USA > Missouri > Carroll County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6
USA > Missouri > Chariton County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6
USA > Missouri > Clay County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6
USA > Missouri > Linn County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6
USA > Missouri > Ray County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6
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On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two had died, and his only surviving child had been killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and it's wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left alone in the world, without wife or child.
When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to that pro-slavery party with which he had ever beer. allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until the time of his death, which occurred in October 1869. He was one of the most genial and social (! men, an honored communicant of the Episcopi Church, and one of the kindest of neighters. Gien crous to a fault, he contributed liberally for d'e al leviation of suffering and want, and maydl 's \ \' s people were often gladened by his material bounty.
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FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT.
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JAMES BUCHAANAAMY, 6
AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- teenth President of the United - States, was born in a small frontier town, at the foot of the eastern ridge of the Allegha- nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on the 23d of April, 1791. The place where the humble cabin of his father stood was called Stony 5 Batter. It was a wild and ro- mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- tains, with towering summits rising grandly all around. His father was a native of the north of Ireland; a poor man, who had emigrated in 1783, with little property save his own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- cluded home, where Jamies was born, he remained for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual advantages. When James was eight years of age, his father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where his son was placed at school, and commenced a course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de. veloped remarkable taient, and took his stand among the first scholars in the institution. His application to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- f ures proposed by President jackson, ofta thing repon
abled him to master the most abstruse subjects w " facility.
In the year ISog, he graduated with the highes: honors of his clase. He was then eighteen years st age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of athletic sport, an unerring shot. and enlivened with an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster. and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- cessfully defended before the State Senate one of the judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally admitted that he stood at the head of the bar: ane there was no lawyer in the State who had a more 1 1. crative practice.
In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a candidate for Congress. He was elected, and fo ten years he remained a member of the Lower House During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally tried some important case. In 1831. he retired altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac. quired an ample fortune.
Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the President. appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The duties of his mission he performed with ability, wiaci gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, i: t833, he was elected to a seat in the United States Senate. He there met, as his associates, Wenn. Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated teme. ..
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JAMES BUCHANAN.
sals against France, to enforce the payment of our claims against that country ; and defended the course of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale removal from office of those who were not the sup- porters of his administration. Upon this question he was brought into direct collision with Heury Clay. Ile also, with voice and vote, advocated expanging from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United States mails.
As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- cated that they should be respectfully received; and that the reply should be returned, that Congress had no power to legislate upon the subject. 'Congress," said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with slavery under a foreign government as in any of the States where it now exists."
Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of the Mexican With Me. Bui assumed that crossing the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the account of the course our Government pursued in that movement
Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave' his cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1650, which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with the mission to England.
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In the year 1856, a national Democratie conven- tion nominated Mr. Buchanan forthe Presidency. The political conflict was one of the most severe in which our country has ever engaged. All the friends of slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- reived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 1,340,618, for Fremont. 1,224.750 for Bichanan. On March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated.
Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four years were wanting to fill up his threestore years and ten. Hisown friends, those with whom he had been albed in political principles and action for ye, rs, were seeking the destruction of the Government, that they might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation whose corner-stone should be human slivety. In this emergency. Mr. Buchanan was hopeless y he- wildered lle could not, with his long-avowed prin-
ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party 1: their assumptions. As President of the United States, bound by his outh faithfully to administer the law, he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind. unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- lic. He therefore did nothing.
The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- trol of the Government were thus taken from their hands, they would secede from the Union, taking with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of the United States.
Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery party was such, that he had been willing to offer them far more than they had ventured to claim. All the South had professed to ask of the North was non- intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- operation of the Government to defend and extend the institution.
As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Bachanan avow- ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He declared that Congress had no power to enforce its laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed. " The Union must and shall be preserved!"
South Carolina seceded in December, ISoo: nearly three months before the inauguration of President Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. The rebel flag was raised in Charleston . Fort Sumpter was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- dered ; and our custom-houses and post offices were appropriated by the rebels.
The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide a way. and close the administration, so terril le in its weak- ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the scepter.
The administration of President Buchanan was certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- perienced. His best friends cant ot recall it with pleasure. And still more deploralle it is her his fame. that in that dreadful conflict which rolied its billes- of fame and blood over our whole land, no word came from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's banner should triumph over the flag of the releto . He died at his Wheatland retreat, jone 1. 1863.
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79
SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT.
ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.
0 A 7 BRAHAM LINCOLN, the sixteenth President of the @United States, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 1 8og. About the year 17 8o, a man by the name of Abraham Lincoln left Virginia with his frnily and moved into the then wilds of Kentucky Only two years . Her this emigr ton, still a young man, while working one day in a field, was stealthily approached by € an Indian and shot dead. His widow was left in extreme poverty with five little children, three boys and two girls. Thomas, the youngest of the boys, was four years of age at his father's death. Thi, Thomas was the father of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States whose name. must henceforth forever be enrolled with the most prominent in the annais of our world.
Of course no record has been kept of the life of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. Education he had none; he could never either read or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his starving mother, and push out into the world. a friend- Less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a Aborer in the fields of others.
When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- rabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their second child was Al raham Lincoln, the subject of this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. "All that Ham, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- ful son "I owe to my angel-mother."
When he was eight years of age, his father soll his
cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana Wher- two years later his mother died.
Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated community around him. He could not have had a better school than this to teach him to put thoughts into words. He also became an eager reader. The books he could obtain were few; but these he read and re-read until they were almost committed ic memory.
