Marion Cannon

Marion Cannon (October 30, 1834 – August 27, 1920) was a United States Representative from California. He was born near Morgantown, Virginia (now in West Virginia) and learned the blacksmith trade. In 1852 he moved to California and engaged in mining in Nevada County for twenty-one years. He was elected county recorder of Nevada County in 1869 and served for two years. He then moved to Ventura County, California and settled near Ventura in 1874, engaging in agricultural pursuits.

November 20, 1890, Cannon was elected first State President of the Farmers’ Alliance and was reelected October 22, 1891. He helped to organize the People’s Party of California. He was chosen as 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 (March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895), but was not a candidate for renomination in 1894. After his stint in Congress, Cannon resumed agricultural pursuits until his death at Ranch Home, near Ventura, August 27, 1920. He was buried in Ivy Lawn Cemetery, Ventura, California.