The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-14
[From the Chicago Times.]
Stephen A. Douglas.

IQdJ eXcellenC ana ValudUle American
work, Appleton's Ne,o Cyclopedia, contains
q wellwrtten, fair and usually correct BIZ
ographical notice of of Stephen A. Dou-
glas. 1t appears in publication that
was prepared mostly by men who, in pol
itics, are opposed to Mr.. Douglas and,
as we understand it, this article which we
subjoin, written by Republican who has
become eminent in the service of his party.
We mention this fact, as an explanation
of any want of friendly fervor that the
reader may observe in the composition. -
1t is an article designed foy use In hlsto-
~, sketchiEg the life of a statesman of
positive views by a partisan of an oppo-
site school. As such we commend it to
the candid attention of the public.
Fia DOUGLAS, STEPHEN ARNOLD, an Ameri-
can statesman, born at Brandon, Rutland
County, VT, April %, 1918. His father
was native of the State of New York.
and physician of considerable reputation
He died suddenly of apoplexy, when
his son Stephen Arnold, was but little
more than two months old. The widow,
10 with her infant, and daughter only
eighteen months older. retired to farm
which she had inherited conjointly with
IN unmarried brother. AT the age of ff.
.teen.her son, who had received good
common school education, desired to pre-
pare for college; but his family proving
Il unable to bear the requisite expense, he
. left the farm, determined to earn his own
living and engaged himself as an appren-
,tice to the trade of cabinet making, at
which he worked year and half,
partly at Middlebury and partly at Bran
e don, when his health became SO impaired
by the severity of labor that he abandoned
the occupation altogether. He has often
since said that the happiest days of his
Ls life were passed in the workshop. He
! now entered the academy at Brandon as
q student, and remained there year =
His mother about this time was married to
Mr., Granger, of Ontario, N. Y, to whose
son her daughter had been previously
married. Young Douglas removed with
his mother to Canandaigua, and entered
y as student the academy of that place
: In which he continued till 1888. He
l studied law in the Office of the Messrs.
Hubbell, at the same time he pursued hi:
! academical course, having finally adopted
. that as his profession. In the spring o
1888 he went to the West in search of an
eligible place in which to establish himsel
as q lawyer. III
> At Cleveland he was detained the Who'll,
summer by severe illness; after his recov
!, cry from which he went to Cincinnati
/, louisville. St. Louis, and Jacksonville
: Illinois. At Jacksonville he found hi
funds reduced to thirty-seven and hal
cents, and accordingly walked to Winches
ter, little town 6 miles distant, wher
de hopsdsto get employment as school
Teacher He found there large crowt
assembled to attend the auction sale o.
! the stock of deceased trader. The auc
.tioneer was without clerk to keep thu
account of the sale, and he perceivine
that Mr.. Douglas, who stood among tn,
spectators, looked like man who coul,
write and keep accounts. requested hin
70 to serve in that capacity. Mr. spougla
4 consented, and acted as, rksduring tn
liithree days of the sale, receiving for hi
4 services &c. With this capital in hant
he promptly opened a school, and obtain
ed forty pupils, whom he taught for three
months, at So quarter, devoting his'eve