East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-06-13
HON. STEPHEN 4. DOUGLAS.

-
TO the Hon. SrRpurs A. DoUoLAs was
con ceded BY his friends and opponents
an Importance in the political concerns
of the United States not exceeded by
that Of any living statesman. His great
abilities, his great successes, as well as
his indomitsble courage, made him
leading man in the councils Of the Nation.
Mr.. Douglas was a, descendant of the
great Scotch family of the same name.
Two brothers of the same name Of Doug
las emigrated to America at the same
time; one of them went to Maryland,
and his descendants are, to be found on
the banks of the Potomac, in Virginia,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and perhaps other Southwestern States;
the other brotlsr remained at New Lon
don, in Connecticut, and from this lat
ter brother proceeded the ancestor OF
Stephen A. Douglas, The family of
Douglas intermarried with that of Ar
nold--the family of the Arnold who
was associated with Rodger Williams IN
the settlement Of Rode Island, and whose
son was alterward Governor of that Prov
! ince. Hence the name of Arnold {, which
was borne also by pr. StephenIA. Doug
las, the father of the statesman inst de-
ceased. DIR. Douglas was born in Rens-
selaer County, New York, and removed
to Vermont, where he graduated at Mid
dlebury College, studied medicine, and
soon after becoming of age, entered upon
good practice as physician, He mar
l. l.. Al. 4 .,,fo IA
er, and in July, 1913, while holding Ste
phen in his arms, aud his little daughter on
his knees, died suddenly of disease of the
heart. , q 7s..rt at tla tsr teIi
Mr. Douglas was born at Brandon,
Vermont, on the 23d Of April, 1918, and
at the time of his death was in the forty
ninth year of his age. His earlier days
were spent with his mother and sister up
on farm-the Joint property of his moth
err and her brother, bachelor. just about
the time fixed upon for young Douglas
TO enter college, Mr. Fisk married, and
4 the cares of young family rendered him
unable or unwilling to take upon himself
the expense of giving his nephew a cob
legate education. Instead Of repming
and weeping over the bitter downfall of
his expectations, lie packed up such nee
essary clothing az he could conveniently
carry, aud, with his bundle on his back,
left home, and on foot proceeded tonthe
nearest town, and indentured himself as
an apprentice to a cabinet maker. For
two years he worked assiduouslyiat this
4 business, in which he became most prof.
cient but i'll health and small physical
frame rendered it impossible for him to
endure the severe labor which was requir-
ed of him. He therefore left the shop,
intending to return to it after he should
have recruited his health ard in the
meantime entered school at Middlebury.
After he had been ut school a year or
more, his mother and sister both married,
and removing to Canandaigua, New
York, induced him to accompany them.
: At Oanandaigua ho catered a classical
: academy, and also read law in the office
OF Mr. Hubbell. During this period he
! made great progress in his classical stud.
les and also in his legal requirements. AS
an orator, even Mt that early day, he was
noted for the force and power of his logic.
He was particularly conspicuous in the
discussion of political questions; was an
active supporter of General Jackson; and
in the contest between Marcy and Gran
ger, was warm friend and advocate OF
the former In June, 1888, he left Can
andaigua for the Western country. Et
/ reached Cleveland, but being under
, twenty one years of age, and the law re
quiring him to have been resident Of tht
State one year before admission to the
bar he accepted the position of clerk IL
the law Office Of the Hon. s. j. andrews
with promise of partnership in the fu
turc. a severe attack of illness, protract
ed for several months, however, destoryec
t this arrangement; and in the fall Mr.
T Douglas left Cleveland, in search Of some
eligible point where he might engage in
q the practice of the law. His ambition
{. was to appear at the bar, having n
o doubt of his success. He proceeded b,
b canal boat from Cleveland to the Obi
River, and thence by steamer to Cipcin
natl. He was feeble in health, and wit
very few dollars in money. His necessi
, ties demanded immediate employment
and he canyassed Cincinnati and Louis
!. vile seeking that employment but faile
4 to find any. +. He then left for st. Loul
!. -an underlined impression that Illnoi
!, was to be his ultimate destination leadin
= him toward that region. Arrived at 81
! Louis the Hon. Edward Bates generou
: ly rendered Mr. Douglas the free use G
! bis office and library until he could d
:, better; but Mr.. Douglass necessities re
4 CURED employment from which he coul'
derive revenue. and failing to obtai
q such in st Louis, he pushed on to Jack
? sonville Illinois, where he arrived in De
cembcr, 1888. He was equally unsucces'
ful at Jacksonville in finding employment
/ so he proceeded on foot to the town q
y Winchester, sixteen miles distant. IL
had but thirty-seyen cents in money an
knew not where he was TO get more. Tn
next day he encountered crowd on tn
is public square, who had been gathered {
l. attend an auction sale; the sale could no
It proceed for want of clerk, and youn
'e Douglas was at once appealed to and RI
Ie quested to serve in that capacity. Fl
a served three days as a clerk, aud receive
P six dollars for his service, He had please
= the farmers very much he had defende
,e Tocl,can. aud b;o ,aolio, NTH m ,.a r,,,f