The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02
THOMAS CORWIN.
Anecdotes OF the Once Widely-Known
Ohio Statesman.
How a WRESTLING Match Caused a Change
I'm His Life Career-His Readiness of
Repartec on the Stump-Knowledge
of the Scriptures.

cleveland Letter to the Chicago Tribune,l
About thirty miles northeast from Gin
cinnatI, in the midst of that beautiful anC
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS region lying between
the two Miami Rivers, is situated the an
cient village of Lebanon. the County seat o
Warren County, Ohio, and
THE OLD HOME OF THE coRwISs.
Matthias Corwin, ST., was one of the frs
settlers of this region, having removed from
Bourbon County, Kentucky, and settled or
farm near Lebanon, in the year 1898
Thomas was then four years old. The Cor
win family, of which this is the principa
branch. are of Hungarian descent, and i'm
migrated to the American Colonies early
in the eighteenth century. They trace Their
lineage back to Matthias Corvieus, and
Matthias has always been favorits name
in the family.
Thomas father was firm believer in the
theory of primogeniture, and carried his
opinions so far as to hold that the elder chill.
dren are superior in intellect to the younger
and should have, provided there be no in
heritance. at least the choice of professions
He concluded that his frst-born son, whom
he christened Matthias, was intended for the
ministry, and to this calling dedicated him,
Next came Jesse, who showed what the
father considered traits which would
fit him for a practitioner at the Bar, and he
was accordingly placed in training for his
profession. Thomas, the third son, was
robust and muscular, jovial, fond of joke,
and withsl had early developed liking for
a team. The elder Corwin thought it re-
quired no great power Of discernment to
discover that
THOMAS WAS INTENDED FOR THE FARM.
So far as Is now known, this decision was
for time satisfactory. Thomas content
ment, however did Not long continue. In
referring to the experiences Of this time, he
said to his son:
"This decision of fathers used to trouble
me much in secret. / remember especially
one season, as 1 plowed corn in the fields.
"Will this benny work for life2 l would
think. Is it possible that am to know
nothing of books or literature, while my
brothers leave me in the racer" And, as i
so thought
THE TEARS WOULD START
involuntarily to my eyes. But this was al
ways in the high corn, and i would brush
them away, so that, when reached the end
of the row, my face was bright and happy,
and nothing OF my Utmost thoughts were
known to my father"
Matthias, the younger, had been supplied
with books for his preparatory studies; and
these, by the light of the sugsr-camp fire by
night and during all leisure hours, Thomas
used to such good advantage that he was
greatly profted when the harder struggle
for systematical self-education came In
maturer years.
At length a fortuitous circumstance
turned the whole course of his life. He had
reached the age of seventeen, and was nearly
fullgrown On certain occasion, when
there was somewhat of a public gathering,
as usual Tom was brought out as the, cham
pion wrestler, and was matched against a
man much his superior in physical strength.
After two trials, in which Tom had been
equally successful with his antagonist, the
rubber" came which was to decide the con-
test. At length Tom was, by force of sheer
muscular power, crowded down with great
violence upon one knee in such. man
ner as to split the cap, and from thai
moment to the end of his life was a crip,
pie.
THE CAMPAIGN OF f840
was the one in which Corwi2,s powers as 6
stump orator manifested themselves to then
fullest extent. 1t was great popular up
rising, and he was everywhere the hero OF
the hoHr. On one occasion, when he va.
engaged in speaking to a large crowd, h
was interrupted several times by an impa
tent little man, who in tenor voice de.
manded, "Speak little louder, Mr.. Cor
winp' Finally the speaker stopped, and
looking with the peculiar quizzical expires
sion which was characteristic of the man
began to stretch himself up to his fullest
height, and bend his head in every direction
As though endeavoriag to see a very di.
minutive individual At length his eyes re
manned fixed, and he said, in tie loudest
most resonant tone of which his 7emarkabl,
voice was capables
Fellow citizens In that great day wher
the heavens shall be rolled together like {
scroll-when Gabriel, standing with on
foot upon the sea and the other upon tn
solid land, she'll say in Trumpet tones tina
time shall be 40 more-soms sque aky-voice'
Democrat, away over in the outskirts of tn
crowd, will call out, with what little fore
he possesses, Speak little louder, MI
Gabrielp "
This incident recalls the fact that NJ
Corwin ySss
STUDENT OF Tax SCRIPTURES
in early life, and delighted ever in. hi
speeches to draw illustrations from tasn
He Was strong supporter of Lincoln fo
the Presidency, and was a delegate 20 tn
Chicago Convention. On the retura tri
tw@young men wese sitting in the eer-sea
directly in front os aim, engaged in sslkin
about the nomination which had list bee
announced. Thay considered the choice {
the Convention mistake.
''The idea," said one, shat tia people {
this country mast go out into ths backwood
of Illinois ana take up an unknown, third
rate lawyer far such position. as thisl"
go well, 10 will probably Is defeated an
way" said she other. eff be were much
man he sould not be so poor. A man VIII
can't make money is a poez one to take l.