Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-02-17
A CHARITY REPAID.

Soon after graduating at law school in
the central part of this state was given
large claim to collect from wealthy planter
living in Tennessee. 1t was before the day
Of railroads, and the swiftest way to get
there was by sea I went to New York,
saileddown the coast, landed at Charleston,
s. c., and travelled across the state toward
Tennessee. They were having the cholera
South that year. I caught it and was laid
up at Columbia for two weeks. I didn't
have much money with me at starting, and
this sickness about used it up. / was so
weak when I again started on my journey
TO Tennessee that could hardly walk. At
last reached Greenville, my money was all
gone and presume looked like tramp.
l remember it was quiet Sunday evening
when entered the place, and the church
bells were ringing. I wanted to 60 to
church, but my shoes were SO worn out that
was ashamed to 60 upon the ground floor.
So crept into the gallery of the church.
and sat among some of the:prettiest girls 1
ever saw in my life. I told Andy johnson
about it'years afterward, and he said that
indeed they did have lot of pretty girls in
Greenville at that time. The next morning
started for my destination, thirty miles
~
inch of the way. When got there found
that my man had died and that his will was
disputed. So skirmished around and dis.
covered that one of the men who was con-
testing the will was rich, and lived some
four or five miles out of the town. He was
one of your southern barons, had several
hundred negroes. scores of horses, and
some blood-hounds. I tried threatening
him; he set the dogs on me. l killed one
with a billet of wood and escaped to the
town. Well, there I was without cent,
poor wretch, with no person of property in
the North who cared about me to whom l
could send for assistance. I made my
way back to Greenville somehow, and
resolved upon bold stroke. l went
into the first lawyers Office 1 came to, and
said: my name is Ward; 1 came from New
York state to collect a claim the man has
died and his will is disputed; would like
to sell you this claim for $50. I want the
money to get back to New York" The
lawyer was kind faced man. l remember
he asked me why I didn't send for money
to New York, and I owned up that there
was no one there could remember who
would send it to me. He finally said.
well, l will 60 out and see friend about
this" He brought his friend back with
him and they agreed to lend me $50.
signed paper, and they gave me the mon
ey. Then I put my hands deep in my
trousers pockets and hauled out a gold
watch. said: "Gentlemen, I want you to
take this watch and keep it as a sort of Sc
curity for what I owe you. The first mon
ey earn promise you it will be sent to
you to repay you" They wouldn't take the
watch at first, but forced them to. got
home, and when scraped together $75 |
sent it to them. They took out their prin-
cipal and interest, aid sent me the watch
and the money that was over. And so ap-
parently my connection with this Greenville
man ended.
Twenty years passed, and I was men,
Der of congress from this state. 1t was the
time of reconstruction, and as radical re-
publican, was member of the recon-
struction committee I had special charge
of the reconstruction Of the state of Tennes-
see. One day there was lot of Tennes-
seeans before me in relation to the affairs OF
the state-Horace Maynard, w. L. B.
Stokes, Roderick r. Butler and others
That evening at home, in glancing over the
papers, I saw that johnson had nominated
a man named Miligan for judge of the court
| of claims. It was at time when congress
was having its fierce war with Johnson; SC
fierce that the senate would confirm none
of his nominations, no matter how good
they might be. 1 thought this man Milligan
would have no chance, and then turned to my
wife and said: do you remember man
named Milligan?" She replied thatssshe did
not. well, said I is there any circumstances
Of my life in which have been connected
with man of that name?" She answered,
II don't remember such a man." The fol-
lowing morning, at the committee Groom,
4, IL =,
man Milligan that Johnson has nominated
for judge Of the court of claims?" He re-
Piled 'Oh, he is lawyer living at Green
vile. Tenn: one of Johnson's chums?"
WAS Milligan Union man during the
WARP" then inquired. Eyes" says May
nard, land such an outspoken one that the
rebs stripped him of all his property. He
is as poor as church mouse" rs he q
good lawyer" I then asked. Zone of the
best in east Tennessee" says Maynard.
Then says I, rapping the table with my
fist, "by God, sir, he shall be confirmed"
They were all amazed and inquired what
earthly interest I had in Milligan. I didn't
tell them; but I went over to Conkling in the
senate, and told him the entire story 1 have
told you, Of how this man Milligan helped
me when was in sore trouble. Then went
about the senate getting votes for Mill
gan. pestered MAYNARD night and day GO
get his consent, and the end of it was Mill
gan was confirmed. johnson sent for me
and thanked me. The news of the confr-
nation got down to Tennessee, and Milligan
started for Washington. He came from the
railroad train directly to the capitol, still
wearing his buster. Roderick R. Butler
brought me out to him and introduced us
Milligan was then between 60 and 70, an6
had a wife many years younger. He said tc
me: "Mr. Ward, what is it that caused you
to interest yourself in a strangers fortune;
was looking forward to an old age of mis-
fortune and poverty. This appointment is
like mama from heaven for me-" Ireplied
do you remember lending $50 over 2,
years ago to apoor cholera stricken wretch
of lawyer that had come down to Tenn
essee to COLLECTS claim and spent all his
money!" Milligan said, II do" Isaid, "Well
that was l." Well, if you would believe
me, we all had crying spell over the way
things turned out.