The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1883-07-18
DBER" FORAKER As 4 Boy
4 ehmpse at His Early Home.


Scioto Gazette.-Nine miles west
Of cambridge, on the high lands
that border the Rocky Fork-that
most picturesque of Ohio streams
lies the pretty little farming village
of Rainsboro. 1t is the larger of the
two voting precincts Of Paint town
ship, Highland county; and out OF
its 800 votes casts a Republican ma
jOrity Of from 65 to 50 at every cleo
tion. But that majority will be
doubled the present fall; for at the
head Of this years Republican ticket
stands a name which all Highland
county, and especially all Paint town
ship, delights to honor-Joseph Ben
son Foraker To the people there
abouts he is not "Judge Foraker"
nor even 'NIister," but just plain
Benz and they speak the familiar
title with an evident emphasis Of
liking and appreciation. Not that
they are at all insensible to the
honors so bravely and so early won,
but first and foremost they esteem
the individuality Of the man whom
they have watched and loved from
infancy up, and whose record stands
before them without a blot. He has
host of relatives all through the
county, and everybody is his friend
besides.
In the course of a very pleasant
visit to Rainsboro, last week, the
writer had the pleasure of going
over the ground where the coming
Governor passed his early boyhood,
and Of meeting many of his early
friends. Conversation with at least
hundred representative Highland
ers, scattered all over the county,
developed the certainty that the
Judge will sweep his native county
by a rousing majority-say 600 to
800. OF all the interviewed, not one
failed to state his intention to vote
for "Ben," There were plenty of.
Democrats among them, too, and
they were as hearty as the Republi-
cans. They chad rather decided to
vote for the man instead Of for the
party, and Ben Foraker was the
man."
A third Of mile north Of Rains
boro, a lane leads from the New
Petersburg pike back into the woods.
Half mile in, amid little grove Of
noble trees, stands a neat, cozy
frame house, now occupied by Henry
Foraker, a second cousin Of the
Judge. The older part of this build
ing was the later addition to a large
log-cabin--now demolished--which
the elder Foraker built when he
came from the State of Delaware,
and in which Ben was born in July,
1916.
In April, 1848, the familyremoved
to Reece's saw and grist mill-the
most westerly Of the three mills upon
Rocky Fork, and situated about four
miles above Rainsbore-there re-
naming for twenty-three years.
Here Ben passed his boyhood, and
began to develop the admirable
traits which have marked-and, in
deed, have largely shaped-his whole
career. He was noted, from the
start, for remarkable energy, push
and perseverance. Never content to
be merely among the best, the boy
always stroYe to be Hs best 1t was
so in his lessons, in his childish
sports, in everything. There was no
envy in his ambition, no desire to
push others down, but a manly de-
termination to "work for all he was
worth" He did not plan to rest on
any success, so long as q higher suc-
cess was attaipable.
As illustrative of his application,
the following anecdOte is very pat.
In SO the Fremont boom was big in
county. Flag raisings and
Publications were the order of the
day, and interest ran high, Rep's
parents were off on a visit to Hills
boro, and the ten-year-old boy CON
cluded to have a little Aagraising oil
his own. So he went across the
Fork and prospected around, until
he found a tall, straight sassafras
pole that exactly suited his ideas.
With a borrowed hatchet he felled
the saplipg and trimmed it, and then
started to convey It hons. It was a
job which would have discouraged
many a stout man, but little Ben
knew no backing out. Having con-
veyed it laboriously to the edge Of
the Fork, he swan across, pushing
his prize before him. Then came
the tug of war. The bank up which
the pole was to be taken was long,
steep and rugged-little short, in
fact. of 4 GliH. 4 soWeWhat older
sister was enlisted in the cause, and
with her help Ben, finally got the
uoub' 'esame stick where he desired
it. Taking a couple Of child's petit
coats, respectively red and blue, and
some white muslin, he evolved flag,
fastened it to the top Of the pole,
called in all of the neighbors' boys,
and raised it. The whole enterprise
cost him a weeks hard work, but he
did it; and when his folks returned
a Fremont flag mot very elegant,
but as patriotic as the best-foated
in triumph oyer the yard
Sam Newell, Longtime milleF on
Al. IL a.Htr 20