The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-07-01
goal Wepartmsnt.
ZACHARIAH CHANDLER.
W. j. DOUGLASS.

Zachariah Chandler was born December
10, 1913. i'll the town of Bedford. New Hamp-
shire. Several of his ancestors We're men of
note, as lawyers. preachers, and men IL other
callings. His mother was a strong, self-reli-
ant woman of sound sense, and from her he
inherited many of those vigorous and marked
traits of character which so distinguished him
III after life. He even showed his independ-
ence and readiness to fight his own battles
almost from the cradle. This will best he
shown by an anecdote related by his sister,
Mrs. Lee His fathers poultry yard was
ruled by a large and ill-tempered gander. the
strokes of whose horny beak were the dread
of the smaller children. The oldest brother
was one day driven back by this fowl when
attempting to cross the road, when young
Zach. then only three years old. called out.
Do, Sammy, do III keep e dander off = and
rushed into u pitched and victorious battle
with the 'dander,' during which his brother
made good his escape
He attended school most of the time from
the age of six or seven until he was fifteen or
sixteen. He had good memory, was "a good
scholar and stood well in his classes was
leader among the boys in their sports, and
was also a good farm hand and good man
TO work.
In the fall of 1888 he went west" and en-
tered into the retail dry goods business in
Detroit i'll partnership with Franklin Moore,
his sisters husband. This partnership lasted
about three years. until August 1886, when it
was dissolved,-Mr. Chandler continuing the
business. 1t is said that he received some
help from his father,-that his father offered
offered him IL 900 if he would dispense with
the college education which his brothers had
received that he accepted the proposition
and the money, and that his father also gave
him other assistance after he started in bust
ness. But he quickly and fully repaid it.
He paid strict attention to his business,
worked hard day and night, slept in his store,
on the counter or bale of goods, and went
very little III society. He lived frugally on
three hundred dollars a corresponding all
time and resources on his business. As re-
suit his business developed rapidly, and he
soon came to be known as q strict and hon
orable business man. He commanded n good
share of the trade of the farmers, who were
attracted by his simple, straightforward man
ners and sturdy common sense. Thus, by
strict attention to business. combined with
his natural abilities, he soon became known
as a thorough business man.
Between 1910 and 1850 Mr.. Chandler re-
duced his business to purely wholesale
ciiardCter, anu Ine reputation or MS mousse
soon became established throughout the en-
tire northwest. His was the first business in
Detroit the yearly sales of which amounted
to fifty thousand dollars. When he retired
from business he was worth over two mill
ions of dollars.
he was accustomed every year to drive
through the State, becoming acquainted with
the people in their homes, with the character
of men and the wants of the State. In these
trips he made many firm and lasting friends.
Mr.. Chandler took no active part IL poll
tics until subsequent to 1850 His extensive
acquaintance throughout the State, his knowl-
edge of its wants and resources and the char
acter of its people, especially qualified him to
occupy high official positions. He was mayor
of the city of Detroit one term. In 1852 he
was the Wing candidate for Governor and
although defeated, his personal character ac-
quired for him much larger vote than was
given his companions on the ticket
He took an active part in forming the Re-
publican party and was always jealous i'll its
support.
In 1857 he was elected to the the United
States Senate. He took his seat in the SEN
ate at the same time with Simon Cameron
Jefferson Davis and other noted men, and at
time when the South had already stepped
beyond the bounds of reason and considered
any opposition to its demands az justifying
insult and violence. II was about that time