Marion Cannon

Who was Marion Cannon?

Marion Cannon was a United States Representative from California. He was born near Morgantown, West Virginia. He attended the district school and learned the blacksmith trade. He moved to California in 1852 and engaged in mining in Nevada County for twenty-one years. He was elected county recorder of Nevada County in 1869 and served two years. He then moved to Ventura County, California and settled near Ventura in 1874 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Cannon was elected first State President of the Farmers’ Alliance November 20, 1890 and reelected October 22, 1891. He helped to organize the People’s Party of California in 1891. He was chosen a representative to the Supreme Council in Indianapolis in November 1891 and was selected by that body to represent California in the industrial conference at St. Louis February 22, 1892. He was delegate to the People’s Party National Convention in 1892. He was elected as a Populist to the Fifty-third Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1894. He resumed agricultural pursuits until his death at Ranch Home, near Ventura, August 27, 1920. He was buried in Ivy Lawn Cemetery, Ventura, California.