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1876–77 United States Senate elections

(Redirected from 1877 United States Senate special election in West Virginia)

The 1876–77 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with Rutherford B. Hayes's narrow election as president. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1876 and 1877, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.

1876–77 United States Senate elections
← 1874 & 1875 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)		 1878 & 1879 →
26 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Henry B. Anthony[a] John W. Stevenson[b]
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863 March 4, 1873
Leader's seat Rhode Island Kentucky
Seats before 45 30
Seats won 11 14
Seats after 39 35
Seat change Decrease 6 Increase 5
Seats up 17 9
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Anti-Monopoly Independent
Seats before 1 0
Seats won 0 1
Seats after 1 1
Seat change Steady Increase 1
Seats up 0 0
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Independent gain
Majority Party before election


Republican

Elected Majority Party


Republican

Although the Republican Party maintained their Senate majority, the Democratic Party gained five seats.

Results summary

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Senate party division, 45th Congress (1877–1879)

  • Majority party: Republican (39)
  • Minority party: Democratic (35)
  • Other parties: Anti-Monopoly (1), Independent (1)
  • Total seats: 76

Change in Senate composition

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Before the elections

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After the November 15, 1876 elections in the new state of Colorado.

D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18
D28
Retired 		D27
Retired 		D26
Ran 		D25
Ran 		D24
Ran 		D23
Ran 		D22
Ran 		D21 D20 D19
D29
Retired 		D30
Retired 		AM1 R45
Retired 		R44
Retired 		R43
Retired 		R42
Retired 		R41
Unknown 		R40
Unknown 		R39
Unknown
Majority →
R29
Ran 		R30
Ran 		R31
Ran 		R32
Ran 		R33
Ran 		R34
Ran 		R35
Ran 		R36
Ran 		R37
Ran 		R38
Ran
R28 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19
R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18
R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1

After the elections

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D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18
D28
Hold 		D27
Hold 		D26
Hold 		D25
Re-elected 		D24
Re-elected 		D23
Re-elected 		D22
Re-elected 		D21 D20 D19
D29
Hold 		D30
Hold 		D31
Gain 		D32
Gain 		D33
Gain 		D34
Gain 		D35
Gain 		I1
Gain 		AM1 R39
Hold
Majority →
R29
Re-elected 		R30
Re-elected 		R31
Re-elected 		R32
Re-elected 		R33
Re-elected 		R34
Hold 		R35
Hold 		R36
Hold 		R37
Hold 		R38
Hold
R28 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19
R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18
R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1
Key:
AM# Anti-Monopoly Party
D# Democratic
I# Independent
R# Republican

Race summaries

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Special elections during the 44th Congress

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In these elections, the winners were seated during 1876 or in 1877 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Louisiana
(Class 3) 		Vacant Senate had declined to seat rival claimants William L. McMillen and P. B. S. Pinchback.[2]
Senator elected January 12, 1876.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut
(Class 3) 		James E. English Democratic 1875 (appointed) Interim appointee retired when successor elected.
New senator elected May 17, 1876.
Democratic hold.
Colorado
(Class 2) 		None (new state) Colorado admitted to the Union August 1, 1876.
First senator elected November 15, 1876.
Republican gain.
Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
Colorado
(Class 3) 		Colorado admitted to the Union August 1, 1876.
First senator elected November 15, 1876.
Republican gain.
Tennessee
(Class 1) 		David M. Key Democratic 1875 (appointed) Interim appointee lost special election.
New senator elected January 19, 1877 on the 74th ballot.
Democratic hold.
Maine
(Class 2) 		James G. Blaine Republican 1876 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 17, 1877.
Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
West Virginia
(Class 1) 		Samuel Price Democratic 1876 (appointed) Interim appointee lost special election.
New senator elected January 26, 1877 on the 5th ballot.
Democratic hold.

