Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-11-02
Sketch Of Hon. Jas. Harlan, d. 8.
Senator from Iowa, n"

80 80 80 - s p - ~ -.
Sketch Of Hon. Jas. Harlan, u. 8.
Senator from Iowa. 81"
From the October number Of the
Ladies' Repository, We take the fol-
lowing sketch Of Mr.. Harlan "a
All the elements Of the self-msde
man are found in the history ard char
scter Of Senator Harlan, whose portrait
is herewith presented to our readers
The elevated place he has been called
at comparatively early age to occupy
has been fairly and honorably won.
He is an illustration Of. what an Amer
lean youth may achieve by noble pur-
pose, steadiness of aim, and ardor of
continued effort, even without the ad-
ventitious favors Of fortune or patron
age.
The author Of s'Self- Hclp'' says of
the biographies of great and good men,
that they are useful as helps, guides,
and incentives to others. Some Of the
best are almost equivalent TO gospels
teaching high living, high thinking,
and energetic action for their own and
the worlds good. British biography,
says he, is studied over as 'swith patens
of bright gold," with illustrious exam
pies Of the power of self-help, of pa
tient purpose, resolute working, and
steadfast integrity, issuing in the for
nation of truly noble and manly char
acter exhibiting, in a language not to
be misunderstood, what it is in the
power of each to accomplish for him.
self, and illustrating the efficacy of
self-respcct and self-reliance in en-
aiding men of the humblest rank to
work out for themselves an honorable
competency and solid reputation.
What is here said Of British biography
is true in even q higher sense of
American. Nor are We compelled to
seek for them in the dead past alone.
They are round about us living pres
ence, mighty in their influence to do us
good. It is for this reason that We have
selected a few representative men from
the different departments of mercan-
tile and professional life affording al
once lesson and an incentive to the
young who read our pages.
Senator Harlan is native Of the
State of Illinois, where he was born,
August 26, 1920. But Indiana has q
claim on him, for his parents early re.
moved to that State, and are still living
upon o farm in Park county. His
early life was spent in the midst Of
agricultural pursuits and labors, so in
MIGRATING to the physical constitution
The advantages offered by country
common school comprised his early ed
ucational resources. But as soon al
he had attained his majority he entered
the preparatory school Of the Indians
Asbury University, then under the Pres:
idency of Rev. M. Simpson. Though
repeatedly obliged to suspend his stud
les and resort to manual labor or school
teaching to replenish his purse, hi
ardor suffered no abatement. In 184i
he graduated to the first college degree
His Alma Mater has since conferred
upon him the degrees first Of A. NJ.
and then Of IL. D.
The religious element Of his char
acter and its connection with his early
purposes and aims as well as its inAu'
ence upon his whole life, are worthy
Of notice. In letter to friend, and
from which we are permitted to copy
he says
'sIn my eighteenth year I joined thu
Methodist Episcopal Church as seek
or Of religion. Three years afterward
while listening to a sermon delivered
by father Ravens, in Greencastle
Indiana, on the fullness Of the ran
som offered for sinners in the person
of Jesus Of Nazareth, I found ''tht
pearl of great price," not to be com
pared with earthly jewels, since which
I have been striving, from day to day
to be consistent, though humble fol
lower Of the Nazarene.
What lesson is this to young
man inst entering upon life ! What ;
citadel Of defence what an incentive
to noble enterprise +; and what divine
inspiration may he find in the faith Of
Christ!
In the autumn Of 1845, Mr.. Harlan
was elected Professor Of languages in
"Iowa City College," and removed te
that place. Here he taught about q
year, during which time he was licensed
as local preacher in til Methodist
Episcopal Church. In these relations
he won for himself so good o reputation
for integrity and ability, that in the
spring Of 1S47 he was elected by the
people Of the new State Superintendent
Of Public Instruction. In the spring
of 1848 he was again a candidate for
the same office, but his competitor
Hon. Thomas II. Benton, jr, was
elected by a majority Of seventeen
votes over him. In the meantime,
having completed his preparatory stud
les, he was admitted to the bar and
commenced the practice Of law in Iowa
City.
During the summer Of 1919, Mr..
Harlan received another gratifying evil
denee of the esteem and confidence oe
the public. He was nominated by the
Wing State convention as Q candidate
for Governor. Dut as he had not at.
tanned the age required By the State
Constitution he declined the nominate on.
AS the first common school Superin-
tendent, he had acquired a very general
acquaintance in the State, and contin-