The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-22

FIR m 4 PHOTOGRAPH nr NJ. Il W. GARRETT, Wilmington.
child in the way he should go, and when
I he is old he will not depart from it," they
thought he knew what he was talking
about, and believed what he said More
over, the parents of the subject of this
sketch held that other old fashioned idea,
that satan finds some mischief still for
idle hands to do, for when the little Jethro
was only six years and six months old they
cotton factory, located on the White Clay
creek, on the road leading from Newark to
Stanton. In this factory he spent about
two years of his life, working, as was the
custom at that time, for six months of the
year, when the days We're longest, from
sunrise to sunset, and the OF her part of the
year from sunrise to eight clock at night
In these modern days of mawkish morality,
depraved sentiment and false philanthropy,
there may be some that will profess to see
in this early training of the young Jethro
"A great deal Of hardship and severity. But
the man of sense will recognize it as part
of the means that fitted him to be of use
in after life, and qualified him to fill with
credit to himself and qualification to others
the many positions of honor and RESPONSE
bility to which he has been called
VIXEN Jethro was eight years of age he
went into his fathers shop where he as.
sisted IN the preparation of work, winding
bobbins for the weaving of carpets and
coverlids, and such other light work as he
was able to perform. During this early
period of his life his opportunities for ac-
quiring an education at school were very
meagre and limited. Some years he at
tended school for a few weeks in the Winter
season; but these brief periods of his life,
these green GASES in the otherwise barren
desert, were like angels visits few and far
between. He continued to assist his father
IN the manufacture of coverlids and carpets
un.il the time of his death, which was in
1927, when the subject of this sketch WAS
in his 18th year.
Previous to his fathers death, he mad
been anxious to learn a trade, but the
family having been broken up and dis
peIsed he became the sole dependence of
his widowed mother. to meet whose neces.
sites he hired with farmer at the trifling
pay of - per month, still chershing the
hope of being able to acquire some mechani-
cal occupation.
In his eighteenth year, after consulting
with his mother, who concluded that it was
possible for her to manage without aid
from him, he apprenticed himself to the
millwrighting business for the term of
three years. He was to receive as compen
sation for his services, beside the acqusi
ton of the trade, his boarding and clothing
during his apprenticeship, and a suit of
clothing of better quality, called a freedom
suit, at the expiration of his term of ser
vice. In this connection, we mention a
circumstance that shows the solid founda
ton upon which the structure of his life
was built, and which displays the kindness
of his heart and the generosity of his
nature. His aged mother had become des
titute of means and involved in debt 1t
was an irresistible appeal to his affection,
and he agreed with his master to relinquish
his claim to the freedom suit, upon condi-
ton that the estimated price of it should
be paid to her. He also assumed all the
debts that she had been obliged to contract
during his apprenticeship, ali of which he
subsequently paid.
This generosity and dutiful self denial
left him almost destitute of clothing when
the term Of his apprenticeship expired, and
he was obliged to buy a pair of shoes On
credit before he could start to look for
employment, his old master being unable
to assist him. But He that has said
Honor thy father and mother" is not
forgetful of the promise he has attached to
the observance of this precept, and the
future prosperity and success of the sub
iect of this sketch, abundantly proves that
dutiful affection and filial devotion will
meet large reward. He soon found EN-
ployment at his trade, at Manayunk, on the
Schuylkill river, above PHILADELPHIA.
1t was customary for iourneymen mill
wrights to find their own TOOLS and he at
the time had none of his own. So lie was
obliged to return to his old neighborhood
and borrow them from his former master.
He travelled on foot, and made this journey
OF forty five miles in one day; procured
the requisite tools for the prosecution of
his work, tied up his scanty wardrobe in
cotton handkerchief and throwing it over
his shoulder, travelled manfully back over
the same road, making three trips in all,
his expenses being less than one dollar
The reader can recall similar experience
of Benjamin Franklin.
MIR. Mccullough continued to work at
his trade as a journeyman millwright for
about two years, his wages being - cents
and S1.00 per day. During this time he
discharged the debts of his mother assumed
by him, and at the age of twenty-three
years found himself square with the world
About this time he began the business of
millwr9hting on his own account and
soon had large quantity of work and
employed many hands. For number of
years he was the principal mlllwright in his
section, and prosecuted his trade in the
counties of Cecil, Chester, and New Castle.