Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-06-21
Biographical Sketch Of Stephen \.
Dcuxlzs.

310ST2Pn1cSi S&6Ech o. BfsP2SA 2s
Douglas.
t Mr.. Douglas was a native of Brandon
, Ruthland county, Vermont, and was born 0
[ the 23d of April. 1913. His father, who wa
physician, died when Stephen was an infan
but two months old At the age of fifteen
having received good common-schoo educn
tion, and not having the means to go 10 Co
lege, which he earnestly desired. Stephen be-
CAME an apprentice TO the trade of cabinet
making, and worked at the business for abou
a year and a half, at Mjddleburv and at Bran
don. His health failed him. and he wa
obliged to seek other employment. He en-
tered the academy at Brandon. studied Their
a year, and then removed to Ontario county
New York, where his mother resided sh
having married second husband. Mr. Gran
ger. He studied law with Mr.. Ha6bell. 0
Cananda igua. New YorE, and was admittet
by the Courts Of the State to practice law il
1888. In the spring of that year he emigrateC
to the West. He was detained at Cleveland
the whole Of that summer By a severe illness
Upon his recovery he went 10 Cincinnati; st
Louis and jacksonville, Illinois, at which latter
place his funds had got reduced TO the low tbh
OF thirty-seven and haif cents. He Travelled
on foot to Winchester, a town sixteen miles
distant. Here his first employment was as a
clerk to a transient auctioneer for three days,
+ for which he was paid the sum Of six dollars.
He then opened select school in Winchester
sindving law in the Interval Of mornings and
evenings and Saturday afternoons. In March.
1884, he opened law oifice in Winchester,
aud 4bandOned his school. So successful was
he and So high his reputation for ability, thai
10 1885 when he not twenty-five years
of age. he was elected by the Legislature At
toruey General Of the State. He resigned il
for seat in the Legislature, to which body be
was chosen by the Democrats OF Morgan Coun
ty in 1886. He was the youngest member of
that body at that time. In 1887 President
Van Baren appointed him RegiSterer of the
Land Office at Springfield, Illinois. The same
year he was nominated by the Democrats for
/ Congress, and at the election in August, 1885,
he received a majority Of the votes, but as
some ballots cast for him were imperfect and
were rejected, the Wing candidate, John T.
Stuart, received the certificate Of election and
got the seat. There was then but three Con
gressional Districts in the State, and the one
III which Mr.. Douglas resided embraced all
the Northern part of it, but now sends five or
six m mbers. In 1910 he was q prominent
sanvasser in Illinois for Mr.. Van Buren, and
addressed otsf Two hund, ell meetings in his
behalf Owing to his exrrtous. more than TO
any other mans, Illinois voted Tor Van Buren,
and against Harrison and Tyler, who carried
every other Northern and Western State,
save New Hampshire. IN December, 184O,
Mr. Eouglgs @Es appointed Secretary OF Sta;e
of Illinois by the Legislature. In 1871 the
SANE body close him as Judge of the Supreme
Court Of the State. In 1913 he was elected
to ihe II9tss OF Representatives of the United
States by 4GO majority. In l845 he was re
ees:ted ~ 1000 majority. IN l34G he was
again reelected by nearly 1000 majority. In
1917 he was elected by the Legislature of Il.i-
noia to the Senate of the United States In
1913 he was the choice of tbs Democracy oil
Illinois for the Office Of President of the Uni
ted STATES. In 1852 he was prominent can
didate for President to succeed Mr Fillmore,
and in the Baltimore Convention he received,
on several ballots 100 votes. In 1858 he was
again elected by the Legislature of Illinois TO
the United States Senate. In 1886 he was
q gain pressed by his friends for President, and
in the Cincinnati Convention obtained 1872
votes against Mr.. Buchanan's 158. IN 1858, |
after an exciting canvass, he was again re-
elected TO the Senate of the United States
from Illinois, beating Abraham Lincoln now
President OF the United States Mr. Lincoln
received IS votes in the Legislature to Mr.. |
Douglas 81. In 1860 Mr.. Douglas was nom
inaed for President by the Democratic Con
venton in Bati;nore, aud although he received
II small electoral vote, he received more votos
from the people than any other man ever re
ceived. except Mr.. Lincoln, his successful com
petitor.
Mr.. Douglas has, therefore, served nineteen
years in the Congress of the United States
fourteen in the Senate and FIVE in the House
Ills coRrse in that body is too well known 10
natd recapitulation here. He was either the
author or one of the most prominent supporters
Of every measure which has passed Congress
since l843. lie was twice married-first to |
N SIS Martin, daughter Of Coon.l Martin. of
Rockingham county, North Carolina, by whom
he had three children, two OF whom are now
living. In january, 1888, she died On the
20th OF November, 1856, he was again mar
ried TO Miss Ada Cults, of Washington City, |
a niece of Mrs. James Madison, who, as well |
as his venerable mother, suFVives to mourn his |
loss.