Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-17
Our Presidents.


4 SHARP Presidential contest is now In
progress, and it may bc interesting to
look over the past, and inquire into the
social standing Of former Presidents
What positions did they occupy before
they were chosen to the high Officer
George Washington belonged, by birth.
to the famous class Of "Nrginia gentle
men His family ranked among the
ariStocracy, being connected with the
gentry of England, lie began life as a
surveyor, but gained wealth and position
by n marriage with Mrs. Gusts. wealthy
and accomplished widow. \ story is
told Of his later years, that a poor Nir-
g'nigO of quality whom he had roproved,
retorted sharply, Il should Ike to know,
George Washington what YOU would
have been If you hadn't married the
widow tQstis." Washington smiled, be-
cause the man was poor and unfortunate,
hut he rarely allowed such liberties.
John Adams was u lawyer, and the son
OF farmer and shoemaker, Of family
that has been settled III Massachusetts for
seven generations. The AdamscS are one
Of the few American families entitled to
he called historical. They have won a
national reputation for brilliant talents,
for eminent services in politics, and
law, aud literature, and states,
manship, and also for wealth, with
our which no family can long be kept
up, No other family can compare with
them in the number and rank Of public
offices they have filed; in ancient Rome
they would have been called Consular
family. They are the A1amscs Of
Quincy, and in France Charles Francis
Adams would be called Nj de Quincy
| Quincy is an old French, or, rather, Nor,
man name and appears in the Roll of
Battle Abbey. Ii has oplya territorial re-
lation to the Adamscs. The name belongs
properly to another great American fam.
lily descended from mn ancestor who was
in the battle of Hastings, A. d. 1866
Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer, and his
family held a good but not high social
rank in Virginia His attention was at
tractcd to public ifc by the STRUGGLE he
tween the Colonies and England, ending
in the Revolution, and he made for him.
self a great name in history as q lcUis.
| lator, an author q diploa0ttsl and poliQ-
cal leader
James Madison was son ofa wealthy
| Virginia planter, and WAS educated ior a
| lawyer. He was hard student, but, hay
ing entered public life very early, never
returned to his profession,
james Monroe was also the son ofa Nir.
gtnia planter and educated for the bar,
like MI Madison But the public
troubles drew him into political life in
early youth and he served with honor in
the army and in ciyil pursuits. He hnd a
large experience in politics, and thor.
Inbn Quincy ALaus vos thn ,l,1,s, con
Of John Adams and a towyrr. Int his life
was devoted 10 puhNc service, win few
intcrludcs giycn to literary pursuits He
was educated for statesmapship nv his
parents. and had larger and more varied
experience in public life than any other
| President.
Andrew Jackson came from a poor
( southern family, and began the practice
! of aw nj manhood. He was altcrwnrd n
/ Judge, a merchant, planter an soldier,
/ aud served in boti Houses ui Congress
before he was mad, President.
The father Of Martin Van Buren, was
/ too poor 10 give hls son An education, but
/ the energy OF the young man forced his
/ way to the bar, and he became an &C.
/ know tcdgrd leader among lawyers.
/ William Henry Harrison was the lhird
son Of Bcninmin Harrison. VIRGINIA
/ planter, and one of the sirncrs Of the
/ Declaration Of Indcpcndcncc He enter.
I ed the army early. but had also important
trusts in civil life.
John TYLER was the son Of an eminen,
/ Nirrinian. a man of large wealth who
had filled many hiph Offices.
lanes Pan, wasthc.np or a reqncc,.
aha farmer md was edur,trd ss a law.
yer