The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-21
EyICE PRESIDENTS HISTORY.
A Sketch of the Man Whom the Presidency
Falls Upon General Garfield's Death.


Falls Upon General Garfield's Death.
From the New York Sun: -
Chester Allen Arthur is so years of age,
and native of Fairfield county, Vermont.
His father was Baptist minister, whe
came from England to Canada, and later
to the United States. The vice presidents
early education was obtained in country
school near Troy, in the neighborhood Of
which his father preached. He was after
ward sent to Union College, from which he
was graduated in 1S4S. He then studied
law, and in 1850 was admitted to the bar.
He formed law partnership with Erastus
D. Culver, who was afterward American
minister to a South American state. On the
elect on of Mr.. Culver as a judge of a
civil court in Brooklyn the partnership
was dissolved, and General Arthur went
into partnership with Mr.. Gardner, who
died about 1865. In 1871 the firm Of
Arthur, Phelps & Kenvals was formed
with General Arthur as the senior,
and the late District Attorney Benja-
min K. Phelps as another partner. Short
ly before this General Arthur was appoint
ed one of the counsel to the tax commits
sioners at salary of $1,000 year. The
only legal case of note in which General
Arthur acted as counsel was in the suit of
Jonathan Lemons, of Virginia, to recover
possession of eight slaves that had been
declared free by Judge Paine, Of the su-
perior court of this state. Lemons had
been incantiously passing through New
York with his slaves, intending to ship them
to Texas, when they we're discovered and
freed by an order Of Judge Paine, who was
| of opinion that the fugitive slave act did
not hold the slaves. The state of Virginia
directed its attorney general to appeal from
the decision. Thereupon the legislature of
New York directed the governor to employ
counsel to defend the slaves. E. D. Culver
and Joseph Blunt we're appointed, but with
drew, and afterward William NJ. Evarts and
General Arthur were retained as counsel
for the slaves. The decision of Judge
Paine was sustained by the supreme court,
and also affirmed by the court of appeals.
In 1856 General Arthur prosecuted city
car line on behalf of Lizzie Jennings, a
colored woman, and superintendent Of q
Sunday -school, who was roughly elected
from car because of her color. The case
was tried before Judge Rockwell in Brook
lyn and the jury gave the plaintiff $500 dam
ages. General Arthur got his military title
through service on the staff of Governor Ed
win D. Morgan, He was appointed engin-
eer- in chief on the governors staff Jan. l.,
1861, and on Jan. 81, 1862, he was made
| quartermaster general. lie was actlve IN
both positions. General Arthur gave his
attention to city politics at the close of the
war, and was for time chairman Of the
republican committee, known as the Nor
gan republicans, which met at Broadway
and Twenty third street. On the 10th Of
November, 1871, he was appointed by
President Grant collector of the po3t Of
! New York, succeeding Thomas Murphy.
He served one term, and was reappointed
in December, 1875. He was suspended by
R. B. Hayes July 81, 1878. charges being
preferred against him by John Sherman.
Edwin A Merrill became collector in his
place In September, 1879, he was chosen
chairman of the committee, and was chair
man of the central committee of the county
for two years. In May, 1880, he was nom
mated for vice president on the republican
ticket, and was elected the following Nov
ember Since the adjournment of the senate
he has been forwarding Mr.. Conkling's
canvass for re- election. General Arthur
married daughter of Captain Herndon
who was lost on board his vessel, the
j Central America. His wife died about
eighteen months ago. He has two children
son and daughter. He has brother,
who is major in the regular army, ane
one of his sisters is the wife of MIR
! McElrOy of Albany,