The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-07-17

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The gentleman whose name forms the
caption of this article, though comparative
ly but a young man, already occupies an en-
viabIe position in the Council of the nation.
Educated in the school Of Jefferson and
Jackson, his political course has been as
unwayering ms the march of time is onward.
By force of his own native intellect, and hy
his own unaidied efforts, he has risen to EN-
inence and distinction in our land, and when
ever we can fix our eyes upon particulars OF
the early history Of such a man, and follow
the poor wandering boy in his winding way
from family, friends and Zone into the far
western wilderness, and see with what ra-
pidity he can rise from want and destitution
TO the first rank in the council Of great
Nation, we naturally become deeply inter-
ested in his destiny, and feel strong desire
to see it crowned with success.
II is with impressions like these that we
feel more thanan ordinary pleasure in avail
ing ourself of the following article from the
Quincy Herald, il. relation to an Individual
now freely spoken Of as the candidate Of the
Democratic party for the highest office in
the gilt Of a free people.
Stephen A. Douglass was born in the
town of Brandon, Rutland county, Vi, on
tuG ~ou VI ApTt, 1919, anu ID consequently
SO years of age. His father, an. eminent
ply ysician. died when Stephen was only two
months old, leaving the mother and one 9TH
er child, a daughter, in rather limited cir
cuuistances. The mother shortly afterwards
went to reside with an unmarried brother,.
on a farm in one of the valleys Of the Green
Mountains, where, by practising a system
of industry, and rigid economy, she was en-
ahled TO give her son the ordinary rudiInents
Of an English education. In the meantime
he worked on the farm with his uncle
His uncle not having the means of placing
him in college, AT the age OF fifteen, he cotIi-
menced learning the business of cabinet
maker. fa- .,..t..
Being naturally of an ingenious turn, he
made great proficiency in the new business,
but at the end of two years, he was COM
pclled to abandon his trade on account of
feeble health. About this time his mother
married Gahazi Granger, Of Ontario coun-
ty, N. Y. Stephen accompanied his moth
er thither, and shortly afterwards entered
the Canandaigua academy, under the direc-
ton Of Professor Howe He remained
sometime. Whilst engaged in his classical
studies, he spent portion of his time read
ing law in The office Of Mr.. Hublell. He
was democrat, aud although minor and
not entitled to vote, he defended the admin
istration of Gen. Jackson from the assaults
Of the Wing and Anti-Masonic party, in a
manner that astonished older heads. In
deed, whilst an apprentice in Vermont, on
the day of the Presidential election in 1928,
he beaded company Of Democratic boys,
and tore down the coffin handblIs that had
been posted up by the opposite party.
In 1888 he set his face westward in search
of location where he might practice his
profession when his studies might be COM
pletcd. His first stopping place was Cleve-
land, Ohio, where he entered as a student
and clerk. He was soon, however, pros
trated by sickness, which continued for
many months. When he recovered, his
mother urged him 10 return home, where
hearty welcome awaited him. But his pur-
pose had been avOwed--he had set his face
westward, in search of future home, and
be determined to "tread no steps back
ward" -.
He left Cleveland and travelled by the
way Of Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis
to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he was COM
pelIed to stop. His funds by this time were
reduced to thirty cents. There he
was, youth OF twenty years of age, feeble
in health, small in stature, weighing not
uIOJC tuou ObC huUOICu ohu tWCIty POuUuSy
surrounded by strangers---not a single per-
son in the country that had ever seen him
before, his situation must have been einbar.
assing. But blessed with temper and dis
position that never desponds, he imlnedi-
ately started in search Of employment.
He travelled on foot TO the town Of Win
chester, about sixteen miles from Jackson
Vile, where he found employment for three
days as the clerk Of a sale, at two dollars
day. He then engaged to teach the village
school, and spent his evenings reading some
old law books which he borrowed from
In March, 1884. he was licensed to prac-
tice law. His frs: efforts in his new pro-
fession were remarkably successful, as may
be judged from the fact that in less than
year he was elected Prosecuting Attorney
over the late Col. John j. Harden, who fell
on the bloody field Of Buena Vista. In 1886
he was elected to the Legislature, as men,
her from the county of Morgan, and took
his seat the following December, the young
est man Of that body. 1t was an unfortu-
nate session for Illinois, and it fell to the
lot Of young Douglass to breast the storm of
speculation and the mania OF, banking that
swept not only over the prairie State but
the entire west. He opposed the extension
of the bank capital, and the dangers which
he SO boldly pointed out, although unheed
ed al the time, were soon realized i'll the
disastrous failure Of the whole system. In
1888 he was nominated by the democrats as
a candidate for Congress in the third dis
trict, which embraced the whole northern
part of Illinois. At the time of his nomi-
nation he was not eligible, but as he would
become twenty FIVE years Of age before the
election, hp accepted the nomination and
entered on the canvass. .t.1 l.s4Ee
The contest was a severe one. Thirty
six thousand votes were cast, and MIR.
Douglass was defeated by MIR. Stuart, the
old member, by FIVE votes.
The election being over he returned to
his profession. In 1910 he devoted the en-
tire summer to the Presidential election. at.
tending meetings and addressing the people
throughout the entire State, and to his ex-
ertions and the power of his eloquence,
more than any other cause, is to be attribu-
ted the success Of Mr.. Van Buren, in illi-
nois.
In December 1s40, be was appointed Sec
retary Of State, and the following February
he was elected Ivy the Legislature Su-
preme- Judge. 10 .1643 he was elected To