The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-11-23
E9S In-Srs9li.

intellectual giant daring the past csm-
paign, and the following paragraphs
concerning him, published origin lily III
the form of correspondence in the Lesv-
enworth Times, Ill be Of interest TO our
readers:
1t is stated ihst Dresden, \. Y, was
bis birthplace. That, sm quite sure, is
a mistake. Hampton IN the same State
is entitled 20 the honor. The family or
iglnatcd in Vermont.
Robert was the youngest member OF =
family Of five j; and, up to the age of ten
or twelve was considered a very dull boy.
So much SO, that he was regarded by
his father with peculiar tenderness on
this account. lie once called aside N
trusted member Of my household, and in
tones that tremble with anxiety, asked
''if it was possible that Robbie should
every become a. bright as other chilli
dren." Ee was then an irritable, un-
communicative youncester, with biz, bu!-
bous forehead, bit OF snub nose, vat
cry eyes, that were always ''eri"~'' 2
because OF some grievance, and voice
ever ready TO uplf, itself in prociaiming
his wrongs. Those who have known
he bold, burly, brilliant fellow in bls
adult years, will recognize no kInship
to the man, in this picture of the child.
Ia 1913 orlSil. bis father took charge
Of Rev. Charles q. Fiuney's church IN
Obcrin. Soon a.terward, our families
which had been very intimate, entered
upon widely diverging paths. His DRIFT
ed away By degrees, anl finally were
lost to our knowledge, in the then wild
erness of Southern Illinois. Here Bob
grew up, lawless and happy, with oil The
unprnned luxuriance OF indi IA aii,y
which distinguishes the true Western
man. 1t is not true that he received or
ly common school education. BO!h
himself and his brother, f. G. IngersoIi,
were educated at Paducah College, g.
Kentucky. During tins period OF their
lives, constant association with pro-slav-
cry people corrupted, or rather overlaid,
the sentiment Of universal liberty which
they bad im5Ibed with their mothers
milk, aud never ceased TO hear from Ia
fathers lips.
When met Bob again, after his cmcr-
gence from the wiids of Egypt. the
blubbering urchin had developed into a
rough, rollicking sixf0oter of 300
pounds weight, ready at ali times for u
fight or frolic. HIS hair always stood
on end, and each particular end bristled
in different direction. His coat
had tcndancy to creep up be.
tween his shoulders, his shirt looked as
if they had endured a struggle IN getting
on, and suffered thereby; and the ar
tagoDism between the bottom of his vest
and the top of his trousers never could
be overcome-a narrow but conspicuous
strip OF neutral territory was always Wis
IDLE between them. There was not a
smooth spot about him from the crown
of his head TO the sole Of his foot, and
his tongue was toughest of all. He
slouched along the streets Of Peoria
with hands in pockets, and every beg
gar's brat saluted him as dob" lie
used TO declare that such q name was
ruinous 10 any mans dignity. Abrupt.
overbearing, extravagant and domant;c
in speech, but generous and kindly in
deed, be was both liked and dreaded.
To presumptuous and prompous attor-
neys he was an especial terror. Upon
such, when they came in his way he d.
rected the battery of IA merciless and in
exhaustible sarcasm and it took face
of brass, triply mailed, to bear it with
out flinching.
With all his fiery soul he hated ortho-
iox theology-but no was not then, nor
do believe he is now, in any sense, an
atheist. | have heard him express a
sevcrest belief in the existence of deity
and the Immortality of the soul. 1t is
not true that his father during his min
s,erial career was inclined to liberalism
II was only in his old age, when, bellev-
ing in anguish ofspirit his beloved child
rem grown into perrerse free thinkers.
that he sought 10 modify creed which
them TO the fortunes of an
eternal hell. When the halter begins to
draw upon "A mans own neck, he is apt
TO change his opinion of the law.