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ALZELL, JOHN. For many years a member of the United States house of representatives, John Dalzell has played a prominent part in the recent legislative history of this country as an able and earnest Republican congressman of much ability and influence. He was born in New York city, April 22, 1845, the son of Samuel and Mary McDonnell Dalzell, who had come to that city from Ireland. Two years later they removed to Pittsburg, where the father engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was of very moderate means. John Dalzell had the advantage in his youth of a home life under an honorable and industrious father and mother whose influence upon his character was deep and stimulating, both in intellectual and moral training. He early displayed an inclination to study, which his father took care to foster, sending him to the public schools, thence to the Western university of Pennsylvania, and finally to Yale college, where he was graduated in 1865.

Choosing the law for his profession, Mr. Dalzell entered the office of John H. Hampton of Pittsburg as a student and in 1867 was admitted to practice at the Allegheny county bar. On June 26, of the same year he was married to Mary Louise Duff. The young lawyer at once engaged in practice, associating himself with his preceptor under the firm title of Hampton and Dalzell, and from the start displaying ability in his profession. This partnership continued for twenty years, and was followed in 1887 by that of Dalzell, Scott and Gordon. In his legal business Mr. Dalzell has been very successful. For many years prior to his election to congress he had been an attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and its Western leased lines, and had handled the legal business of many large corporations of Pittsburg and its vicinity. He is in religious faith a Presbyterian, and in his political affiliation a Republican, in which party his excellent oratorical powers and active work have long given him a standing. His congressional career began with his election to the house from the Pittsburg district in 1887, his ability as a legislator giving such satisfaction to his constituents that they