Races leading to the 45th Congress

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In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1877; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama George Goldthwaite Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1876.
Democratic hold.
Arkansas Powell Clayton Republican 1870 Unknown if incumbent retired or ran for re-election.
New senator elected January 16, 1877.
Democratic gain.
Colorado Henry M. Teller Republican 1876 (new state) Incumbent re-elected in 1876 or 1877.
Delaware Eli Saulsbury Democratic 1870 Incumbent re-elected in 1876.
Georgia Thomas M. Norwood Democratic 1871 (readmission) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 26, 1877 on the fourth ballot.
Democratic hold.
Illinois John A. Logan Republican 1870–71 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 25, 1877 on the fortieth ballot.
Independent gain.
Iowa George G. Wright Republican 1870 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1876.
Republican hold.
Kansas James M. Harvey Republican 1874 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New elected January 31, 1877 on the seventeenth ballot.
Republican hold.
Kentucky John W. Stevenson Democratic 1871 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1876.
Democratic hold.
Louisiana Joseph R. West Republican 1870–71 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 10, 1877.[3]
Republican hold.
Maine James G. Blaine Republican 1876 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 16, 1877.[3]
Winner also elected to finish the term; see above.
Massachusetts George S. Boutwell Republican 1873 (special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected in 1877.
Republican hold.
Michigan Thomas W. Ferry Republican 1871 Incumbent re-elected in 1877.
Minnesota William Windom Republican 1870 (appointed)
1871 		Incumbent re-elected in 1877.
Mississippi James L. Alcorn Republican 1870 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1876.
Democratic gain.
Nebraska Phineas Hitchcock Republican 1870 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1877.
Republican hold.
New Hampshire Aaron H. Cragin Republican 1864
1870 		Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1876.
Republican hold.
New Jersey Frederick T. Frelinghuysen Republican 1870–71 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 24, 1877.
Democratic gain.
North Carolina Matt W. Ransom Democratic 1872 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1876.
Oregon James K. Kelly Democratic 1870 Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
Rhode Island Henry B. Anthony Republican 1858
1864
1870 		Incumbent re-elected in 1876.
South Carolina Thomas J. Robertson Republican 1868 (readmission)
1870 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1876.
Democratic gain.
Tennessee Henry Cooper Democratic 1870–71 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 10, 1877.[3]
Democratic hold.
Texas Morgan C. Hamilton Republican 1870 (readmission)
1871 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected May 5, 1876 on third ballot.
Democratic gain.
Virginia John W. Johnston Democratic 1870 (readmission)
1871 		Incumbent re-elected in 1877.
West Virginia Henry G. Davis Democratic 1871 Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1877 on the fourth ballot.

Elections during the 45th Congress

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In these elections, the winners were elected in 1877 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Pennsylvania
(Class 3) 		Simon Cameron Republican 1857
1861 (resigned)
1867
1873 		Incumbent resigned March 12, 1877.
New senator elected March 20, 1877.
Republican hold.
Ohio
(Class 3) 		John Sherman Republican 1861 (special)
1866
1872 		Incumbent resigned March 8, 1877 to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
New senator elected March 21, 1877.
Republican hold.

Alabama

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See also: List of United States senators from Alabama

Arkansas

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See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas

Colorado

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See also: List of United States senators from Colorado

Colorado (initial, class 2)

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Colorado (initial, class 3)

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Colorado (regular)

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Connecticut (special)

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See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut

Delaware

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See also: List of United States senators from Delaware

Georgia

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See also: List of United States senators from Georgia

Illinois

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See also: List of United States senators from Illinois

Iowa

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See also: List of United States senators from Iowa

Kansas

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See also: List of United States senators from Kansas

Kentucky

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See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky

Louisiana

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See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana

Louisiana (special)

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Louisiana (regular)

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Maine

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See also: List of United States senators from Maine

Maine (regular)

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Maine (special)

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Massachusetts

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See also: List of United States senators from Massachusetts

Michigan

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See also: List of United States senators from Michigan

Minnesota

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See also: List of United States senators from Minnesota

Mississippi

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See also: List of United States senators from Mississippi

Nebraska

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See also: List of United States senators from Nebraska

New Hampshire

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See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire

New Jersey

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See also: List of United States senators from New Jersey

North Carolina

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See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina

Ohio (special)

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See also: List of United States senators from Ohio

Oregon

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See also: List of United States senators from Oregon

Pennsylvania (special)

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The special election in Pennsylvania was held March 20, 1877.

