The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-06

EARLY HISTORY.

town of Brandon, Vermont, April 70, 1913.
His father was native of the State of New
York, and physician of high repute. His
grandfather was Pennsylvania by birth,
and soldier in the Revolutionary war.
He was one of the soldiers of Washington,
who passed that terrible winter at Valley
Forge, and was present at the surrender OF
Lord CORVALLIS. His great grandfather
was also an American by birth, but his an
cestors came originally to this country from
Scotland. DOUGLAS comes from good stock;
his ancestry in the "old country is traced
back to that heroic family of DOUGLAS, so
famed in history, song, and romance.
DR.. DOUGLAS died when his son was but
three months old. From the age of ten to
that of fifteen STEPHEN was sent to the
common schools of the neighborhood. At
fifteen, his mother being unable to bear the
expense of a collegiate education, STEPHEN
voluntarily apprenticed himself to cabinet
maker in the town Of Middebury, Vermont.
This is one of the remarkable episodes OF his
life, and illustrates the readiness of resource,
indommitable energy, and fearless indepen-
dence which has since characterized his ca
reer. For two years, young DOUGLAS
worked at cabinet making, and gained great
proficiency in the art, displaying remarka.
BILE mechanical skill. The labor proved too
severe for his health, and he abandoned his
trade, and entered the academy of his native
town, where he devoted himself for a year,
to classical studies with that energy which
was part of his nature. He then removed
with his parents to Canandaigua, New
York, where be remained for three years,
applying himself to the pursuit of his studies
at the academy, and during portion of the
time followed course of law studies. In
June, 1888, when DOUGLAS removed to the
west, he had, by self study, mastered nearly
the entire collegiate course in most of the
various branches required of graduate in
our best universities.
HE REMOVES wEST-FIRsT STRUGGLES.
In June, 1888, DOUGLAS, then but twenty
years of age, started tor "the west" His
first resting place was Cleveland, Ohio,
where he remained, continuing his law stu
dies, until October of the same year. While
engaged as law clerk in the Office of Hon.
SHERLOCK j. ANDREWS, DOUGLAS was pros
trated with the fever-that great scourge OF
the west. His biographer, Mr.. SHEAHAN
says:
The physicians who had attended him adj
vised him to return to Canandaigua, as, in all
probability, he would be attacked by fever
again in the spring, which his feeble health and
delicate frame, both now so disastrously i'm
paired would not be able to sustain. Under
Cleveland-then but small village, now the
beautiful forest city of the lakes. In leaving
there, he never thought Of takiOg the back
track and becoming dependent upon his
friends at home, but he determined to leave
Cleveland by forward movement, by fur.
Their step into the great West, resolved never,
never to return until he should attain and firm
ly establish respectable position in his profess
sion. With this purpose firmly fixed in bis
mind, he left Cleveland during October, 1883,
and never returned to visit his friends there
until, ten years later, he carried with him his
certificate Of election as member OF Congress,
having, in the mean time, been states attOr-
ney, member of the Legislature, register of the
Land Office, secretary of State, and judge OF
the Supreme Court in the State of Illinois.
DOUGLAS went from Cleveland to st.
Louis, via Cincinnati and Louisville, where
he arrived with but very few dollars in bis
pocket. The first friend he made in st.
Louis, was EDWARD BATES, who rendered
him the use of his library until be could get
into practice on his own account. With
thanks young DOUGLAS declined the offer,
determined to seek in the country an en-
gagement as teacher until spring, by which
time he hoped, with renewed health, he
might enter upon the great field of his am
bitiOn-the practice of the law. From st.
Louis, DOUGLAS went to Jacksonville, Hi
nois, where he arrived penniless and in ill
health. Failing to obtain employment even
as teacher, at Jacksonville, be walked to
Winchester, l6 miles distant, one December
day. On the morning after bis arrival, be
left his lodgings to inquire for employment;
but we will leave his biographer, Mr.. SHEA
HAN, to tell of his first occupation and SUBJ
sequent career in Winchester
1.-The morning after his arrival he left his
lodgings to enquire for employment. AS he
approached the square, he saw a crowd of per-
sons assembled, and curiosity led him to the
spot.
Some time previously a merchant of Win.
chester had died, and his stock in trade, con-
ssting of great variety or articles, had been
advertised for sale by the administrator the
sale had attracted large attendance. The
morning on which Mr.. Douglas made his advent
into the public square of Winchester, was the
morning fixed by previous notice for the sale.
The administrator and crier were present, but
clerk competent to keep record OF the sales
and to make out the bills of the several pur-
chasers, was indispensable. The hour had ar
rived and passed no person in the assemblage
competent was willing to undertake the duty !;
the administrator was embarrassed, and the
multitude impatient. At this critical m oment
Mr.. Douglas approached the scene he was a
stranger: one of the persons present Suggested
that perhaps he could 'read, write and ciDher."
The Administrator at once addressed Mr.. Douplas
representing the embarrassments of the case.
and the urgent necessity for the sale, which
could not pr oceed without the aid of compe.
tent clerk. He begged his services as a per.
sonal obligation, and rendered the liberal sal
airy of two dollars per day. After brief strug.