Thomas H. TONGUE, Congress, OR (1844-1903)

TONGUE, Thomas H., a Representative from Oregon; born in Lincolnshire, England, June 23, 1844; attended the public schools in England; immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Washington County, Oreg., November 23, 1859; attended Tualatin (Wash.) Academy, and was graduated from the Pacific University, Forest Grove, Washington County, Oreg., in 1868; moved to Hillsboro, Washington County, Oreg., in 1868; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced practice in Hillsboro; chairman of the Republican State convention in 1890; served in the State senate 1888-1892; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1892; again chairman of the Republican State convention, in 1894; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until his death; chairman, Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands (Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses); had been reelected to the Fifty-eighth Congress; died in Washington, D.C., January 11, 1903; interment in the private family cemetery adjoining the Masonic Cemetery at Hillsboro, Oreg.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present