Christian L. Poorman
Encyclopedia
Christian L. Poorman was a United States
politician in the Ohio House of Representatives
and Ohio Secretary of State
from 1892-1893. He was also a publisher, manufacturer and inventor.
October 28, 1825, the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Longdorf) Poorman. His father died in 1840 from the effects of a wound received in the War of 1812
. He attended the common schools and learned cabinet and chair making trades. He worked at these to afford law school. He entered the Cincinnati Law School in 1853, and graduated in 1855, establishing a large clientage at St. Clairsville, Ohio
. Politically, he was a Whig, and became a Republican and strongly supported Abraham Lincoln
when he edited the Belmont Chronicle. He continued with the Chronicle until 1870, except when away as a soldier.
Poorman raised a company, and was commissioned captain of Company D, 43rd Ohio Infantry
, December 21, 1861 - August 12, 1862. For gallantry in the field, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel, and assigned to 98th Ohio Infantry
, participated in battles in Kentucky
and Tennessee
, and resigned September 12, 1863.
After selling the Chronicle in 1870, Poorman manufactured machinery in Bellaire, Ohio
. He was issued in 1871. The Panic of 1873
wiped out his fortune. The Democrats nominated him for Ohio's 16th Congressional District
in 1872, but he lost to Lorenzo Danford
.
In 1878, Poorman established the Bellaire Tribune, and strongly advocated protective tariffs. He was first elected justice of the peace in Belmont County, Ohio
, and then elected county auditor for two terms starting in 1859. He was elected and re-elected in 1885 and 1887 to the Ohio House of Representatives
, serving 1886-1889 in the 67th and 68th General Assemblies. In 1892, Daniel J. Ryan
resigned as Ohio Secretary of State
to take another position, and Governor McKinley
appointed Poorman to fill the position. He was not re-nominated for the 1892 election.
On April 6, 1846, Poorman married Martha Ann Ebert.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
and Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
from 1892-1893. He was also a publisher, manufacturer and inventor.
Biography
Christian L. Poorman was born in Mechanicsburg, PennsylvaniaMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
October 28, 1825, the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Longdorf) Poorman. His father died in 1840 from the effects of a wound received in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He attended the common schools and learned cabinet and chair making trades. He worked at these to afford law school. He entered the Cincinnati Law School in 1853, and graduated in 1855, establishing a large clientage at St. Clairsville, Ohio
St. Clairsville, Ohio
St. Clairsville is a city in Belmont County, Ohio in the United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,057 at the 2000 census. This county seat of Belmont County has been nicknamed "Paradise on the Hill." St. Clairsville was named after...
. Politically, he was a Whig, and became a Republican and strongly supported Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
when he edited the Belmont Chronicle. He continued with the Chronicle until 1870, except when away as a soldier.
Poorman raised a company, and was commissioned captain of Company D, 43rd Ohio Infantry
43rd Ohio Infantry
The 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 43rd Ohio Infantry was organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio September 28, 1861 through February 1, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Joseph L...
, December 21, 1861 - August 12, 1862. For gallantry in the field, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel, and assigned to 98th Ohio Infantry
98th Ohio Infantry
The 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 98th Ohio Infantry was organized at Steubenville, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on August 20, 1862 under the command of Colonel George P. Webster...
, participated in battles in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and resigned September 12, 1863.
After selling the Chronicle in 1870, Poorman manufactured machinery in Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,278 at the 2010 census. The village is located along the Ohio River...
. He was issued in 1871. The Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
wiped out his fortune. The Democrats nominated him for Ohio's 16th Congressional District
Ohio's 16th congressional district
The 16th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Representative Jim Renacci . The district is based in Stark County and the Canton area and also includes Wayne County and most of Medina and Ashland counties.On Nov...
in 1872, but he lost to Lorenzo Danford
Lorenzo Danford
Lorenzo Danford was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Washington Township, Ohio, Danford attended the common schools and a college at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, for two years.He studied law....
.
In 1878, Poorman established the Bellaire Tribune, and strongly advocated protective tariffs. He was first elected justice of the peace in Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 70,400. Its county seat is St. Clairsville...
, and then elected county auditor for two terms starting in 1859. He was elected and re-elected in 1885 and 1887 to the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, serving 1886-1889 in the 67th and 68th General Assemblies. In 1892, Daniel J. Ryan
Daniel J. Ryan
Daniel Joseph Ryan was a Republican politician in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Secretary of State from 1889-1892. He was later an author....
resigned as Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
to take another position, and Governor McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
appointed Poorman to fill the position. He was not re-nominated for the 1892 election.
On April 6, 1846, Poorman married Martha Ann Ebert.