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Daniel Wolsey Voorhees

Daniel Wolsey Voorhees
Sen Daniel W Voorhees 04790r.jpg
United States Senator
from Indiana
In office
November 6, 1877 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by Oliver H.P. Morton
Succeeded by Charles W. Fairbanks
Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by John Coburn
Succeeded by Morton C. Hunter
Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1861 – February 23, 1866
Preceded by John G. Davis
Succeeded by Henry D. Washburn
Personal details
Born (1827-09-26)September 26, 1827
Liberty Township, Ohio
Died April 10, 1897(1897-04-10) (aged 69)
Washington, D.C.
Political party Democratic

Daniel Wolsey Voorhees (September 26, 1827 – April 10, 1897) was a lawyer and United States Senator from Indiana, who was leader of the Democratic party and an anti-war Copperhead during the American Civil War.

He was born in Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio, of Dutch and Irish descent. He was the son of Stephen Pieter Voorhees and Rachel Elliott. During his infancy his parents moved to Fountain County, Indiana, near Veedersburg. He graduated at Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University), Greencastle, Indiana, in 1849; was admitted to the bar in 1850, and began to practice in Covington, Indiana, whence in 1857 he moved again to Terre Haute.

In 1858-61 he was U.S. district-attorney for Indiana; in 1861-66 and in 1869-73 he was a Democratic representative in Congress; and in 1877-97 he was a member of the U.S. Senate. During the American Civil War he was an anti-war Copperhead and enemies alleged him as affiliated with the Knights of the Golden Circle, which—as it was more an imaginary organization than one of any substance—seems quite unlikely. In any case, he was not so radical as Clement Vallandigham and others.

Historian Kenneth Stampp has captured the Copperhead spirit in his depiction of Voorhees of Indiana:


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Wikipedia

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