The Democratic party is the United States’ oldest existing political party, with its origins tracing back to Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican party. Most agree that the modern Democratic party emerged with Andrew Jackson’s successful campaign for president in 1828, when he led a group of Democratic-Republicans in splintering to form the Democratic Party. During the years leading up to the Civil War, the party’s ideology stressed states’ rights and low government spending. By 1860 the issue of slavery would come to divide the Democratic party, helping Abraham Lincoln’s newly formed Republican party win the presidency.

Charles James Faulkner (also known as C. James Faulkner) was born on July 2, 1806 in Martinsburg, in what is now West Virginia, to James Faulkner, an Irish immigrant merchant, and Sally (also known as Sarah) Mackey Faulkner. He was likely named James F. Faulkner at birth and began using the name Charles James Faulkner in young adulthood. Faulkner was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 and served in the House of Representatives from 1851-1859, initially as a member of the Whig party before switching parties and becoming a Democrat in 1853. He died on November 1, 1884 and is buried in his family plot in Martinsburg’s Norbourne Parish Cemetery.

Gideon G. Westcott was born circa 1810. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic party and served as Postmaster of Philadelphia from 1857-1859. He died circa 1889 and is buried in Philadelphia’s Woodlands Cemetery.

John Robbins, Jr. was born in 1808. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic party and served as a member of the 31st-33rd Congresses from 1849-1855. He died on April 27, 1880 and is buried in Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery.

James R. Ludlow was born on May 3, 1825. In 1857 he was nominated by the Pennsylvania Democratic party to serve on the bench of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for an initial 10 year term, and was reelected for a subsequent 2nd and 3rd term in 1867 and 1877. In 1873, he assumed the role of President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, No. 3 following the adoption of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1874. He died on September 20, 1886 and is buried in Philadelphia’s Woodlands Cemetery.