The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-11-11
Personal RocOllectiOns~NO, "a.
BY d. MACKLEY

BY D. MACKLEY.
I found the following In the last number of
the Marietta Times:
nLsgrand B,ington died at his home in Iowa.
Inst week Hcwds about 55-vears old Iu1S41,
he was elected Representative 10 TAG Ohio
General Assembly from the codnies ef Ross,
Pike Jacks ON and HOcking-fhe district being
entitled 10 IhrVe mcmbers. The first session,
(1s41- I2) caused him to be known yerall the
State us bold aggressive partisan, The bank
ing system was his peculiar aversion. AZ the
fall election Of 1872 he ran behind his ticket,
aud came near being beaten BY COL Vause, 4
(Whig.D In 1876 he was an unsuccessful con-
d idate for Congress against John L. Taylor, Of
ChillicOthe After awhile, Byngtln Went OF !
10 Iowa. where he practiced law, speeulated III
nnds, and took some part In Politics He wus
fond Of money, even 10 meanness. His talent
for sarcasm was wonderful, aud this, reinforced
by an irritable temper, made him an object OF
fear and dread to many.
knew Byington well. He and Senator Thur
man practitcd law here sCme thirty years ago.
Byngton was in the Legislature Caleb J.. Nc
Nulty NNs also there. The two were terrible
opponents in any political contest Byington
wore spectacles, and his eyes, when he became ex-
cited, glowtd behind his glasses like Goals of
fre. The sight of one OF his eyes was destroyed,
but no one could discover It by looking at it.
l heard him refer TO this once when arguing q
case lie was talking Of the deception a out
ward appearances. wAen he remarked that no
one would think, to look ut bis eyes, that one
of them was blind But yet twas fact. Then
his eyes began TO glow and shine, and he said
the pains of hell would never be suffleienttO
punish the man who had destroyed the sight of
his eye. have been told that Byington in his
oyerbearing lnsolence had been imposing upo IN
a man, who, in retaliation, struck him in the
eye, destroying It's sight a I
When read in the Times that be was fond of
money, even to meanness, remembered little
cireumstanc which occurred here illustrating
this trait In his character He was stopping at
MeQaalltys tavern in thi place, during court.
Mr.. McQua lily was then Postmaster. Postage
then was regulated as to amount, according to
the distance that letters were carried. For a
long distance. twenty-five cents was charged on
letter. And the postage might be paid in ad-
vance, or 1t IN light be paid by the person receiv-
ing the letter. An unpaid letter came TO Bying-
ton, and he refused to take 1t out Of the Office
He went around among the lawyers, talking
about the probubiItI "a Of the letter being valua
BILE to him, and he made many inquiries, sug
gcstIons &c. then thought that never hat
seen man who was in good circumstances pnt
who was making money rapidly, who was quit
that stlngy and mean. He finally concluded Il
sufTer his letter to 70 TO the dead letter Office
swearing that he would not pay quarter unles
he knew that the letter was worth the money Il
him. .. 80 1H. ~.
think ByingtOn was one Of the wlckedes
aud worst men ever saw. No word In th
English language with which om acqualnted.s 8
well expresses his nature, as the word "dcyil
ish."