Republican Senator Simon Cameron had been elected to the United States Senate by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in 1867 and was re-elected in 1873. Sen. Cameron resigned on March 12, 1877.[6]

Following the resignation of Simon Cameron, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 20, 1877, to elect a new Senator to fill the vacancy. Former United States Secretary of War J. Donald Cameron, Simon Cameron's son, was elected to complete his father's term, set to expire on March 4, 1879.[7] The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

Pennsylvania Results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Donald Cameron 147 58.57
Democratic Andrew H. Dill 92 36.65
Democratic Hiester Clymer 1 0.40
Democratic Andrew G. Curtin 1 0.40
Democratic John Jackson 1 0.40
N/A Not voting 9 3.59
Totals 251 100.00%

Rhode Island

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See also: List of United States senators from Rhode Island

South Carolina

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See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina

Tennessee

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See also: List of United States senators from Tennessee

Tennessee (regular)

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Tennessee (special)

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Texas

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See also: List of United States senators from Texas
1876 United States Senate election in Texas
 
← 1870 May 3–5, 1876 1882 →
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature
     
Candidate Richard Coke John Ireland
Party Democratic Democratic
First ballot 49 votes
40.2% 		39 votes
32.0%
Third ballot 68 votes
58.1% 		49 votes
41.9%
U.S. senator before election

Morgan C. Hamilton
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Coke
Democratic

Incumbent Republican Morgan C. Hamilton did not run for re-election. Since his initial election in 1870, the Democratic Party had taken control of the Texas Legislature, ensuring that a Democrat would replace him. Incumbent governor Richard Coke defeated former Texas Supreme Court justice John Ireland on the third ballot. U.S. Representative John Hancock and former governor Fletcher Stockdale also ran, but they dropped out after the second round of balloting.[9]

1876 United States Senate election in Texas first ballot
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Coke 49 40.2%
Democratic John Ireland 39 32.0%
Democratic John Hancock 29 23.8%
Democratic Fletcher Stockdale 5 4.1%
Total votes 122 100.0%
1876 United States Senate election in Texas third ballot
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Coke 68 58.1%
Democratic John Ireland 49 41.9%
Total votes 117 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

Virginia

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See also: List of United States senators from Virginia

West Virginia

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See also: List of United States senators from West Virginia

West Virginia (special)

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1877 United States Senate special election in West Virginia
 
← 1875 January 23–26, 1877 1881 →
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature
       
Candidate Frank Hereford Samuel Price Henry S. Walker
Party Democratic Democratic Democratic
First ballot 21 votes
24.1% 		24 votes
27.6% 		16 votes
18.4%
Fourth ballot 70 votes
81.4% 		10 votes
11.6% 		4 votes
4.7%
U.S. senator before election

Samuel Price
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Hereford
Democratic

First-term Democrat Allen T. Caperton died July 26, 1876, in his second year in office. Fellow-Democrat Samuel Price was appointed August 26, 1876 to continue the term, pending a special election in which he was a candidate. Price lost the election to Democratic congressman Frank Hereford January 26, 1877 on the fourth ballot.[3]

Appointed incumbent Samuel Price and challengers Frank Hereford and Henry S. Walker, three prominent state Democrats, fought for the party's nomination over seven ballots and three sessions, without much movement in any direction. On January 26, with the Democrats unable to make a nomination, legislative Republicans broke the deadlock by throwing their support to Hereford on the floor.[10]

Democratic nomination[11][12][13]
Candidate Ballots
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Frank Hereford 21 19 18 18 21 18 18
Samuel Price 20 20 21 19 20 13 16
Henry S. Walker 17 19 16 19 18 23 17
Scattered 7 8 9 6 4 6 13
Total 65 66 64 62 63 60 64
Needed to win 35
House and Senate balloting
Party Candidate House Senate
Votes % Votes %
Democratic Frank Hereford 18 28.6 3 13.0
Democratic Samuel Price 15 23.8 7 30.4
Democratic Henry S. Walker 9 14.3 6 26.1
Republican John S. Carlile 15 23.8 4 17.4
Democratic Robert F. Dennis 2 3.2 3 13.0
Democratic Ira J. McGinnis 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic Thomas J. Farnsworth 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic John B. Hoge 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic William E. Arnold 1 1.6 0 0.0
Total 63 100 23 100
Needed to win 32 >50 12 >50
Joint Session balloting
Party Candidate Ballots
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Democratic Frank Hereford 21 28 25 70
Democratic Samuel Price 24 23 26 10
Democratic Henry S. Walker 16 12 19 4
Democratic James H. Ferguson 3 15 3 0
Democratic Robert F. Dennis 6 6 7 1
Other candidates 17 3 7 1
Total 87 87 87 86
Needed to win 44 44 44 44

Hereford resigned from the House January 31, 1877, thereby qualifying for the Senate. He only finished the term and left office in 1881.

