Robert A. Cameron, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Robert A. Cameron
ROBERT A. CAMERON, M. D.,
REPRESENTATIVE PROM PORTER COUNTY.
Dr. Cameron was born in Brooklyn, New York, February 22d, 1828, and became a citizen of Porter county, Indiana, in 1843. His father, R. A. Cameron was an iron merchant, and died when Robert A., jr., was but seven years of age; and at that early period he commenced life for himself as a "farmer boy," and continued in that honorable occupation until the year 1846. In his eighteenth year he entered the office of J. L. Stockton, M. D., of Valparaiso, as a student of medicine, pursued it with energy and industry, and graduated with honor and distinction at the Indiana Medical College, at La Porte, Ind., in the year 1850. He at once opened an office for the practice of his profession at Valparaiso, his present place of residence, and succeeded in establishing for himself a fine reputation as a physycian, and in securing a good practice, notwithstanding that village and county (Porter) was well supplied with many older physicians who stood well in that vicinity. In the month of March, 1849, he married Miss Jane E. Porter, a very amiable young lady, and daughter of P. A. Porter, Esq., of that place. During the Mexican war, Dr. Cameron volunteered his services under Captain (now Colonel) Joseph P. Smith, of Lake county, who served during that war, but in consequence of the Regiment being full his company was not called out, and he was not permitted to participate in fighting his country's battles in that struggle. Politically. Dr. Cameron was a Democrat until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise line, and the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1854. At the organization of the Republican party, he became one of its most ardent, devoted and working members. In 1857 he purchased the office of the Observer, at Valparaiso, and changed the name of the paper to that of the Republic, since which time he has been its editor and publisher, and no paper in North-western Indiana has wielded a more potent influence for the good of its party than has the Republic with Dr. Cameron as its editor. He is a clear and forcible writer, a deep thinker, with a fine flow of language, and quick perceptive faculties that enable him to draw ready conclusions, and produce arguments that cannot be easily gainsayed In the month of June, 1860, he was put in nomination by the Republicans of Porter county, as their candidate for Representative, in opposition to Phillip Hall, Esq., one of the most prominent and influential Democrats of the county, over whom he was elected by a majority of 384 votes. As a Representative he is dignified and courteous. In argument he is clear and dispassionate, never attempting a speech unless fully versed in the subject under discussion. He has been educated in the school of self-reliance, and may be justly recognized as a self-made man in the fullest sense of the term. His personal appearance is commanding, and when addressing the House he never fails to elicit the warmest commendations from all who come within the range of his voice, which is full, clear and musical. He is a man of the people, and as such is devoted to their interests, which he watches with a jealous eye and is always one of the first to be heard when the rights of the people are sought to be assailed by special legislation for the benefit of corporate monopolies. This is his first term in any Legislative Assembly, and well did he sustain the confidence reposed in him by his constituency. Of his ability and integrity they had a just appreciation, and his legislative efforts are untarnished by the least infraction of honor or duty. Fortunate are any people who choose such a man as R. A. Cameron as their Representative in any capacity. Inured to toil from his early boyhood his votes, his speeches and his acts are ever for the right of the people - in favor of free homes, and above all, for free schools. Post office address - Valparaiso, Indiana.
Source: Sutherland, James. 1861. Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Forty-first General Assembly of the State of Indiana with that of the State Officers and Judiciary. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indianapolis Journal Company. 210 p.
Page(s) in Source: 91-93
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook