The New York herald., 1876-03-13
ALL ABOUT "BELKy."
THE KNIGHrLY KEoKUKER--A FRIEND WITH
OUT FAMILIARITY = POPULAR AMONG HIS
NEIGHDoRs-KEoKUK THE HOME OF THE ISD-

THE kNIGHTLf kEOkUkEk-A FRIEND WIN
OUT FAMILIARITY - POPULAR AMONG HIS
SEIGHDoRs-KEoKUK THE HOME OF THE 'ISD-
IAN TRADER THE BELKNAPs AND THE
BowERs-KEoKUK CURSES AND Is CURSED.
[Keokuk correspondence ST Louis Republican,
''why," the Keokuker was accustomed TO say. "this
community is the very nursery and training school OF
judicial political and social greatness" "KeokuS"
they would explain, 'has gwen the Supreme Court
judge, politics many discerning statesmen, 10 the
Cabinet ministers and society its most brilliant
ornaments that centre Of social brilancy, the ma
tional capital
Moreover, there time when somo Of "the best
people In Keokuk." perhaps afflicted by touch OF
vanity, with no little display of pomp and exhibition
OF a natural pride, would confidently and boastngly
assure the unsuspecting stranger that Kcokuk could
also claim, by right Of consanguinecus relationship to
be at least the mother-n-lawlo 10 the remarkable
OF his age the great 1nancer of Wall street. the
friend of the President, the chum OF 'Boss" shep-
herd, the ally OF Rufus b Bullock lGcorga's abscond-
ing Governorl-in Short that wonderful youth OF des
tiny who looked sharp enough TO cut Wall street in
and sharp he looked-Henry Clcws. In
him Kcokuk took delight. But Keokuk people
proud Of their 'chidren of destiny" who
wentforth from the Gate OF the Mississippi dazzle
the eyes. coniound the and astonsh the world
proud OF their great
HOW BELKSAP oAMK
In lS49-50 during the existence of the Thirty nrst
Congress, when Hon. Daniel Miller, at present
nent barrstcr at KeokuK representative in Con-
gresS, ono morning messenger came TO him IN the
House and told him that gentleman waited to speak
10 him OF The committee reception rooms.
Mr. Miller went to meet him. He a young man,
stranger whom he had never met before waiting to re-
ceivc him The young man introduced himself as Will
lam W. Beknap ana said he had lately completed his
legal studies at Washington and had some idea OF going
West He then proceeded 10 make very careful in
qunies concerning Keokuk, the prospects before IL
the development OF the country about H., and con
cuded by telling Mr. Miller that IN all probability hc
would shortly proceed to that city to make II his future
bone Young Belknnp then took his leave. The next
time the Congressman ana the young man met was IN
Keokuk. Beknap entered upon the practice OF the
law in that towu His success was in no way remarka
bic. He was regarded as young man without brilliant
gifts In anything had no ability as an orator. was plain
and ploddng and socially good fellow" he was
always regarded IN keokuk as n man OF strong COM
mon sense and as possessed Of remarkable ability as
vigorous, tersc writer.
MS ONCE LAW PARTNERS EXPERIENCE.
In Keokuk resides q gentleman we'll known and
highly esteemed by large circle OF friends and
quaintanccs lie is a lawyer by profession, and
had the misfortune to be in partnership with William
W. Belknap. This gentleman Is Mr. r. j. Lomax, the
son of distinguished professor at one ilme IN the
tion with the firm of Lomsx Il Belknap, revealed to
considerable extent the character which has lately
was poor the income from his practice small, his de-
sire Tor money great. Being intrusted by Mr. Lomax
with the collection OF the claims OF clients part OF
his dutes in pursuance of the partnership agreement
Beknap used TO collect these accounts give the FIRMS
receipt for the amount and then IT, The clients OF
would naturally inquire about their business.
