Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-06-19

Mr.. Blaine was born at Indian Hi
Farm, Washington county, Pa, Jan. 81
1850. His grandfather wa with WASH
ington at Valley Forge, and named hi
County after his old chief. At fifted
Blaine went to school at Lancaste
Ohio, living in the house Of Tom Ewin
then secretary OF the treasury. miss
he graduated from Washington cole
and became tutor in the Blue Lii
Springs, military academy. There he
met Miss StanwoOd, a Massachusetts,
girl, teaching in the Millersburg female
seminary, twenty miles of, and mar
ried her. He returned, in a year to
Pennsylvania and studied law, but never
practiced. In 1852 he moved to Maine,
and with aid from the Stanwoods'
became editor, of the KeRnebec
Journal, and later of the Port
land Advertiser. In 1858 he was elected
TO the legislature; and five times en-
ioyed reelection, being speaker the last
two terms. In 1862 he went to con
gress. His first term was spent In
quiet studying, but after that he came
prominently before tire country and
was elected speaker Of the Forty-frst,
Forty-sccond and Forty-thiTd con
crosses. In June, 1876, Mr.. Blaine
was appointed by the governor Of
Maine to fill the vacancy in the senate
caused 10y the resignation of Lot NJ.
Morrill,, who had been made secretary
Of the treasury. On the meeting OF
the Maine Legislature in January, 1877,
Mr.. Blaine was promptly elected for
the full term ending March 4, 1888. In
both branches he was a persistent and
terrible debater against the South IS
massed on the Democratic side Of house
and senate. In 1876 Mr.. Blaine's nom
nation seemed certain at Cincinnati.
His rivals were b. II. Bristow, Roscoe
Conkling and John +. Hartranft, gov
ernor Of Pennsylvania. So long as there
was a possibility of Blaine's nomina-
ton, the supporters of Bristow, Conk-
ling and Hartranft remained stcadfast.
On one ballot Blaine came within a half
dozen votes OF enough to nominate. SO
certain wers his supporters that he would
secure the prize that they telegarphed
10 all parts Of the country that he had
the nomination in his grasp. The next
ballot. however, was a surprising one.
Ohio and Pennsylvania led offfor Hayes
Of Ohio, and a stampede setting IN, he
was nominated by an overwhelming vote
amid great excitement. Mr. Blaine took
his defeat philosophically, and turned
his eyes toward 1850. Tie vent into the
Chicago convention of that year with
2S4 votes. Gen. Grant, Sherman. Ed.
munds and f. b. Washburne, were
against him. His choice being impos-
siblo. bis supporters nominated Garfield,
aud Mr.. Blaine became secretary Of state
in the new cabinet. aud the controlling
spin. in the administration. Nh.
Blaine was with the president the morn
ing Of July ? in 1881, when the assas-
sins bullet brought 10 a painful end a
career SO full of promise, and during
the presidents eighty days of suffering
he was daily at his bedside. II was fit
ting that Mr.. Blaine should be selected
as Garfield's eulogist by congress, and
his address on that occasion is one of
remarkable force and beauty. After
Mr.. Arthur's inanguration-Sept. 10,
lSS1-Mr. Blaine remained in the cab
met until December, when he retired
TO devote himself TO private business.
Within the past year he undertook a
history of his twenty years of public
life, a work that has already taken high
rank in American literature.