The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-25

(rrom the Chicago Times.

iohhhh Souhty, w., oCt. -, loOO. nc
is the oldest of family of two sons and
five daughters. His father was the Rev.
DIR. William Arthur, a Baptist clergy
man, who emigrated TO this country from
the County Antrim, ireland, in his 18th
year, and died Oct. 81, 1873, in New
tonville, near Albany, DR.. Arthur was
in many respects remarkable man.
He acquired extended fame not only in
his calling, but also in the domain of
authorship. His work on Family
Names" is regarded the world over as
one of the curiOsties of English eruditc
literature. From 1855 to 1868 he was
Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church Of
this city. He also filled the pulpits of
Baptist churches at Bennington, Hines
burg, Fairfield, and Williston, in Yer
mont, and York, Perry, Greenwich,
Schenectady, Lansingburg, Hoosic, West
Troy, and NewtOnvile, in this State. His
other son made gallant record in the
war OF the Rebellion, and is now Pay
master of the regular Army, with the
rank of Major.
Gen. Arthur was educated at Union
College, and was graduated in the Glass
of lS49. After leaving college he taught
Il country school during two years in
Vermont, and then having managed by
rigid economy to save about $500, he
started for this city, and entered the
law office of ex-Judge f. ID. Culver as Il
student. After being admitted to the
Bar. he formed II partnership with his
intimate friend and roommate, Henry
ID. Gardiner, with the intention of prac-
ticing in the West, and for three months
they roamed about in the Western States
in search of IN eligible site but in the
end returned To this City, where they
hung out their joint shingle, and enter
ed upon a successful career almost from
the start. Gen. Arthur soon afterward
married the daughter of Lieut. Herndon,
United States Navy, who was lost at
sea, and who calmly went down to
death smoking cigar. Congress voted
gold medal to his widow in recognition
OF the conspicuous bravery he displayed
on that occasion. Mrs. Arthur died
only Il short time ago.
In 1852, Jonathan and Juliet Lem
mon, Virginian shareholders, intending
to emigrate to Texas, came to this city
to await the sailing of steamer, bring
ing eight slaves with them. 4 writ of
habeas corpus was obtained from Judge
Paine to test the question whether the
provisions of the fugitive slave law were
in force in this State. Judge Paine rem
dered decision holding that they We're
not, and ordering the Lennon slaves to
be liberated. Henry l.. Clinton was
one of the counsel for the shareholders.
A howl of rage went up from the South
and the Virginia Legislature authoriz-
ed the Attorney General to assist in TAX
ing an appeal. William NJ. Evarts and
Chester A. Arthur were employed to
represent the people, and they won their
case, which then went to the Supreme
Court of the United States. Charles
OCOnor here espoused the cause of the
shareholders, but, he, too, was beaten
by Messrs. Evarts and Arthur, and a
long step was taken toward the cmanci-
patton of the black race. Another great
service was rendered by Gen. Arthur in
the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jcn-
nings, respectable colored woman, WAS
put off Fourth avenue car with vIo-
lence, after she had paid her fair. Gen.
Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured
a verdict of $500 damages. The next
day the company issued an order to
permit colored persons to ride on their
cars, and the other Car companies quick
| " followed their example. Before that
the Sixth Avenue Company ran few
special cars for cOlorcd persons, and the
other lines refused to let them ride at
all.
Gen. Arthur was a delegate to Con-
vention at Saratoga that founded the
Republican party. Previous TO the out
break of the war he was Judge Advo-
cate OF the Second Brigade of the State
militia, and Gov. Edwin ID. Morgan,
soon after his inauguration, selected him
to fill the position Of Engineer-in- Chief
of his staff In 1861 he held the post
of Inspector General and soon after was
advanced to that of Quartermaster Gen
eral, which he held until the expiration
of Morgan's term of Office. No higher
encomium can be passed upon him than
the fact that, although the war account
of the State of New York was at least
ten times larger than that of any other
State. it was the first audited and allow
ed in Washington, and without the de-
duction of dollar. while the Quarter
masters accounts from other States were
reduced from 81 ,O0O, 900 to $4,000, 900.
During his term of Office every present
sent to him was Immediately returned.
Among others, a prominent clothing
house offered him a magnificent uni
form, and a printing house sent him a
costly saddle and trappings. Both gifts
were Indignantly rejected. When Mr..
Arthur became Quartermaster-General
he was poor. When his term expired
he was poorer still. He had opportuni-