Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 8

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago), pub
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 1316

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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with

his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he wor. the stars of the Major-General.

Without an effort on his part Ger Garfield was elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio had been represented in Congress for sixty years mainly by two men-Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- tered Congress he was the youngest member in that boty. There he remained by successive re- elections until he was elected President in 1880. Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : "Since the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a tribunel of the American people, in regard to which you will not hnd, if you wish instruction, the argu- ment on one side stated, in almost every instance better than by anybody else, in some speech made in the House of Representatives or on the hustings by Mr. Garfield."

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of line, of the same year, was nominated as the candidate of his party for President at the great Chicago Convention. He was elected in the following November, and on March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- ministration ever opened its existence under brighter auspices than that of President Garfield, and every day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- liminary work of his administration and was prepar- ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no farther injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was " the shot that was heard round the world " Never before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty days, all during the hot months of July and August, he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent bearing was teaching the country and the world the noblest of human lessons-how to live grandly in the very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 19, 1853, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The world wept at his death, as it never had done on the death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- cuted, in one year after he committed the foui deed.

47.98

٤٠٠٠ ,قدر

Cof. stalin,

TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT.

HESTER A. ARTHUR. twenty-first Presidem of the United States was born in Franklin County, Vermont, on the fifthof October, 1830, and is the oldest of a family of two sons and five daughters. His father was the Rev Dr. William Arthur, a Baptistcl rgyman, whe emigrated to th's country from the county Antim, Ireland, in his 18th year, and died in 1875, in Newtonville, neat Albany, after a long and successful ministry.

Young Arthur was educated at Union College, Schenectady, where he excelled in all his studies. Af- ter his graduation he taught schoo! in Vermont for two years, and at the expiration of that time came to New York, with $500 in his pocket, and entered the office of ex- Judge E. D. Culver as student. After i being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing in the West, and for three months they roamed about in the Western States in search of an eligible site, but in the end returned to New York, where they hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- ful career almost from the start. General Arthur soon afterward married the daughter of Lieutenant

Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at Sca Congress voted a gold medal to his widow i !. recognition of the bravery he displayed on that oc 2- sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two children.

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit. brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided that they could not be held by the owner under the Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up fiom the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed to represent the People, and they won their case. which then went to the Supreme Court of the United States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs Evaris and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward the emancipation of the black race.

Another great service was rendered by General Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings. a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride on their cars, and the other car companies quickly

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CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all.

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer- in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered great service to the Government during the war. At the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if not indeed one of national extent.

He always took a leading part in State and city politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous National Republican Convention held at Chicago in June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political convention that ever assembled on the continent. It was composed of the leading politicians of the Re- publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their respective candidates that were before the conven- tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur for Vice-President. The campaign which followed was one of the most animated known in the history of our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his party made a valiant fight for his election.

Finally the election came and the country's choice was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated March 4, 18St, as President and Vice President. A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then came terrible weeks of suffering,-those moments of anxious suspense, wher the hearts of all civilized na- -

tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- able patience that he manifested during those hours and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- fering man has often been called upon to endure, was seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to hi- credit that his every action displayed only an earnest desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested in deed or look of this man, even though the mos: honored position in the world was at any moment likely to fall to him.

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar. field from further suffering, and the world, as never before in its history over the death of any other man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty c' the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of the high office, and he took the oath in New York. Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been greatly neglected during the President's long illness, and many important measures were to be immediately decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he did not fail to realize under what circumstances he became President, and knew the feelings of many on this point. Under these trying circumstances President Arthur took the reins of the Government in his ow. hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of affair: he happily surprised the nation, acting so wisely hat but few criticised bis administration. He served the nation well and faithfully, until the close of his administration, March 4, ISS5, and was a popular candidate before his party for a second term. His name was ably presented before the con . vention at Chicago, and was received with great favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity of one of the opposing candidates, he would have been selected as the standard-bearer of his party for another campaign. He retired to private life car- rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory to them and with credit to himself.

