The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-25
THE NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT
sketch OF the Life of Cen. Chester A.
Arthur.

The Hon. Chester A.. Arthur, of New
York, who is the Republican candidate
for vice president, was born October Is,
1880, ut Franklin, VT, and is now in the
fiftieth year of his age. He is about six
feet two inches in height, rather portly,
with most dignified and gracious pres
ence. His hair is slightly gray, and he
wears side whiskers and a mustache,
both tingcd with gray also. His eyes
are dark brown, and his face is very win
ming. Probably no man in America has
larger circle Of personal friends, and
no man better deserves them, for he is
as steadfast to them rs the needle to the
pole. While yet very young lad,
his parents removed to the state of New
York, and he attended school at Green
witch, on the Hudson, until he was Ii, ut
which early age he entered Union col
lege and graduated well up in his class
ut IS. In few months he went to
the city of New York and entered the
office of the Hon. Il. ID. Culver, then
member of congress from the first dis
trict of that state. Mr.. Culver was ut
that time one of the leading anti-slavery
men of the day and IT was here that Mr..
Arthur imbibed those firm Republican
sentiments and principles which he has
since SO ably and boldly maintained in
good and evil report. At the age of %
he was a delegate to the first Republican
convention ever held III the state, which
met at Syracuse, and he almost immedi-
ately took q position as an earnest, ac-
tive, and determined worker i'll the Re-
publican cause. When the celebrated
Lemon slave case came up in the state
and United States Court there, young
Mr.. Arthur was the unanimous selection
of the anti-slavery peopl, for the defense
of the fugitive and the prosecution of
those who sought to force him into
slavery. This thing he fought to the
bitter end, and when it was over he was
already marked man. Up to the be-
ginning of the war he was engaged in the
practice of law, and was on the way to n
competency when the war broke out. At
that time the militia of the state of New
York, as, in fact, most of the various
states, was in very poor condition. 1t
became necessary to mt once put it in
shape, and Governor Morgan called upon
the energetic young lawyer to abandon
his practice and come to the aid of his
state. He was made Quartermaster and
Inspector General, and with his usual
impetuosity threw himself heart and soul
into his work, and within less than a
month the troops from New York began
to 60 forward armed, equipped, and sup
pied in manner that was as gratifying
to themselves as it was to the military
authorities at Washington. For nearly
three years he worked day and night at
his task. and made most satisfactory
record for himself and his state. At
the close of the war he returned to his
practice, and was known us a hard-work-
er, persistent student, and as c-s'zen
yno always took n prominent part Ill
politics. In fact, he is one OF those men
who believe that every American citizen,
old and young, should bear his share OF
the political burden, and not only inform
themselves regarding municipal and ma
tional affairs, but should also take an ac-
tive working interest in everything tina
tends to insure good government, and
that affects for good or evil the interests
of the people. He was selected by
President Grant in 1871 as collector OF
the port of New York. which position he
filed until 1873, when he was removed
by President Hayes for, as was alleged,
violating the civil service rules, liotwith
standing the fact that an investigating
committee reported that his Office was a
model, and not the slightest complaint
was heard against it. He is now engaged
in the practice Of his profession. He
has two children, o son of IA and q
daughter of years of age. He had the
misfortune to lose his devoted wife last
january, whose death was sudden and