Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-02-25

rendered himself still moro conspicu-
ous-not by killing his man but by
knocking down as is supposed, for
the chivalry do not seem very willing
to admit the fact. the South Carolina
bully, KEIrr, who stood guard for the
''lamented" BRooKs when he made his
eminently chivalric attack on the un-
armed and unsuspccting SUMNER
some more particular account than
had before transpired to the public, of
his past life, seems called for. The
following sketch which first appeared
in the Boston Bee, is said to have been
communicated by one who knew him
well. He furnishes another illustra-
tion that it is poverty that produces:
"Mr. Grow who represents VIII
mot's district in Pennsylvania. was
born in Windham county, Connect
cut. He was left fstherleSs at three
years of age. His mother, q widow
with six children, the Oldest seventeen
years, and the youngest but three
months, was left with property barely
sufficient to pay the debts of the estate.
When ten years old, his mother left
Connecticut to seek new home in the
West, and located in northern Penn
sylvania. His reading prompted a
desire for liberal education, and his
elder brothers, observing the rapid
improvement he made, unaided by any
tutor, resolved to crafty his ambition.
and accordingly sent him to school
At seventeen ne entered the Freshman
Class at Amherst College, being poor
ly fitted, though it was as good as the
schools of his region furnished. In
1874 he graduated with high honors.
and being acknowledged by his fellow
students to be one of the best debaters
and extemporancous speakers in the
College.
During his senior year in College
he made his first political speech. at
meeting in Amherst. Mass. which was
the first Democrats Mass Meeting
ever held in that town. On gradua-
ting. after his return home. he contin-
ued to take an active part in the can
vass for Polk and Dallas. In 1913 he
was admitted TO the bar. In the sum-
mer of 1850 the Democratic Conven-
ton of his county nominated him
unanimously for the Legislature, which
he declined. In the fall Of the same
year he was first elected TO Congress
by a singular accident in politics. The
Democrats of the district were divided.
and hal two candidates in the field.
each claiming to lie the regular nomi-
nee. Eight days before the election.
both agreed to resign il Mr.. Grow
would be the candidate Ile had left
his law Office the fall before by reason
Of i'll health. and was spending the
summer. working on a farm, blowing.
peeling bark and surveying. lie was
waited upon in his retirement by
friend of each candidate. as commit
tee, to ascertain his feelings. They
found him with set Of hands upon
the public highway. rebuilding
bridge that had been carried away by
freshct. lie acccdcd 10 their propo-
stion to be candidate for Congress,
and both the other candidates resigned.
and Convention was called, which
placed Mr.. Grow in nomination Just
one week before his election. He was
elected by l,250 majority, and in 1851
, took his seat in the House of Repre-
scntatives, the youngest member of
the Thirty Second Congress, and. with
one or two exceptions, of the Thirty
Third Congress also. lie is now scrv-
Ing his fourth term in Congress. The
t second time he was elected by 800
I majority; the third time by uoanai-
o nous vote Of the district, he having
received the unanimous nomination OF
all parties, for his able and manly re-
sistancc 10 the passage Of the Kansas
n Nebraska Bill: the fourth time he was
0 elected by n larger vote than he re-
. ceived opposition. His district, pre-
yious TO the repeal Of the Missouri
COMPROMISE. gave uniformly about
= $500 Democratic majority, but in
n consequence of the noble stand taken
n by Mr.. Grow on the floor az Congress.
and upon the stump. before the people.
his district gave Col. Fremont almost
10, 900 majority"