ames Whitcomb was born near Windsor, Vermont, December 1, 1795. His father removed to Ohio, and settled near Cincinnati, when James was quite young, and it was there upon a farm that the youthful years of the future governor and senator were passed. He received a classical education at Transylvania university, subsequently studied law, and in March 1882, was admitted to the bar in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. Two years later, he came to Indiana and located at Bloomington, where he soon became known as an able advocate and successful practitioner. In 1826, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of his circuit, and in the discharge of the duties of this office traveled over a large scope of country and became acquainted with many leading men of the state. In 1830 and 1836 he was elected to the state senate, where he did much to stay the progress of the internal improvement fever which was then at its highest point. In October, 1836, President Jackson appointed Mr. Whitcomb commissioner of the general land office, to which he was reappointed by President Van Buren, and served as such until the expiration of the latter's term of office. Early in 1841, he returned to Indiana and resumed the practice of law in Terre Haute, where he soon acquired a large and lucrative business. He was at that time one of the best known and most popular members of his party, and at the Democratic state convention of 1843, he was nominated for governor of the state. His opponent was Samuel Bigger, whom he defeated by a majority of 2,013 votes. Three years afterward he was re-elected, beating Joseph G. Marshall, the Whig Candidate, by 3, 958 votes. When he became governor, he found the state loaded down with debt, upon which no interest had been paid for years, but when he left the office, the debt was adjusted and the state's credit restored. He also, by his efforts, created a public sentiment that demanded the establishment of benevolent and reformatory institutions, and he awakened the people to the importance of establishing common schools and providing a fund for their maintenance. During his term of office, he raised five regiments of infantry that represented the state in the war with Mexico. He legislature of 1849 elected Governor Whitcomb to the senate of the United States, for which high position he was well qualified by talent, by education and by experience. Owing to feeble health, he was unable to discharge his senatorial duties as he wished, and he died from a painful disease when he had served little more than half the term. In 1843 he wrote a pamphlet entitled, "Facts of the People," the most effective treatise against protective tariff ever known. As a lawyer, Mr. Whitcomb ranked among the ablest in the country, and as governor will always be remembered as one of the ablest of the distinguished men who have occupied that position. Governor Whitcomb was compactly and strongly built; he was somewhat above the average size of man; he had a dark complexion and black hair. His features were good and expressive, and his manners the most elegant. He was a talented and an honest man, and when the roll of Indiana's great men is made up, among the first in the list will be the name of Whitcomb.