Shelby Moore Cullom
Encyclopedia
Shelby Moore Cullom was a U.S.
political figure, serving in various offices, including the United States House of Representatives
, the United States Senate
and the 17th Governor of Illinois
.
Cullom was born in 1829 in Monticello, Kentucky
, and moved to Springfield, Illinois
, in 1853. There he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He practiced law in the city with Charles S. Zane
, and was elected city attorney
in 1855.
Cullom was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives
in 1856 and 1860–1861, serving as speaker of the house in 1861.
He was elected as a Republican
in 1864 to the Thirty-ninth
, and reelected to the Fortieth
and Forty-first
Congresses
(March 4, 1865-March 3, 1871).
Cullom returned to the Illinois House of Representatives 1873-1874, and served as speaker in 1873.
In 1876, he was elected governor of Illinois and served in that office from 1877–1883, when he resigned to take office as a US senator. Cullom was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1882, and reelected in 1888, 1894, 1900 and 1906, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1913
As a U.S. senator, Cullom oversaw the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. He believed that only the federal government had the power to force railroads to provide fair treatment to all of its customers, large and small. This was because corporations, such as Standard Oil
, had corrupted many of the railroad's officials into providing them with rebates, and as whole, the companies in question were more powerful than any state government. Cullom was appointed by President William McKinley
in July 1898 to the commission created by the Newlands Resolution
to establish government in the Territory of Hawaii
.
He died in 1914 in Washington, D.C.
and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery
in Springfield. Cullom was a close personal friend and associate of Jacob Bunn and John Whitfield Bunn, the Illinois industrialist brothers who contributed to the building of hundreds of millions of dollars of business enterprises by 1900.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure, serving in various offices, including the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the 17th Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
.
Cullom was born in 1829 in Monticello, Kentucky
Monticello, Kentucky
Monticello is a city in Wayne County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,981 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County. It advertises itself as "The Houseboat Capital of the World" due to the large number of houseboat manufacturers in the city...
, and moved to Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, in 1853. There he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He practiced law in the city with Charles S. Zane
Charles S. Zane
Charles S. Zane was a legal associate of Abraham Lincoln, an anti-polygamy judge in the Territorial Supreme Court in Utah, and the first Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court after statehood.- Early life and education :...
, and was elected city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
in 1855.
Cullom was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
in 1856 and 1860–1861, serving as speaker of the house in 1861.
He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1864 to the Thirty-ninth
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
, and reelected to the Fortieth
40th United States Congress
The Fortieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867 to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth...
and Forty-first
41st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President : Schuyler Colfax* President pro tempore: Henry B. Anthony - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James G. Blaine -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congresses
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
(March 4, 1865-March 3, 1871).
Cullom returned to the Illinois House of Representatives 1873-1874, and served as speaker in 1873.
In 1876, he was elected governor of Illinois and served in that office from 1877–1883, when he resigned to take office as a US senator. Cullom was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1882, and reelected in 1888, 1894, 1900 and 1906, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1913
As a U.S. senator, Cullom oversaw the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. He believed that only the federal government had the power to force railroads to provide fair treatment to all of its customers, large and small. This was because corporations, such as Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, had corrupted many of the railroad's officials into providing them with rebates, and as whole, the companies in question were more powerful than any state government. Cullom was appointed by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in July 1898 to the commission created by the Newlands Resolution
Newlands Resolution
The Newlands Resolution, was a joint resolution written by and named after United States Congressman Francis G. Newlands. It was an Act of Congress to annex the Republic of Hawaii and create the Territory of Hawaii....
to establish government in the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
He died in 1914 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery
Oak Ridge Cemetery
Oak Ridge Cemetery is a cemetery located in Springfield, Illinois in the United States.Lincoln's Tomb, which serves as the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife and all but one of his children, is located at Oak Ridge...
in Springfield. Cullom was a close personal friend and associate of Jacob Bunn and John Whitfield Bunn, the Illinois industrialist brothers who contributed to the building of hundreds of millions of dollars of business enterprises by 1900.