Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-10-26
INGERSOLL.
Who and What "our Bob" Really is.

Who and What "Our Bob" Really is.
a recent biographer of Mr.. Robert
Ingersoll says that he is the son of a
Congregational minister +; was born in
Dresden, small town in Northern
New York, and is 43 years old "He
was baptized when he was years
old in a theatre in New York City.
His father was then preaching in the
city and in this theatre, his church
having been destroyed by the great
fire. His father, it seems inclined to-
ward liberalism and his strifes and
the annoyances he was subjected to
from the narrow belief of his flocks
early imbittered the precocious youth
and filled him with the utmost hatred
of the gloomy spirit of Calvinism.
The father died in 1859, but when
Robert uttered that famous lecture on
"Heretics and Heresies," and in
which occurs that graphic picture of
John Calvin, he said, when he return.
ed to his home, "Father, I've paid
back another of the insults they heap
ed upon YOU" He received only a
common.school education. When
Robert was 10 they came West. Rob-
ert was precocious boy. He was a
great reader and his fayorite author
was Robert Burns. He had commit
ted the works of that poet to memory,
and it is probable that it was from
this fountain that he first imbibed
that glowing, fiery hate for tyranny
and contempt for sham of every sort
thatform such an effective part of his
character. When Robert was still
under age he had studied law and
been admitted to the bar. In 1860
Robert was nominated for Congress
against William Kellogg. He con-
Quoted his part of the campaign as if
it were huge frolic, and yet on the
stump he displayed qualities that as
tonished alike his friends and his ene-
mics. He tore Judge Kellogg's argu-
ment in pieces. worsted him in every
debate, out-talked and out-argued
him. Running on the Democratic
ticket he went far beyond his oppo-
nent in denouncing slavery, and SOL
emily avowed that, rather than inter-
fere between any human being in his
efforts to secure his liberty, ! would
be condemned to be chained in the
lowest depths of hell Bob was beat
en-, and it was the last time he ever
ran for an office.
'In 1852 he went to war as Colonel
of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. In
1866 he was appointed Attorney Gen.
eral of the State by Governor Ogles-
by. In 1868 he was spoken of for
Governor. Since then he has been
engaged in the practice of his profess
sion in which he has been extraordln-
arily successful, until the Cincinnati
Convention drew him out, and he
electrified the country by his nomina-
ton of Blaine. In 1862 he married
Miss Eva Parker, the daughter OF
farmer of Groveland, Tazewell coun-
ty, ILL.,, rare woman in any age. An
affectionate, tender, true hearted and
loving woman, she transformed the
reckless, careless, needless genius in
to p great-souled strong-brained, YER
satile, and pure-minded man. Two
daughters are the result of this union.
Few households equal this in strong
but tender affection, manifested sim
ply and naturally without affectation
and without concealment. When he
goes on any long journey his family
always accompany him; together they
made the campaign in Maine and
New York. Nor is hers the mascu-
line intellect that partakes of all his
triumphs and drives him forward be-
cause she Is ambitious. Dress and So
ciety and place and position are
things she cares as little about as he.
In intellect she does not strive to be
his peer but in all womanly qualities,
in devotion to him, in wifely regard,
in the domestic virtues she surpasses
most women as much as in masculine
strength and vigor he surpasses most
men, and he repays this affection with
constancy, care and attention, a
delicate Difference to her wishes and
loyal devotion to her that reveals
the ideal lover of the romantic school.
There Is however in all this no senti-
mentality and no gush."