101- 187

IO3

TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT.

S. Grover Cleveland,

TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- LAND, the twenty- second Pres- ident of the United States, was born in 1837, in the obscure town of Caldwell, Essex Co., N. J., and in a little two-and-a- half-story white house which is still standing, characteristically to mark the humble birth-place of one of America's great men in striking con - trast with the Old World, where all men high in office must be high in origin and born in the cradle of wealth. When the subject of this sketch was three years of age, his father, who was a Presbyterian min- ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most straggling of country villages, about five miles from Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born.

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned way." and presumably distinguished himself after the manner of all village boys, in doing the things he ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the capacity of the village school and expressed a most

emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this his father decidedly objected. Academies in those days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to become self-supporting by the quickest possible means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed to be a position in a country store, where his father and the large family on his hands had considerable influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to receive Stoo the second year. Here the lad com- menced his career as salesman, and in two years he had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness that his employers desired to retain him for an in- definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy.

Bat instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- ville, he went with the family in their removal to Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a high school. Here he industriously pursued his studies until the family removed with him to a point on Black River known as the "Holland Patent," a village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, .N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two years, and although he obtained a good reputation in this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his

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S. GROVER CLEVELAND.

calling for hife, and. reversing the traditional order, he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as there was some charm in that name for him; but before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to ask the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, my boy? " he asked. " Well, sir, I want to study law," was the reply, "Good gracious!" remarked the old gentleman; "do you, indeed? What ever put that into your head? How much money have you got? " " Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got any."

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a year, while he could "look around." One day soon afterward he boldly walked into the office of Roger:, Bowen & Rogers, of Baffalo, and told them what he wanted. A number of young men were already en- gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum of $3 or St a week. Out of this he had to pay for his board and washing. The walk to and from his · uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although the first winter was a memorably severe one, his snoes were out of repair and his overcoat-he had none -- yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. On the first day of his service here, his senior em- ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's where they all begin." A titter ran around the little circle of cleiks and students, as they thought that was enough to scare young Grover o.it of his plains ; but in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for chasing principles through all their metaphysical possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do t," was practically his motto.

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y, m which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it tell to his duty to infliet capital porishment upon two caminals. In iSSt he was elected Mayor of the City of Buffalo. on the Democratic ticket, with es- pecial reference to the bringing about cer .un reforms

in the administration of the municipal affairs of that city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his performance of duty has generally been considered fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- reted out and magnified during the last Presidentia! campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui tous street-cleaning contract : "This is a time for plain speech, and my objection to your action shall be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of a mos' bare-faced, impudent and shaineless scheme to becray the interests of the people and to worse than squander the people's money." The New York Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire State. To the latier office he was elected in ISS2, and his administration of the affairs of State was generally satisfactory. The mistakes he nate, if any, were made very public throughout the nation after he was nominated for President of the United States. For this high office he was nominated Jaly Ir, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc .; and he was elected by the people, by a majority of about a thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- land resigned his office as Governor of New York in January, ISS5, in order to prepare for his duties as the Chief Executive of the United States, in which capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4:1: ot March, ISS5.

The silver question precipitated a controversy between those who were in favor of the continu- ance of silver coinage and those who were opposed. Mr. Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his inauguration.

On June 2, 1886, President Cleveland married Frances, daughter of his deceased friend and partner, Oscar Folsom, of the Buffalo Bar. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one dau_h- ter, Ruth. In the campaign of ISSS. President Cleveland was renominated by his party, but the Republican candidate, Gen. Benjamin Harrison. was victorious. In the nominations of love these two candidates for the highest position in the grit of the people were again pitted against each other and President Cleveland was victorious by an overwhelming majority.

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105.06

Veui Hannivou

191

TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT.