West Virginia (regular)

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1877 United States Senate election in West Virginia
 
← 1871 January 23–26, 1877 1883 →
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature
     
Candidate Henry G. Davis Charles J. Faulkner
Party Democratic Democratic
First ballot 24 votes
27.6% 		24 votes
27.6%
Third ballot 60 votes
69.0% 		19 votes
21.8%
U.S. senator before election

Henry G. Davis
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Henry G. Davis
Democratic

First-term Democrat Henry G. Davis was re-elected January 26, 1877 on the third ballot.

Democratic nomination[11][12][13]
Candidate Ballots
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Charles J. Faulkner 22 24 26 23 25 22 22
Henry G. Davis 22 21 19 18 21 20 22
John Brannon 2 4 5 4 4 7 4
Gideon D. Camden 7 3 4 3 1 4 2
John J. Davis 4 5 4 10 8 6 6
Scattered 8 6 5 3 2 5 8
Total 65 63 63 61 61 64 64
Needed to win 35
House and Senate balloting
Party Candidate House Senate
Votes % Votes %
Democratic Henry G. Davis 21 33.3 6 26.1
Democratic Charles J. Faulkner 18 28.6 7 30.4
Democratic Gideon D. Camden 3 4.8 4 17.4
Democratic John Brannon 5 7.9 2 8.7
Democratic John J. Davis 10 15.9 2 8.7
Democratic Johnson N. Camden 1 1.6 2 8.7
Republican Archibald Campbell 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic Alpheus F. Haymond 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic Daniel D. Johnson 1 1.6 0 0.0
Democratic Daniel Lamb 1 1.6 0 0.0
Republican George Loomis 1 1.6 0 0.0
Total 63 100 23 100
Needed to win 32 >50 12 >50
Joint Session balloting
Party Candidate Ballots
1st 2nd 3rd
Democratic Henry G. Davis 24 26 60
Democratic Charles J. Faulkner 24 23 19
Democratic John Brannon 11 15 2
Democratic Gideon D. Camden 5 6 3
Democratic John J. Davis 15 12 1
Other candidates 8 5 2
Total 87 87 87
Needed to win 44 44 44

Davis would retire after this second term, in 1883.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ as Republican Conference Chair
  2. ^ as Democratic Caucus Chair
  3. ^ "Eighteen Republicans voted for Garland, of whom five were colored."[3]

References

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  1. ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Taft, George S. (1885). Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1885 - Pages 483 - 512. U.S. Government Publishing Office.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o J. F. Cleveland, etc. (ed.). The Tribune almanac and political register. 1874-78. The Tribune Association. pp. 31–33.
  4. ^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the Sixteenth General Assembly of the State of Iowa. 1876. pp. 36–37 – via Google books.
  5. ^ Taylor & Taylor, p. 76, vol. II.
  6. ^ "CAMERON, Simon, (1799 - 1889)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "CAMERON, James Donald, (1833 - 1918)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "U.S. Senate Election - 20 March 1877" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  9. ^ Barr, Chester Alwyn Jr. (1971). Reconstruction to Reform. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. pp. 27–31. ISBN 0-292-70135-7. LCCN 73-165911.
  10. ^ "No more caucus. Elected two senators". Wheeling Daily Register. January 27, 1877 – via NewspaperArchive.
  11. ^ a b "Caucus". Wheeling Daily Register. January 23, 1877 – via NewspaperArchive.
  12. ^ a b "Caucus Proceedings". Wheeling Daily Register. January 25, 1877 – via NewspaperArchive.
  13. ^ a b "Caucus Proceedings". Wheeling Daily Register. January 26, 1877 – via NewspaperArchive.

Further reading

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