History of Harford County Maryland United States of America

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Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, cabinet officer, was born in Harford county, Md., Dec. 20, 1813; a cousin of Daniel Kirkwood . He attended school in Washington, D.C., until 1827, when he became a clerk in a drug store, and in 1835 removed to Richland county, Ohio, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He was prosecuting attorney of Richland county, 1845-49; a delegate to the Ohio state constitutional convention, 1850-51, and a member of its judiciary committee. He removed to Iowa in 1855 and engaged in milling and farming in Johnson county, near Iowa City. He was a member of the Iowa senate in 1856, and was elected governor of Iowa by the Republican party, serving two terms, 1860-64. He is credited with having saved the state half a million dollars in prudently equipping its quota of volunteers, comprising forty-eight regiments, at an expense of $300,000, the usual expense being $800,000. He declined the position of U.S. minister to Denmark, offered him by President Lincoln in 1862. He was elected U.S. senator to fill the unexpired term of James Harlan, who resigned, May 13, 1865, to become secretary of the interior in President Johnson's cabinet. Senator Kirkwood's term expired March 3, 1867, he having been defeated for re-election by James Hanlan. He was again elected governor of Iowa in 1875, and inaugurated Jan, 11, 1876, and a few days later he was elected U.S. senator for the term beginning March 4, 1877. He was appointed by President Garfield secretary of the interior in his cabinet, March 5, 1881, and he resigned his seat in the senate which was filled by T. W. McDill to March 3, 1883. He served as a cabinet officer until April 6, 1882, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Henry M. Teller. He died in Iowa City, Iowa, Sept. 1, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Paca, signer, was born at Wye Hall, Harford county, Md., Oct. 31, 1740; son of John and Elizabeth Paca. John Paca possessed large estates in Maryland, inherited from his father, and held office under the Proprietary governors. William Paca was graduated at Philadelphia college, A. B., 1759, A.M., 1762; studied law in the office of Stephen Bordley, Annapolis, Md., and was licensed to practise in the mayor's court in 1764. He completed his legal studies in the Middle Temple, London, England, and was admitted to the provincial court, April 11, 1764. He opposed the "Stamp Act," in 1765, and every subsequent measure of British oppression. He was a member of the provincial assembly of Maryland, 1771-74, and a delegate to the Continental congress from Maryland, 1774-79, where he served on important committees. He was instructed by his constituents to agree to all measures that might be deemed necessary to obtain a redress of American grievances; but was restrained from openly advocating independence until June 28, 1776, when, the restrictions having been recalled, with his colleagues from Maryland he voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, and on Aug. 2, 1776, signed the instrument. He contributed liberally to the patriot cause and as a member of the committee of safety assisted in planning a naval armament to defend the approach to Philadelphia, and in organizing the army. He was a state senator, 1777-79; chief-justice of Maryland, 1778-80; chief-justice of the court of appeals of Maryland in prize and admiralty cases. 1780-82, and president or governor of Maryland, 1782-85. He was influential in establishing Washington college at Chestertown, Md., in 1786; was vice-president of the Maryland Branch Society of the Cincinnati, 1784-99; a member of the Maryland convention that ratified the U.S. constitution in 1788, and judge of the district court of the United States for Maryland, 1789-99. He was married first, in May, 1761, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Maria (Lloyd) Chew of Anne Arundel county, Md., and secondly, in 1777, to Anna Harrison of Philadelphia. Pa. He died at Wye Hall, Queen Anne county, Md., in 1799.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Harford County Maryland

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