by design | Mar 3, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
The Strong Man of North Carolina F.M. Simmons By Ray Hill It would surprise me greatly if one reader out of a thousand knew the name of Furnifold McLendel Simmons. Long ago consigned to the pages of history, there was a time when F. M. Simmons was the most potent...
by design | Feb 25, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Maine’s ‘Mr. Democrat’ Louis Jefferson Brann By Ray Hill Years ago, Maine was one of the most reliably Republican states in the nation. While Democrats there weren’t quite as rare as Republicans were in the South at the time, they were used to losing elections. Even...
by design | Feb 18, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Judge Mansfield of Texas By Ray Hill Joseph Jefferson Mansfield was originally christened “Beauregard” but as his father, born in 1807, died fighting for the Confederacy the younger Mansfield’s name was changed to honor his late father. A slight man with a full head...
by design | Feb 11, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Battle of The Titans: Carmack versus Taylor By Ray Hill Politically speaking, Tennessee has never lacked for talent or ability. To get to the United States Senate, Kenneth D. McKellar had to defeat two of Tennessee’s most recognizable Democrats, as well as the best...
by design | Feb 4, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Machine Man: Barratt O’Hara of Illinois By Ray Hill There have been numerous political machines throughout the country; some infamous still to this day. Most of those political machines were to be found in big cities. Tennessee had two active political machines, both...
by design | Jan 28, 2024 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Mr. Revercomb of West Virginia By Ray Hill Stephen Jones of Oklahoma was a personal friend and the biographer of Senator Chapman Revercomb of West Virginia. As Mr. Jones wrote, Revercomb, especially in his second term, looked as if he were made to wear the senatorial...