The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-09-23
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
Biographical sketch OF Chester A,
Arthur.

Biographical Sketch OF Chester AL
Arthur.
Il Chester a. Arthur was born at Fairfield,
Franklin county, Vermont, Oct s, 1880. So say
! his biggraphers, and so says the official record,
although other and unofficial authorities haveI
located his birthplace on the other side Of the
Canada line. His father, William Arthur, was
an itinerant Baptist preacher, born in County
Antrim, Ireland, and educated at Belfast COL
!ege. The young hcentiate came at once toll
America and here married and began his work,
which, in busy life ending Oct q, 1876 led
him to MANY pulpits in Vermont and New York
( and to some in Canada, the town of Fairfield
VT, being among them.
The early days of Chester A. Arthur's tuition
we're passed under the tutelage of his father
J From his home studies he went to the
u wider field of instruction at Schenectady, N. Y
! in the grammar school Of which place he wasI
4 prepared for entering Union College. At Isl
! years of age, therefore, in 1916, he entered
I Union, and, after regular course, graduated
4 high in his class. Like many another ambi-
& tlous but iInpecunious student, young Arthur
taught school in the vacations of college spe-
cially provided for that purpose. 1t is coinci-
dence that in these DAYS of sturdy struggle the
young student from Union College and young
student (Garield) from Williams both taught
school in North Pownal, vt.
With $500 in his pocket the frugal savingsI
OF school-master's scanty pay, Arthur went toI
New York city and entered the law-ofice of
s Hon. Erastus D. Culver, and was in 1852 adj
United to the practice of law. But clients did
\ not then flock to his standard, and with al
young legal friend in like circumstances and
frame of mind, two brietess young lawyerss
roamed the Western States for three months.
seeking place to locate. In the end, not sat-E
] isfed with the advice of Greeley, the young
men returned to New York and pooled their is
sues in the firm namo of Arthur & Gardner
About this time Mr.. Arthur made happy mat
] rimonial alliance, marrying the only daughter
I of Lieut.. HerndoI, u. s. N.-the brave Hern-E
J don who went down with the Aspinwall steam
sshp Central American, which he commanded I
Mrs. Arthur died in January, 1880, leaving two
children, SOD now in his 10th and daughter
4 In her 10th year.
The career of the young lawyer was madeE
more successful by the interest be took in poll
tics and the militia. He was at the front in
caucuses and conventions, and on militaryE
parades His earlier political instincts were
with the Wings, but with the decadence of thatE
party he joined the multitude of American youth
Cat the North) in advancing the standard of the
Republican party. He was, indeed, delegate
to the Saratoga Convention that organized the ]
Republican party in the State of New York andS
was delegate in succeeding State conventions /
year after year, until he had attained the Chair
manship of the State Committee and the nom
nation to the Vice Presidency.
Gov. Morgan. i'll organizing his milit airy
staff in 1861, named Mr. Arthur as Engineer ins
Chief He had just before this held the posi- !
ton of Judge Advocate of the Second Brigade.
New York city. little later, Gen. Arthur i
was appointed Inspector General on the Gov
ernors staff, and so continued during the first
year of the great civil war-a year busy with
the organization and inspection of volunteersk
for the field. On Jan. n, 1862, Gov. Morgank
advanced Gen. Arthur to the more important
post of Quartermaster General, which position
he held until the expiration of Morgan's term
of Office at the end of that year.
In July, 1862, Gen. Arthur was invited to be-
present at a meeting of Governors in the CITY J
of New York, held for the purpose of discussingE
measures whereby the Union armies could 5eE
kept with full ranks, and it is said he was the
only person present who was not Governor.
In the same year he was on the staff of Mai
Gen. Hunt, in the Army of the Potomac, as in {
spector of New York troops in the field. With &
the end of Gov. Morgan'5 term of Office, as h
already stated, Gen. Arthur's military career
ended, and he returned to the law. Business of I
a most lucrative character now poured in uponE
him. Much of this work consisted in the col ]
lection of war claims and the drafting of bills !
for legislation. In consequence, a great deal {
Iof his time was spent at Albany or IN Wash Il
ington, where his successes won him renown
hardly second to that of any other lobbyist. \
He held for short time the position of coun- +
sci to the Board of Tax Commissioners in New
York city, at $4,000 year, and in November, +
1871, was appointed by President Grant to bel
Collector of the Port of New York.
On the 26th of January, 1879 John Sherman, L
Secretary Of the Treasury, addressed commll- I
nication to President Hayes setting forth the
necessity for change IN the New York Collect &
orship, saying that the Treasury DepartmentE
stood ready to submit proof that ''groSs abusesE
of administration have continued and increasedH
during his TArthursl incumbency.'
The removal of Arthur and the appointments
of Gen. Merritt as Collector of the Port fol- ]
lowed.
The history of that memorable struggle at 4
Chicago, which led up to the nomination of
Garfield in June, $780, is fresh in the minds ofs
the people, After Garfield mad been nomina- B
ted, on the sixth day, the convention took a.
recess, with the tacit understanding that New
York might, if it would, name candidate forR
the Vice Presidency. The New York delega-E
ton. therefore, spent the intervening hour in 4
caucus. with closed doors. Mr.. Levi P Mor-s
ton, now Minister to France, declined to beg
considered as q candidate. Vice President B
Wheeler, Lieut.. Gov. Hoskins and ex-Gov
Woodford were presented without favorable re- Z
spouse. The sense of the caucus was so large-k
" in favor of Arthur that after half an hour'ss
talk, all other names being Withdrawn, it was
determined to present his alone. When the I
convention reassembed, late in the afternoonS
of Tuesday, June s, the nomination of Arthurks
was made in short order.