Page:Autobiographies and portraits of the President, cabinet, Supreme court, and Fifty-fifth Congress (IA autobiographiesp02neal).pdf/99

 ALEXANDER STEPHENS CLAY

, of Marietta, Cobb County, Ga., was born September 25, &horbar;, on a farm in Cobb County; received his primary and preparatory education in the country schools and the high school at Palmetto, Ga.; graduated from Hiawassee College in 1875; taught school for two years; studied law under Judge David Irwin, of Marietta, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1877, and has been engaged actively in the practice of law since; was elected a member of the city council in 1880 and reelected in 1881; in 1884–85 and 1886–87 represented Cobb County in the general assembly of the State; in the latter term was elected speaker pro tempore; was reëlected for 1889–90, and served as speaker for two years; in 1892 was elected to the State senate, and served as president of that body for two years; in 1894 was elected chairman of the State Democratic executive committee, and conducted the State campaign between the Democrats and Populists that year; was reëlected to the same position in 1895, and still occupies the place; was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat, to succeed John B. Gordon, in October, 1896, and took his seat March 4, 1897. His term of service will expire March 3, 1903.