The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-04-22
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
BY JAMES PATTON.

fa
Colonel Peter Jefferson, father oi
President Jefferson, was a Virginia
planter aud surveyor, of Welch descent,
who hewed out plantation for him
self on the outskirts of civilization, one
hundred aud Thirty years ago. When
his son Thoma was born, there were
still but three or four white set
tiers within circuit of several miles
of his farm the primeval woods still
aourished Iuxuriantly all about him,
and tie house was favorite stopping
place for the chief of friendly tribes OF
Indians on their way to and from
Richmond. This Peter Jefferson was
giant in stature and strength. 1t is
said of him that he could lift from
their sides to an upright position two
hogheads of tobacco at once, each of
a thousand pounds weight. He was
man of eminent courage and wisdom,
of singular frmness, Ind of an honesty
50 established and conspicuous, that he
was executor and trusteeolor half his
neighbors. A few sterling books were
to be found in his house-Addison,
Swift, Pupe-but. especially, and best
beloved, Shakespeare, his well worn edi-
ton Of whose works is stilTpreserved.
Thom Jefferson, born in 1743, was
the third child and eldest son of this
wise and stalwart planter, and enjoyed
the benefits of his instructions until
his fourteenth year when Colonel JEFF
ferson suddenly Gied in the ffsieth
year of his age- ue learned from his
father to be bold rider and skilliul
hunter. lie acquired from him also
an elegant penmansbip. taste for
reading, knowledge of accounts, hab-
it's of self helps punctuality and pcrse-
verence 1t is probable, however, that
his mother exerted the paramount in
Auence over his, mind. From her he
probably Inherited his aptitude for
composition, his affe ctionate and his
abhorrence of strife. At seventeen he
entered the William and Mary College,
where his early education war ccm-
pleied. .-efli7- s.l-.'.. y.-
Thomas Jefferson became one of the.
best educated men who ever lived in
America. . His mind and his body
we're equally nourished and developed.
He was cne Of the best riders in the
State, where every man was rider of
course He was an accomplished per-
former; on the violin. Having a strong
aptitude for ma hematics he became
proficient in that science, both in the
knowledge of Latin and Greek, which
so diligent a student could not fail to
acquire in colleges, he afterwards added
q familiar knowledge of French, con- /
siderable acquaintance with italian and
Spanish, and some knowledge of the
1 think it safe to say,
that of all the public men who have
figured in the United States; he was in
comparabiy the best scholar, aud the
most variously accomplished man, =
Upon the completion of his colleee
he studied law five years, with
an assiduity most unusual in the heir
to good estate. He had a clock In
his bedroom, and his rule was in
to get up as. soon as he could
see the hands, and in winter he rose
at FIVE. Including the time
passed in N usic and reading, he usually
spent fourteen hours of every day at |
his studies three of which he tells US,
we're som efimessspen in practicing on
the violin There has seldom been a
young man of fortune who live more
purely than he He neither practiced |
the vices, nor indulged the passions, OF
bis class in Virginia of that day. He
never quarreled; he never gambled.-
His mouth was innocent of tobaceo.-.E
He never drank to excess. = Occupied |
inithe iimprove.nert OF his |
nind,K except when he induIged in
manly and innocent recreations, he1
to have led an absolute stain
ess life, The . American Democrat
IAN point to life of the apostle of his
'olitical creed, and boast that his con.
luct was as admirable as his intelli-
,ence was commanding. i7-- 10
On being admitted to the bar in
767. which, was the TTtwepty,fourth
rear of his age, he appears at once to
ave obtained a considerable share of
usiness. From his. own book we
earn that, during the first year of his
raetice, he was employed in sixty
light cases the next year, one hun
red and fifteen; the next, one hun
red and ninety eight and, uHtil he
7as drawn away into public life blythe :
tiriBg events of the times, his busi--
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