As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly f.i ... was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys ard griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mai ried when a child of but fourteen years of age. anc soon died. The family was gradually scattered. MI- Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830 and emigrated to Macon Co., Ill.
Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. With vigorous hands he aided his father in auring another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this until he saw the family comfortably settled, and then small lot of enclosed prairie plinted with corn, when he announced to his father his intention to leave home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how tri !- liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of education and was intensely earnest to improve Jis mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruit. which ardent spirits were causing. and became strictly temperate ; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi. cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read i: God's word, " Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in ....; " and a profane expression he was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by 2 single vice.
Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired labore among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield where he was employed in building a large flat-lost In this he took a herd of swine, floated them dow. the Sangaraon to the Illinois, and thence by the 3F. sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Alrabain Li: coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to giv great satisfaction to his employers. in this adven
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
ture his employers were so well pleased, that apon i and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was his return they placed a store and mil! under his care,
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. Hle returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem. His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he received he carried there ready to deliver to those he chanced to meet. He studied surveying. and soon made this his business. In 1834 he again became a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study jaw. He waiked from New Safem to Springfield, borrowed of Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- moved to Springfield and began the practice of liw. His success with the jury was so great that he was soon engaged in almost every noted case in the cheuic.
In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, in . 856, he took an active part, and at once became one of the leaders in thit party. Mr. Lincoln's speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most notable part of his history. The issue was on the ilavery question, and he took the broad ground of the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- test, but won a far higher prize.
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The great Republican Convention met at Chicago on the 16th of June, 186o. The delegates and strangeis who crowded the city amounted to twenty- five thousand. An immense building called " The Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes were thrown. - William HI Seward. a man whose fame as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most prominent. It was generally supposed he would be the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then dream of the weary yeus of toil and care, aal the bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: and aslittle did he dream that he was to render services to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of the whole civilized world, and which would give him a place in the affections of his countrymen, second only, if second, to that of Washington.
Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, constitutionally elected President of the United States. The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this high position. In February, isor. Mr. Lincoln staniei. for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his way making specches. The whole journey wis trough with much danger. Many of the Southern States h. d already sealed, and several attempts at assassination were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Bahi- more had arranged, upon his arrival to " get upta row," a id in the confusion to make sure of his death with revolvers and hind-grenades. A detective unrivelled the plot A secret and special train was provided & take hun hom Harrisburg, through Baltimore. at ar unexpected hour of the night. The train started at half past ten ; and to prevent any possible commini. cation on the part of the Secessionists with their Co ... federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train hac started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Linco !.: reached Washingion in safety and was inaugurated. although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other prominent opponents before the convention important positions.
During no other administration have the duties devolving upon the President been so manifold. and the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance it determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his trial , both personal and national Contrary to his own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the most courageous of men. He went directly into the rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving. with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he had left Springfield, in 1861, however, planshad des made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim to one of them April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It was announced that they would be present. Gen.
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, fee'- ing, with his characteristic kindliness of heart. that it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, very reluctantly consented to go. While listen! : to the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Boah entered the box where the President and family were seated, and Gred a bullet into his brains. He died the next morning at seven o'clock.
Never before, in the history of the world was a nation plunged into such deep gref by the death of its r .ler. Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was in tears. His was a life which will file become a model. His name as the savior of his comtry will live with the t of Washington's, its father : lise s'y- me. being unable to decide which is the greater.
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موجير.
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SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT.
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ANDREW JOHNSON,
NDREW JOHNSON, seven- teenth President of the United States. The early life of Andrew Johnson contains but the record of poverty, destitu- tion and friendlessness. He was born December 29, ISO8. in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, belonging to the class of the "poor whites " of the South, were in such circumstances, that they could not confer eren the slight- est advantages of education upon their child. When Andrew was five years of age, his father accidentally lost his life while hetorically endeavoring to save a friend from drowning. Unul ten years of age, Andrew was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the labor of his mother, who obtained her living with her own hands.
He then, having never attended a school one day, and being unable either to read or write, was ap- prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often read from the speeches of distinguished British states- men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more than ordinary native ability, became much interested in these speeches; his ambition was roused, and he was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read.
He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- man to borrow ,the book of speeches. The owner,
pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book but assisted him in learning to combine the letters into words. Under such difficulties he pressed o :. ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest and recreation to devote such time as he could to reading.
He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos sessed some education. Under her instructions he learned to write and cipher. He became prominent in the village debating society, and a favorite with the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- ganized a working man's party, which elected him alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which position he held three years.
He now began to take a lively interest in political affairs; idemifying himself with the working-classes, to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. He became a very active member of the legislature gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 1840 " stumped the State," advocating Martin Van Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thes. of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased his reputation.
In i841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he was elected a member of Congress, and by successivt elections, held that important post for ten years. Ir. 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, 0 c was re-elected in 1855. In all these respon abl foi tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished af i.
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ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected United States Senator.
Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom. and become merged in a population congenial to themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com)- promise measures, the two essential features of which were, that the white people of the Territories should De permitted to decide for themselves whether they would enslave the colored people or not, and that the free States of the North should return to the South persons who attempted to escape from slavery.
Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget that I am a mechanic; neither do I forget that Adam was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- ior was the son of a carpenter."
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In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of rSue, Ge was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- zrn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he established the most stringent military rule. His numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 1865, became President. In a speech two days later he said, "The American people must be taught, if they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and must be punished; that the Government will not always beat with its enemies; that it is strong not only to protect, but to punish. * * The people must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole administration, the history of which is so well known, was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent
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