The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-06-08
Geographical.
From Tic New American Cyclorm liza
Biography of Senator Douglas

Biography of Senator Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was born at Bran.
don, Rutland County, w., April %, 1915
Ills father was native of the State of New
York, and physician of considrrab le reputa-
ton. lie died suddenly Of apoplcxy when
his son Stephen Arnold was hut little more
than two months old. The widow. with her
infant and daughter only eighteen months
oder. retired to Il farm which she had lnhcri-
ted conformity with all unmarried brother
Attic age Of fifteen her son. ho had received
good common school education desired to
prepare for college; bat his family proving
unable to bear the requisite expense, he left
the iaIu, determined 10 earn his own living
and engaged himself as an apprentice to the
trade oi cabinet making. at which he worked
year aud half, partly at Mddleburv and
partly at Brandon, when his health became
So impaired with the severity of the labor
that he abandoned the occupation altogether.
lie has often, since, SAID that the hapest
days OF his life were passed in The work SLIP
lie now entered the acad.my at Brandon, as
student, and remained there "a wear. His
mother. about this time, was married to Mr..
Granger. OF Ontario County, n. y. to whose
son lri daughter had been married. Young
D"usiaS removed with his mother to Canaan
d.lgua, and entered as student the academy
at That place, III which he cont inutd till 1883
lie studied law III the Office of the Mussrs
luooell, at the same time that he pursued
tlis acadcmlcnl course, having finally adopted
that as his profession.
In the Spring of 1898 he went to the West
in search of an eligible location in which TO
establish himself as lawyer. At Cleveland
he was detained the whole Summer BY severe
Illness, alter hIS recovery from which, he
went to Cincinnati. St. Louis and Jackson
VILE, III. At jacksonville, he found his
funds reduced to 81 cents, and accordingly
WALKED 10 Winchester, u little town lG miles
distant, where he hoped to get employment
as school teacher. lie found there large
crowd assembled to attend the auction sale Of
a deceased trader. Tho auctone.r was with
out clerk 20 keep the account Of the sale,
and perceivlng that Mr.. Douglas, who sto,d
among the spectators, looked like lnan who
could write and keep accounts requested him
to serve III that capacity. Mr. Douglass con-
scented. and acted as clerk during the three
days of the sale. receiving for his SCI viccs Sc
With this capital in hand he promptly
opened school, and obtained fulty pupils,
whom lie taught for three months at SIS "A
quarter, dcyoting his earnings to the study of
some law books which he had borrowed in
jacksonville, and on Saturday afternoons
pIact'cing IN petty cases before the Justice of
the town.
In March, 1884, he opened an office and
hegan practice III the higher Courts, for which
after examination, he had obtained license
from the Judges Of the Supreme Court H.,
WAS remarkably successful at the bar, as may
hc inferred from the fact that within year
from his admission, while not yet % years Of
age, he was elected by the Legislature Atlor-
ney General oftte State. This office he re.
signed IN December. 1885. in consequence OF
having been elected to the Legislature 10y the
Democrats Of Morgan County. lie took his
scat in the House Of Representatives, the Young.
est member Of that body. In 1887 he was
appointed by President Van Buren,. Register
OF ,he Land Office at Springfield, Ill.,, post
which he resigned in 1889.
In November, 1887, Mr. Douglas received
the Democratic nomination for Congress,
although he was under twenty-five years of
age. and consequently inelis bic. lie how
ever attained the requisite age before the day
OF election, which was the fist Monday in
August, 1888. HIS Congressional district
was then the mos; popuous one in the United
States, and the canvass was conducted with
LSdl anu ClWutu Vi
$4,000 votes were cast and the Wing candi-
date was declared to be elected by majority
OF live only. A number Of ballots sufficient
10 have changed the result we're rejected by
the canvasseis, because the name of Mr..
Douglas was incorrectly spelled. After this
defeat, which under the circumstances was
claimed by his friends as victory. Mr..
Douglas devoted himself exclusively to his
profession until 1870, when he entered into
the famous presidential campaign of that year
with so much ardor that he Oyersed the
State in all directions for seven mouths, and
addressed moro than two hundred political
gatherings. To his excrlions was aseribed
the adherence OF Illinois at that election to
the Democratic party. In Decelhhcr, 1910
Mr.. Douglas was appointed Secretary Of
State of Illinois. In Feb, 1871. be was
el.cltd by the Legislature, Judge VI The