Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-12-20
Mr.. Geuld's Early Lifa

In giving his testimony before the
Seuate Committee. Mr.. Gould said that
there was very little in his career that
he thought would interest the commit
Tee or the public, but he was willing to
tell all that there was. and he continued
as follows:
Il was born at Roxbury, Delaware
County, this state, May "a, 1886. My
father was a small farmer. who kept
dairy of twenty cows. was the only
boy in the family; so / helped my sis
tiers in milking the cows both morning
and night, and drove them to and from
the pasture. As | was obliged to 60
barefoot during the summer, aud often
had NV feet pricked by the thistles
about the fields and pastures.I i conclud-
ed didn't like farming. and so | one
day asked my father to allow me to go
TO a school, which was situated about
fifteen miles distant for home. He re-
piled that rs | wasn't worth much about
the farm he would give me my time. ]
found blacksmith near the school
who would board me il l would write
up his books at night. was then about
IA years of age. | attended school for
a year, and then obtained a clerkship
in q country store, where was obliged
to work from q. m. TO 10Ap. IN. BY
this time / had acquired ataste for
mathematics. especially surveying. By
getting up at O'clock in the morning
and studying until 6 obtained good
knowledge of the latter branch, and ut
length started out to find employment
as surveyor.
Il made an engagement with a man
who was making map of Ulster Coun-
ty at n salary of S20 month and ex-
penses. When he sent me out with my
instruments to survey portion of the
country he gave me pass-book, and
told me to get trusted for my board at
the several places through which
passed, and he would pay the bills.
soon found that the people were not
willing to trust my employer. The Sec
ond day out presented my pass-book
to the man who had entertained me, and
told him to put down the expense. He
looked at me very angrily, and then
said: 4 guess you don't know youl
employer. He's failed three times al.
ready. You've got money, and I'm
going 10 have it. This frightened me,
but | managed to explain to him that
Ididn't have q cent, and in proof of the
statement l turned my pockets inside
out. Convinced of my honesty, he sale
he would trust me until could pay the
bill. | thanked him for his considers
ton and left the house. AS walkeC
I along the road | felt rs if my hear
would break with grief. l could SEE
nothing ahead but failure and misery
| In my dispair l went into the wood:
and had q good cry. Then l got dowl
on my knees and prayed"
Mr.. Gould's voice trembled and hi
eyes filled with tears rs he said this
Senator Blair was deeply moved by tn
recital. The effect upon the audienc'
was marked. For moment not
sound was heard except the rumblin!
of the teams over the pavements in tn
streets below.
when l arose. continued MI
Gould, Il had made up my mind to g
ahead. Late that afternoon, havin
had nothing to eat since morning,
called at farmhouse and receive
some bread and meat from the hands c
q kind-hearted woman. just as wa
leaving the yard her husband called IN
back and asked me to fix north-ant
south line By which the time of da
might be determined. l did so, and II
ceived, after paying for my lunch, seve
shillings. 1t was the first money ha
earned since l started out, and {
course it gave me new courage an
confidence in myself. The man fe
whom was working at length faile'
proposed to the other young men WI
. were employed in the survey that "
60 ahead and complete the map OF U
ster County. We did so, and when Il
work was done | sold out my intcre
in the map for $500. Soon after
made maps OF Delaware and Albar
Counties, and in this way succeeded
accumu!ating $4,000.