Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-11-29

Our free Institutions aud popular form
OF government furnish many examples OF
msa arising to higher positions Of honor
aud usefulness BY persistent, we'll directed
personal effort. Such examples are MOI
only oroditahls 10 the parties; they arc al.
20 blessings TO the world at large, aud
especially 10 young men, by furnishing
wholesome stimulus TO the highest personal
sxersion, aud by giving assurance that
emincnce can be attained without any
sacrifice Of Christian principle, and with
out resorsing to any Of the eofrupting in
Aueuces that are but TOO common In poliii
nsSS'nsnpurnnn-ssasGon ~ ~ A1un.uc-
|in public life marked BY stric,
devotion 10 principle. and IN unswervinp
insegrity, and frank, yet unostentatiou'
profession Of Christian piety, 10 the patriot
and statesman whose name heads this
article.
Possessing 10 q large degree the els
meats Of personal popularity. and the
ability Of l9spirieg enthusiasm in others
he has attracted large share OF public
attention. whether In the halls OF Congress,
or as President Of the State Senate, or the
popular advocate Of free Institutions. or
~ = leading member Of the legal profes'
sion.
Mr.. Cumbsck IL native Of Indiana.
He vas born in Franklin County, March
Oath, 1929 His father was farmer, aud
young Cumback worked on the farm till
seventeen yssrs Of age, going to the COM
mon schools about three months In the
year Having acquired what instruction n
he could In the common school, he resolved
TO 10 to college; aud having no means, and
has father being unable TO help him, he
rented acme ground and raised crop oI
oets, hauled the oats Ia n wagon thirty
miles, TO Cincinnati, and sold them for
fifteen cents bushel. Afier paying all
expenses, aud purchasing his outfit for
college. including books aud clothes, he
had but el4,75, aud thus no entered
college. lie rang the college bell, 10 pay
for tuition, Gre wood and room rent, and
cooked his own vietusls in his room. liz
stood at the head Of his class, aud had
more friends than any boy In college.
When his means were exhausted he
taught school awhile. got q little money
aud returned 10 college again. and thus
prosecuted his studies; but finding ihi,
TOO slow for his impulsive nature he com
menced the study Of Law while teaching
school. and was soon admitted to the bar
aud after attending course oflaw lectures
10 Ciucinnati, he eommeneed the practice
oil law Ia Gfeensburgh, Indiana.
Among the hrst cases he had was th,
prosecution Of liquor seller aud durin,
h.. sut. h.. ..I La n.
no liquor-seller would ever have none,
enough to employ him Ia his defense Il
any case, a resolutleu he has faithful,
kept. lie became member Of the Meth
odst Episcopal Church ut the aye o
twenty, aud la his twenty-second year wa
united In marriage with Miss Marthl
Hurlbut. daughter OF the Rev. Levi,
Huribut; aud he aud his excellent wifi.
are noted for their generous hospitality
aud the Christian minister hnds no NOR
cordial greeting than under their roof
Mr.. Cumback Is one Of the most earnes
and Efficient Sunday School men In In
dana. As lawyer he has never beer
known TO advise any man 10 20 10 Law
except In self.defense, aud has always re-
fused to be employed ia any case where j
Was the purpose 10 TO practice wron,
on the other party.
In 1854 Mr.. Cumback was unanimous
ly nomlnatad BY his party friends in hi
large district for Congress; and although
but twenty-hve years OF age, he met II
canvass an experienced aud able politician
OF the opposition, and astonished boil
his enemies aud friends with his ability a
apublie orator, aud was elected. lie wa
a member Of the thirty.fourth Congress
and although the youngest member Of tn
House. he soon took high rank as an abl'
dsoater., His hrst effort was on the reso-
luton 10 Investigate the frauds IN tn
elections IN hansas, aud Horace Greeley
who was then reporting for the New Yor
Tribune, spoke inors highly OF his eiisr
than any other speech made on the ques
hon' The speech was widely circulate
through the leading journals OF th
country; tie was renom'nated by acclama
nop 10 iooo' out MS party oeing beate
AL over the country ne was not elect
Cd, . .
ne refused NOMINATIONS Tor once n
isoo' wnen ne accepted The position Q
elec'or ior the ota'e ~ large, ani spen
the summer 10 that memorable canvass i
iadsa"a, every where e'ee'rifying th
masses win MS s'ifrihg and patriotic ap
peals, ana having AIDED materially In So