280 MARYLAND MANUAL.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

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MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

Allegany County—JOHN B. SHANNON, Democrat—Frostburg.

John B. Shannon was born November 7, 1865, in Springfield,
Hampshire County, West Virginia. His father was the late
Justice Shannon, who served the people of his district in that
capacity for over forty years. Some years ago Mr. Shannon
was elected vice-president of the Maryland Shoe Company of
Cumberland, and for several years he has been a director of the
Leatherbury Shoe Company of Clarksburg, one of the largest
wholesale shoe houses of West Virgina. His business career
has been a remarkably successful one.

Senator Shannon has taken a great interest in political
matters since his majority. For a number of years he has been
the chairman of the County Committee of Allegany, having
charge of the campaigns in that county- Some years ago the
Democrats of Allegany, recognizing his great popularity with
the people, nominated him for Register of Wills. He was the
only Democratic candidate elected in that county. While some
of the Republican candidates received as many as 1800 majority,
he was elected by a majority of about 1200. He was the first
Democrat elected in Allegany in fifteen years. The county had
always been looked on as certainly Republican, with majorities
ranging from 1500 to 2500. To overcome this majority and
secure 1200 for himself shows clearly the esteem in which he is
held by the citizens of Allegany.

It has been often said that a prophet is not without honor
save in his own country, but this is not the case with Senator
Shannon. When a man running for political office is so highly
esteemed as to draw from the opposition party several hundred
personal votes for himself, he is considered a strong candidate.
So that it will be readily admitted that one who draws several
thousand from the opposition gives the very strongest evidence
of the love and admiration of his fellow countians.

A man's immediate neighbors and friends are the ones sup-
posed to know him best. When you find them rallying to him
and standing by him regardless of political considerations, you
are safe to conclude that he is a good citizen and entitled to the:
trust and confidence of all people.