The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-20
THE vICE-PREsIDENrs HISTORY
Chester Allen Arthur is fifty years

Chester Allen Arthur is fifty years
of age, and a native of Fairfield
county, Vermont. His father was
a Baptist minister, who came from
England to Canada and later to the
United States. The Vice Presidents
early education was obtained III Il
country school, near Troy, in the
neighborhood of which his father
preached. He was afterward sent
to Union College, from which he
was graduated in 1S4S. He then
studied law, and in 1850 was admit
ted to the bar. He formed law
partnership with Erastus ID. Culver,
who was afterward American Minis
ter to South American State. On
the election of Mr.. Culver as Judge
of civil court in Brooklyn, the part
nership was dissolved and General
Arthur went into partnership with
a Mr.. Gardner, who died about 1866.
In 1871 the firm of Arthur,
Phelps & Knevals was formed, with
General Arthur as the senior part
ner, and the late District Attorney
Benjamin K. Phelps as another
partner. Shortly before this Gen.
Arthur was appointed one of the
counsel to the Board Of Tax Com
missioners at $4,000 a year. The
only legal case of note in which
General Arthur acted as counsel
was in suit of Jonathan Lemmons,
of Virginia, to recover possession of
eight slaves that had been declared
free by Judge Paine of the Superior
Court of New York. Lemmons had
been incautiously passing through
New York with his slaves, intend
ing to slip them to Texas, when
they were discovered and freed by an
order of Judge Paine, who was of the
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 en-
ploy counsel to defend the slaves.
Z. ID. Culver and Joseph Blunt
were appointed, but withdrew, and
William NJ. Evarts and
Gen. Arthur were retained as coun- |
gel for the slaves. The decision of
Judge Paine was sustained by the |
Supreme Court, and also affirmed |
by the Court of Appeals. In 1856 |
Gen. Arthur prosecuted city car
line on behalf of Lizzie Jennings, a
,olored woman, and superintendent
Of Sunday school, who was rough
y elected from a car because of col
Or. The case was tried b'lorc Judge
in Brooklyn, AID the jury
yave the plaintiff $500 damages.
Gen. Arthur got his military title
through service on the staff OF Gov.
Edwin D. Morgan. He was ap-
pointed Engineer-in-Chie; Of the
Governors staff January l, 1861,
md on January 81, 1862, he was
made Quarter-master General. He
vas active in both positions.
Gen. Arthur gave his attention to
New York City politics at the close
If the war, and was for time Chair
nan of the Republican Committee,
Known as the Morgan Republicans,
which met at Broadway and Twen-
y-third stree. On the Goth of No
'ember, 1871, he was appointed by
President Grant Collector of the Port
# New York, succeeding Thomas
Murphy. He served one term and
vas reappointed in December, 1875.
He was suspended by R. B. Hayes
July q, 1878, charges being prefer
ed against him by John Sherman
edwin A. Merritt being collector in
lis place. In September, 1879, he
vas chosen Chairman of the Repub-
lean State Committee, and he was
Chairman of the Central Committee,
,f the county for two years. In
Nay, 1880, he was nominated Vice
President on the Republican ticket,
md was elected the following No
'ember. Since the adjournment of
he Senate he has been forwarding
dr. Conkling's canvass for re-elec-
ion. Gen. Arthur married q daugh-
er of Capt. Herndon, who was lost
IN board his vessel, the Central
America. His wife died about eigh-
cen months ago. He has two
.hildren, son and daughter. He
las brother, who is n major in the
egular army, and one of his sisters
s the wife OF a Mr.. MeElroy, of Al
,any.