Library of Congress

HARDING, Benjamin Franklin, a Senator from Oregon; born near Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pa., on January 4, 1823; attended the public schools; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in Joliet, Ill., in 1849; moved to California and then to Oregon in 1850; clerk of the Territorial legislature in 1850 and 1851; member of that body and served as its speaker in 1852; United States district attorney in 1853; secretary of the Territory 1854-1859; member, State house of representatives 1858-1862, serving as speaker 1860-1861; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edward D. Baker and served from September 12, 1862, to March 3, 1865; retired to his farm near Salem, Marion County, Oreg., and a few years later moved to Cottage Grove, Lane County, where he died June 16, 1899; interment in Cottage Grove Cemetery.