfield’s postmaster gen eral, became president of the Lincoln National bank and the Lincoln Safe De posit company of New York. Wayne MacVeagh was Garfield’s at torney general. He went upon the stump for Cleveland and was subse quently appointed minister to Italy. Air. Arthur’s secretary of the navy and secretaiy of the interior, Senators Chandler and Teller, have by no means waned since holding cabinet office. Of the members of Cleveland’s first cabinet, Bayard is embassador to Eng land. Manning’s sad death from over work in the treasury department is often recalled. Charles S. Fairchild of New York, who succeeded him, is president of a trust company. William C. Endi cctt, who was secretary of war, still lives at Salem, Alass. William C. Whit ney, secretary of the navy under Cleve land, is engaged in caring for his great fortune. Vilas, Cleveland’s first postmaster general, is senator from Wisconsin, and his successor, when Vilas became secre tary of the interior, was Don M. Dick inson of Michigan. A. H. Garland, who .sm_attprney general, is a prominent attorney in Washington. Norman J. Colman of St. Louis, the first secretary of agriculture, is a promi nent factor in Missouri affairs. John W. Foster, who succeeded Blaine as secretary of state, lives in Washing ton. When William Windom died, Charles Foster of Fostoria, 0., was named as secretary of the treasury. He is still active in politics.