Samuel McFarland, 1795 (Tenmile Creek, Penn.) - February 17, 1868 (Amwell Township, Penn.)
VP candidate for Radical Abolitionists Party (aka Liberty Party aka Union Party) 1860
Running mate with nominee: Gerrit Smith (1797-1874)
Popular vote: 171
Electoral vote: 0/303
The campaign:
The 1860 election was the last gasp of the Liberty Party. Many of their platform issues had been co-opted by the Free Soil Party and in turn by the early Republican Party. In spite of the Liberty Party barely surviving on life support, they had a real contest for the nomination between past nominees Gerrit Smith (1848, 1856) and William Goodell (1852). Several of the convention delegates were female.
Smith walked away with the prize, with Samuel McFarland as his running mate.
The Party had a name change to the Radical Abolitionists Party but on the Ohio ballot they were listed as the Union Party.
The ticket was on the ballot in two states and won a total of 171 popular votes: Ill. 35 (0.01%), Ohio 136 (0.03%)
Election history:
1843 - Pennsylvania State Legislature (Liberty Party) - defeated
Other occupations: attorney, sheep farmer, wool merchant, Washington County (Penn.) Treasurer 1829-1832
Buried: ?
Notes:
Known as Major Samuel McFarland.
Arrested and convicted for using paper money.
Willed part of his estate to the Freedmen's Bureau
Left no descendants.
One of the founders of the Washington (Penn.) Anti-Slavery Society 1834.
Along with his wife Mary was involved with the Underground Railroad at his farm northwest of Washington, Penn.
Presbyterian.
"He was strong-willed, outspoken, straightforward, aggressive man, impolitic, it may be, as some have averred that his espousal of cause injured it, but, however much his methods may have been questioned, none ever doubted his sincerity of purpose."--History of Washington County 1882.
