White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-05-30
LEGISLATIVE SKETCHES.
2. r. HERRcx.

derrick came over with his father, staked Oh
. choice claim, and, after returning to Norway,
smigrated to America, to make it his perma-
,ent home. His father set sail with him; but
ahen one day out at sea, he went into it TO
oathe, but was sucked into the Maelstrom, and
never heard Of Afterwards. Mr.. Herrick Tor
Eic) is brother of the inventor of the Caloric
Engine, who, it is well known, is Ericsson.
By altering the spelling Of his name, Mr.. Her
rick has been loser to considerable extent,
as is frequently the case with foreigners under
similar circumstances. 1t often happens that
large fortunes are left in Europe to pei sons who
have emigrated to America, who, in order to
obtain them, must claim them in their own
name, and the name must be spelled correctly,
TO the very letter. An uncle Of the subject Of
this sketch died in the north Of Norway, leav-
ing him an estate of several thousand acres,
located on an iceberg, in,the vicinity Of spit1,
bergen, we'll stocked win white bears. In sen.
ding to claim it, he wrote his name Herrick
and consequently the property was withheld
1t then went to Ericsson, and furnished him the
means to start his engine mandatory. Here
is another instance of great work resulting
from an accident. To the misspelling Of q
mans name, we are indebted for the invention
of the useful CaIoric Engine.
ISAAC z. EATON.
Mr.. Eaton represents Leavenworth County
in the House. He formerly resided in Eng
land, where he endowed College. upon which
his name was bestowed. He afterwards enter
ed the American Navy, and did gallant service
in the war with the Barbary States. Upon the
ascendancy of Gen. Jackson to the Presidency
Mr.. Eaton was appointed member of his Cab
met; but he shortly after got into fuss with
some of the women folks about the White
House, which finally resulted in the breaking
up of the Cabinet. An incident is related as
having transpired at that period, which fully
illustrates Mr.. Eaton's great Independence Of
character. At the height Of the fuss, Gen
Jackson sent for him; he went, and found the
old General in furious passion. al am at
your service, SIR" said Eaton, upon entering.
" have sent for you," thundered the General,
"to inform you that you are dismissed from my
council; and If you ever show yourself in this
house again, III kick you out, by the Eternal!
Move" Eaton felt 50 outraged by the insult,
that he Immediately left the house, resigned
his Office without asking for an explanation,
and was never afterwards seen in the White
House!
JOHN ". ROBINSON,
Secretary of State, is almost daily in attend
ance upon one branch or the other Of the Leg
islature He is of Swiss descent, his parents
having been known as the "Swiss Family Rob
inson." His father was very poor, and John
was apprenticed to learn the trade Of black.
smith. He became such an expert workman,
in pitching horse-shoes. that he
went BY the name Of +" Horseshoe Robinson" |"
He was first introduced 70 the attention Of the
public in the pages of Comic Almanac, under
the name of Jack Robinson"
H. s. sLEErER,
Senator from Breckinrijge, is native of Ger
many. He is the youngest of seven sons. who
were known in that country as the "Seven
Sleepers." He learned the trade of carpenter
and joiner, at which he worked number Of
years. He found the trade, in that country
very imperfect. The floors of the houses con-
sisted of boards laid fat on the ground. He
introduced the plan Of placing timbers under
meath, to raise the floors from the ground
these took the name Of ''Sleepers." Mr.. Slee
per emigrated to America, some years since
He is man Of 6ne literary attainments, ant
a few years ago wrote number of fine piecel
of poetry-all of them being upon the su1jec
of umbrellas.
wERrER \. DAVIS.
Mr.. Davis is Representative from Dougla
County. His father was one of the first per
sons to volunteer in the war of the Revolution
and was killed at the battle of Lexington, ant
afterwards, again, at the battle of Tippecanoe
He was ever ready TO serve his country, from
which circumstance he received the title of th,
" Ready John Davis" He left two sons, JEFF
and Werter r. The former was kidnapped b,
. gang of migratory niggers, taken South, ant
adopted by them. He became so much attach
ed to them, that he could never Afterwards b.
weaned from them. Werter's misfortunes com
menced in early life, and stuck to him for man
years. The death of his father left him desti
tute. He obtained means to educate himsel
by performing day labor, pursuing his studie
by night, in small garret. This was wha
gave him the name of "Garret Davis" At
later period, he worked on farm during tn
Summer, and of Winters going South, and tea
ching school in the vicinity of Baltimore, wher
he was always cordially welcomed Is "Win
ter Davis. Next he took command Of . shiE
to explore the Arctic regions. and came nea
being crushed 70 death among the iceberg.
Indeed, 90 numerous were the straits to whic
he was reduced in the Polar seas, that there j
locality in that region still known as Davis
Straits" Thus far, i'll luck had been his con
stant companion, and he almost gave up in dc
spair. A celebrated literary gentleman, be
coming acquainted with his misfortuncs, wrot
book upon the subject, under the title q
''Sorows of Wertsr." But his good time cam
at last. By the invention of "Davis' Pain
Killer" he amassed an independent fortune
He sometimes breaches, for pastime.
GEORGE n. LILLE,
Representative from the Woodson and Madiso
District, is q man Of excellent sense, and !
much respected throughout the Neosho Vale,
That entire region claims him as its own. an
he is known there a the "Lillie Of the Valley.
By occupation, he is . farmcr-and . mode