Ebe Walter Tunnell (December 31, 1844 – December 18, 1917) was an American merchant and politician from Lewes, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.
Ebe W. Tunnell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 50th Governor of Delaware | |
| In office January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | William T. Watson |
| Succeeded by | John Hunn |
| Member of the Delaware House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 1871 – January 7, 1873 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 31, 1844 Ocean View, Delaware |
| Died | December 18, 1917 (aged 72) Lewes, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Lewes, Delaware |
| Occupation | Merchant |
Early life and family
editTunnell was born at Blackwater, Delaware, near Clarksville, now Ocean View, Sussex County, Delaware, son of Nancy J. Long and Stephen Tunnell.[1] After attending the public schools at Milford and Lewes, he ran the Blackwater general store started by his grandfather. He moved to Lewes in 1872, and operated a drug and hardware business there and was a member of the Lewes Presbyterian Church.
He was one of two Delaware governors who never married.
Governor of Delaware
editTunnell was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in the 1871/72 session and Clerk of the Peace for Sussex County from 1885 through 1890. He was the unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Delaware in 1894, losing to the Republican Party candidate, Joshua H. Marvil. Two years later, in 1896, he was elected governor, defeating the Union (Addicks) Republican Party candidate, James R. Hoffecker, and the regular Republican Party candidate John C. Higgins. He served one term as governor from January 19, 1897, until January 15, 1901.
The Delaware Constitution of 1897, the state's constitution, was written and adopted during his term. It added some representation for New Castle County in the Delaware General Assembly, but reduced the representation of Wilmington, which was already the state's most populous part. Among many other changes, it created the office of Lieutenant Governor, allowed governors to be elected to a second term and gave them a legislative veto, reduced judges' terms from life to 12 years, and eliminated the poll tax. It was also during his term that the General Incorporation Law was passed, creating the favorable business environment that has resulted in Delaware becoming the preferred place in the U.S. for companies to incorporate.
| Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | Speaker | House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
| 1897–1898 | 89th | Democratic | Hezekiah Harrington | Democratic | Emery B. Riggin | ||||||
| 1899–1900 | 90th | Democratic | Charles M. Salmon | Republican | Theodore F. Clark | ||||||
Death and legacy
editAfter his term ended, Tunnell returned to Lewes, where he became president of the Farmers' Bank of Delaware, a director of the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Railroad, and owner of the Delaware Pilot. He died at Lewes, and is buried there in the Lewes Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Almanac
editElections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State representatives have a two-year term. The governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.
| Public Offices | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | January 3, 1871 | January 7, 1873 | ||
| Clerk of the Peace | Executive | Georgetown | 1885 | 1890 | Sussex County | |
| Governor | Executive | Dover | January 19, 1897 | January 15, 1901 | ||
| Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Assembly | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | District |
| 1871–1872 | 76th | State House | Democratic | James Ponder | Sussex at-large | |
| Election results | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1894 | Governor | Ebe W. Tunnell | Democratic | 18,659 | 47% | Joshua H. Marvil | Republican | 19,880 | 50% | ||
| 1896 | Governor | Ebe W. Tunnell | Democratic | 15,507 | 44% | John H. Hoffecker John C. Higgins |
Union Republican Republican |
11,014 7,154 |
31% 20% | ||
References
edit- ^ family genealogy
- Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
Images
edit- Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.
External links
editPlaces with more information
edit- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965