Benjamin

ENJAMIN HARRISON, the twenty-third President, is the descendant of one of the historical families of this country. The head of the family was a Major General Ilarrison, one of Oliver Cromwell's trusted follow- ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- well's power it became the duty of this Harrison to participate in the trial of Charles I, and afterward to sign the desch warrant of the king. He subse- quentey paid for this with his life, being hung Oct. 13, 1660. His descendants came to America, and the next of the family that appears in history is Benja- . main Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- father of the subject of this sketeh, and after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison Yas a member of the Continental Congress during the years 1771-5-6, and was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He wa three times elected Governor of Virginia

Gen William Henry Harrison, the son of the

distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suo. cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812. and with .a clean record as Governor ot the North- western Territory, was elected President of the United States in 1840. His career was cut short by death within one month after His inauguration.

President Harrison was born at North Bend. Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1883 Ilis life upto the time of his graduation by the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a couu- try lad of a family of small means. Ilis father was able to give him a good education, and nothing more. Hle became engaged while at college to the daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin cinnati and then read law for two years. At the expiration of that time young Ilarrison received to . only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left bin: a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as s fortune, and decided to get married at once, take this money and go to some Eastern town an . in. gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with the money in his pocket, he started out with bis young wife to fight for a place in the world. Io

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BENJAMIN HARRISON,

decided to go to Indianapolis, which was even at that time a town of promise. Ile met with slight encouragement at first, making scarcely anything the first year. He worked diligently, applying him- self closely to his calling, built up an extensive practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- fession. He is the father of two children.

In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be- gan his experience as a stump speake: He can- vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the 17th Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His regiment was composed of the rawest of material, out Col. Harrison employed all his time at arst mastering military tacties and drilling his men. when he therefore came to move toward the East with Sherman bis regiment was one of the best drilled and organized in the army. At Re-ne he especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery at Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- eral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most complimentary terms.

During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field the Supreme Court declared the office of the Su- prema Court Reporter vacant, and another person was elected to the position. From the time of leav- ing Indiana with his regiment until the fall ot 1864 be had taken no leave of absence, but having been nominated that year for the same oflice, he got a thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time made a brilliant canvass ot the State, and was elected for another term. He then started t> rejoin Sher- man, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet jever, and after a most trying siege made his way to the front in tune to participate in the closing incidents of the war.

In 1868 Gen. Harrison deelmed re-election as eporter, and resumed the practice of law In. 1876 De was a candidate for Governo: Although de- eated, the brilliant campaign he made wor for him a National reputation, and he was much sought es- pecially in the East, to make speeches. In 1850. as usual, he took an active part in ine campaign, and was elected to the Jnited States Senate. Here be served six years, and was known as one or the eblest tuen, best lawyer and strongest lebaters in

that body. With the expiration of his senatona! term he returned to the practice of his profession., becoming the head of one of the strongest tirms in the Stote.

The political campaign of 1888 was one of the most memorable in the history of our country. The convention which assembled in Chicago in June and hamed Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer of the Republican party, was great in every partic- nlar, and on this account, and the attitude it as- sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- ment became popular, and from all sections of the country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed thither to pay their respeets to the distinguished statesman. The popularity of these was greatly increased on account of the remarkable speeches made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through the summer and autumn to these visiting cielega- tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were his speeches that they at once placed him in the foremost rank of American orators and statesmen.

On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his power as a debater, he was called upon at an un- commonly early age to take part in the discussion of the great questions that then began to agitate the country. He was an uncompromising ant: slavery man. and was matched against some of :Le most eminent Democratic speakers of his State No man who felt the touch of his blade desired : be pitted with him again. With all his e'squence as an orator he never spoke for oratorieai effect. but his words always went like bullets to the mark lie is purely American in his ideas and is a spler did type of the American state-man. Gifted with quick perception, a logical mind and a realy tongue, he is one of the most distinguished impromptu speakers in the Nation. Many of these speeches sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained arguments of greatest weight. Many of his terse statements have already become aphorisms. Origl. mal in thought precise ia logie, ter-e m statement, ve' withal faultless in eloquence he is recognized as the sound statesman and brise orator . th. ixy

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Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 8

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago), pub Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman bros. Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago), pub
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 1316