TEe debtors would produce receipts OF the hrm and
then Mr.. Lomax the member OF the firm who could be
made pecunarily responsible, would pay the bills
Belknap acknowledging that he had used the money
SO il went on for some years and Mr. Lomax had paid
TO clients a large amount of money which Belknnp
and Lomax had not got his money. Alter
Bclknap became collector of revenue, since
the war he ssettled with his partncr-hal is TO say
he paid percentage OF the indebedness-just how
much no knows, Mr.. omax himself keeping every
thing quot and has not informed OF the nature
Of the settlement When asked about II he simply re-
plies, ''WclL we settled It,"
HE RAISES QUESTION MAKING A LIVING
Beknap, as before inumated, had little or prop
erty and but a small income-in act was poor man,
nsomuch that, after having collected bill for client
and spent the money, Mr.. l.omax made some inquiries
about It and Beknap confessed the appropriation OF
the cash for his own benefit rose up paced the floor in
great trcpldaton and apparent agony, wruDg his
hands, ana, in agitated manner, said;-"lt IS no
longer question OF making money with me, but how
obtain the means of support. In his business
lations during his long residence in Keokuk Bclknap
had the reputation among great many people Of being
''tricky, by which may be understood general un-
BECOMES AN oFFIcE-HoLDER AND PROFITS THEREBY.
Belknap was poor man in worldly goods until alter
he became an office holder Then his affairs took
turn. From the time when he appointed col
ector of internal revenue, about 1861, he advanced
tOn OF comparative poverty to position OF positive
anuence work accomplished in relatively short
period OF time In ave years said he had accumu
lated fortune varousy estimated at from 100000 TO
500 600 OF course these estimates and statements
somewhat conjectura, actual facts not being ac-
cessibe to the public.
BELKNAr's POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
In politics Bclknap was not regarded as very pro-
nounccd partisan. Previous TO the war he affiliated
with the democratic party When the conflict OF arms
opened he took the position OF pronounced war dem
ocrat raised regiment aud entered the service as
q "A
army very air, though unmarked by any extraor-
binary brilliant actions or deeds OF daring Return
ing to Keokuk atter the war; lac affiliated with the
pubcans and rewarded by acollectorship During
Jo nson's administration no inclined TO worship at
the political shrine established by that President
When Grant became President Belknap Grant
man. lie trimmed his sails TO catch all brcezes. He
was rewarded his adhesion the administra-
ton, all the country knows to its and shame
srAScH REPUBLICAN
That Belknap has been regarded as stanch repub-
can by the party in Iowa sufficiently proved by the
fact that II by leader OF the party the State
that his was first presented to the President and
urged lit TO be sent to the Senate for confrma
Secretary of War that aftcrward other leaders
of party joined the request that last his
name was before Legislature Iowa as candidate
for United states Senatc and that neither friend
nor Zoe questioned his standing a member OF the
party. In Keokuk he has not been regarded By any
other than republican n good standing in the
I party.
Socially. Beknap was well liked IN kcokuk. Men OF
all parties speak well OF his social qualities his gcn
allty and freedom IRON that stiffness that does not
bend with the popular impulses, from tnat hauteur
which docs not enter into sympathy with the masses.
Bciknap approachablc man, and all classes let
at perfect liberty TO take him by the hand He
not man. however, 10 permit undue familiarity. He
possessed in eminent degree the happy faculty OF
being friendly without being familiar, OF being genial
without being unduly joval; he could be reserved
without being sun Not himself a great humorist,
We frequently INDUCED in stories and jokes. But
Ne always maintained certain dgnincd reserve
that warned those who would become too familiar and
rude keep their distance. lie at home
phatcally of the pcopcthat is, he passed
down the street without nod smile or sautation TO
I all whom he met whatever might bo their station.
Nor he the character among his old neighbors and
TRENDS OF being man ambitious OF parade Tor effect
Quite the Is the Wow taken OF HIM Kcokuk
An instance will show:-Whch Bclknap came on visit
Keokuk for the first time after his appointment TO
the position OF Secretary OF War OF his friends OF
bratc the event and honor their ncighbor with
] ton such as keokuk bad seldom Witnessed. Grand