Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-10-27
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

C@AN'o-A>SD
The following sketch of General Ar
thur, the Republican vice-presidential
candidate, first appeared in the New
York Times:
General Chester A. Arthur was born
in Franklin county, VT, Oct. 5, 1880.
He is the Oldest of family of two
sons and five daughters. His father
was the Rev. DIR. William Arthur, a
Baptist clergyman who emigrated to
this country from the county Antrim,
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, and
died Oct. II, 1879, in Newtonville, near
Albany. DR.. Arthur was in many re-
spects remarkable man. He acquired
extended fame, not only in his calling,
but also in the domains of authorship.
His work on Family Names is regarded
the world over as one of the curiosities
of English erudite literature. From
1855 to 1868 he was pastor of the Cal
vary Baptist Church of this city. He
also filed the pulpits of Baptist
churches at Bennington, Hinesburg,
Fairfield and Williston, in Vermont,
and York, Perry, Greenwich, Schenec-
tady, Lansingburg, Hoosic, West Troy,
and Newtonville 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.
General Arthur was educated at
Union College, and was graduated in
the class of 40. After leaving college
he taught 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 E.
D. Culver as a student. After being
admitted to the bar, he formed part
nership with his intimate friend and
roommate, Henry D. Gardiner, with
the intention of practicing in theWest,
and for three months they roamed
about in the Western States in search
of an eligible site; but i'll the end re-
turned to this city, where they hung
out their joint shingle, and entered
upon successful career almost from
the start. General Arthur soon after
married the daughter OF Lieutenant
Herndon, United States Navy, who was
lost at sea, and who calmly went down
to death smoking a cigar. Congress
voted gold medal to his widow in rec
ognition of the conspicuous bravery he
displayed on that occasion. Mrs. Ar
thur died only short time ago.
In 1852, Jonathan and Juliet Lem
mon, Virginia shareholders, intending
to emigrate to Texas, came to this city
to await the sailing of steamer, bring
ing eight slaves with them. A writ of
habeas corpus was obtained from Judge
Paine to test the question whether the
slaves were not freed by the act Of bring
ing them into free territory. Judge
Paine rendered decision holding that
they were, and ordering the Lennon
slaves to be liberated. Henry L. Gin
ton was one Of the counsel for the slave
holders. A howl of rage went up from
the South, and the Virginia legislature
authorized the Attorney General of
that State to assist in taking an appeal.
William M. Evarts and Chester A. Ar
thur were employed to represent the
people, and they won their case, which
then went to the Supreme Court of the
United States. Charles O'Conor here
espoused the cause Of the shareholders,
but he, too, was beaten by Messrs.
Evarts and Arthur, and long step was
taken toward the emancipation of the
black race. Another great service was
rendered by General Arthur in the
same cause in 1866. Lizzie Jennings,
a respectable colored woman, was put
off Fourth avenue car, with violence,
after she had paid her fare. General
Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured
a verdict of five hundred dollars dam
ages. The next day the company is
sued an order to permit colered per-
sons to ride on their cars, and the other
car companies quickly followed their
example. Before that the Sixth avenue
company ran few special cars for col
ored persons, and the other lines re-
fused to let them ride at all.
General Arthur was delegate to the
Convention at Saratoga that founded
the Republican party. Previous to the
outbreak of the war he was Judge-Ad-
vocate of the Second Brigade of the
State Militia, and governor Edwin D.
Morgan, soon after his inauguration.
selected him to fill the position of En-
gineer in Chief OF his staff. In 1861
he held the post Of Inspector General,
and soon afterward was advanced to
that of Quartermaster General, which
he held till the expiration of Morgan's
term of Office. No higher ercomium
can be passed upon him than the men
ton of The fact that, although the war
account of the State of New York was
at least ten times larger than that of
anv other State, yet it was the first au-
dited and allowed in Washington, and
without the deduction of a dollar
while the quartermasters' accounts from
other States were reduced from 81 ,000,-
900 to $1O,OOO,000 each. During his
term of Office every present sent to
him was Immediately returned. Among
others, prominent clothing house Of
fered him a magnificent uniform, and a
printing-house sent him costly saddle
and trappings. Both gifts were indig-
nantly rejected. When Mr.. Arthnr be-
came Quartermaster General he was
Il L