Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-08-10
a. 7 wa admitted tbe fol-

acquaintance with Mr.. Whittlesey then I;
l only knew him as a leading member
Of the bar in the northern portion Of the
State. His business extended over the
whole Western Reserve, and to portions
of the State south. 1 enquired about
his business. He said he could tell
me nothing, but handed me a bundle
of papers for each county on the Re
serve, including COlumbiana, Stark and
/ Wayne, and said J mus do the best l
/ could. 1 began .ithoI. any experience,
influence or p Iu~aintance. He attended
Court in but few Of the counties with
me, he was almost entirely engaged
in public business, and had been for
some time before. His correspondence
was extensive, and he was constantly
engaged in hearing and answering public
calls, and would turn all business over
to me. From that time on, for twenty
years, when he had leisure, he would
ask what I had for him TO do and until
the last hour, yea, moment Of his life, in
1868, was engaged in public business.
He at all times regarded public calls as
no principal, and his own as Incidental.
He was q great man, made up of regular
rotation OF facts. he had no towering,
brilliant talent that distinguished him
above others. His character was uni
form, made up OF a long life of credits,
with nothing to detract or weaken his
strength. He had 3 sound body. and he
took good care of it; and it took good
care of his mind. He had nc vices
no eccentricities, no vanity. He never
made a great effort; he never made a
small one. He always worked where
he was put, and wa put where he
worked. If he was not the most indus
triOus man 1 ever saw, he was certainly
among them. His candle would always
shine before daylight and at midnight.
10 m-ra unnN on aNAwnnnmH man % The
bar, but was a powerful One-pOwerful
because he was truthful, honest, kind,
gentlemanly, always prepared, always
watchful. The poor mans friend, the
rich mans dependence. He was not a
profound lawyer, but a useful one
always understood his cases and the
law applicable to them. He was not
alone a lawyer; he excelled in all
he undertook. As a husband, father,
friend, neighbor, Christian, statesman,
and farmer, he was most to be admired.
With his frock and trowsers, and an
OX-gad in his hand, he was more proud
than in the most public act Of his life.
AS an historian he was a perfect in
deX; his landmarks and m~ile-posts
were scattered on the right and left
through his whole pathway, firm as the
rock, enduring as time. He was a diff
fuse writer-methodical, but not sys-
tematic. He did not concentrate his
productions; they are extensive, but
in detached forms. He never tired in
hearing and answering the poor mans
calls and wants. He was very partieu.
lar that nothing should be charged for
anything thai related to pubic business.
Would that public men Low regarded
that.
During the whole fifteen years he was
in Congress, he did not figure but little
in debate, but wa constantly engaged
in active, useful business. He had great
influence in the House; whatever he
asked was seldom refused. He obtained
large appropriations for western harbors.
He saved the government many mill
lions in guarding against fraudulent
claims.
His name and fame is as extensively
known and appreciated throughout the
nation as any man, dead or alive. His
morals were pure his bill Of health had
no blanks or blot.
Atthe head of the dinner table, in con-
versing with the learned or unlearned,
gentleman. i've often been diverted
TO observe his intercourse with his chill
dren he would treat them with the
same gentility he would his ~nsighbors-
seldom enquire about their business.
He was not very fond of money; he
could not keep it in his purse or desk.
He would lend or expend it, and never
collect. All through his papers are scat
tered dead mems notes for lent money
and business. Money was not his forte;
he was fond OF land he loved the soil
he titled and enriched, and at his death
all he possessed was in il. he lent his
name freely to his friends and neigh
bOrs, and often suffered from it.
He often consulted me in his domestic
matters, and in his old age, as he was
about leaving home for Washington,
on his last public engagement, he con
suited me as to his ability to perform
the duties. I advised amrmatively, and
took the liberty Of suggesting an inn
provement in this language of his will.
He answered with great feeling, Mr.
Newton, I am not worth a cent in the
world"
His private business had been neg
and was very complicated. After
he had been a while in Washington, 1
wrote him, saying, III you will give
me authority, / believe I can adjust
very short, 1t cannot be done, but you
may try" I did, and succeeded, and a
short time before his death wrote him :
your property at Toledo is all back IN
your own name, free from lawsuits and
membranes, and is rapidly rising in
value" and at his death was worth
from one to two hundred thousand dol
lars, and has been, like his reputsicn,
constantly rising in value.
Twill take the liberty of relating some
incidents that occurred between Us. At
one period Of his life, soon after ! began
with him, he was in the habit of using
snuff fresly, and ithnrt him. He would
handle the snuf-bOx gracefully. On one
occasion in a very pleasant and familiar
conversation, he used it often, it affected
his voice. I paused, and smiled, and
looked at the box. It chafed him /; soon
after he ceased the s OF il altogether.
AT another period of our business he
owned q favOdte white horse he called
HRutabaga," after a plant he cultivated.
He had a large white cape he wore on
horseback in rough weather, that cover
ed his whole body. This cape his fami-
ly keep as a memento. He often a
hat.
At the close Of the Court at Ravenna,
we started for home on horseback. he on
his white horse, with his white cape and
white hat, and had added to all a long
white pipe in full blast. We passed
along q few rods in cheerful CONVERSE
ton, when I remarked, IneTer Eaw you
so graceful, you have added to
the old white horse, white cape and white
hat, a long, nice, white pipe In full blast.
He threw the pipe away with greatdeter-
minatiOn. Not another word was said
between us about the pipe, and l think
he new put another in his mouth dur
ing bis La,
He was q very extraordinary man In
respects. The pipe will illustrate
one. A firm, fixed resolution that moth
ing will move. He made use Of no words
about it. His purpose was formed in
youth to fill up his life with knowledge
and usefulness. That purpose he was
permitted to follow uninterruptedly for
years, No day or hour Of his
long life wRsl LOST in~dissipation, debaueh-
cry OF idleness. He performed a full
work the last day Of his life, The
last evening he lived he spent in cheer
full and interesting conversation with
the bOarders and inmates Of the family.
He retired to his bed chamber at his
usual time, disrObed himself entered
the bed, laid his head upon his pillow,
and in an instant was dead. He was a
tower Of strength TO communities where
he lived.
His life fOrcibly illustrates what a man
may do, ear do, and should do. His
greatest gifts were a sound mind and
judgment. He owed very little OF what
he had to genius. He moulded his
character early, and never permitted 1t
to be jOstled from the path marked out.
He built upon the foundation laid, story
upon story, and was permitted to occu-
py it until his life became a prize. His
God, his country, and his family served,
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