Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-06-20
JAMES G.. BLAINE,
Republican Candidate Tor President.

Republican Candidate Tor President.
James Gillespie Blaine, tire nominee OF
the Republican party for President of the
United States, was born January 81, 1880,
in Union Township, Washington County,
Pennsylvania. He comes from the noted
Sootch-1rsh stock, his ancestors having
been among the pioneers who a century
and half ago ascended the great lime.
stone valley in which Carlisle is situated,
and founded the village. The stone Pres
l,yterian church, which the seccnd genera
tion built, is still standing, and near by is
the old-fashioned house where Mr.. Blaine's
grandfather, Colonel Ephraim Blaine,
lived for many years. This officer was
originally Colonel of lire Pennsylvania
Line, but during the last four years OF the
Revolution he was Comnssary-
ot the Northern Department, and during
tile terrible winter at Valley Forge did his
best 10 keep the wolf Of famine and desti.
tuition from the American camp. Colonel
Ephraim BlaIne's son, esquire Elaine" as
he was known IN the community, was
married to Miss Gillespie, devout meni-
Der of the Roman Catholic Church, but |
their seven cliLren-five boys and two
cirls-adhered TO the traditional faith Of
the Blaines. The second of these five sons
was the subject OF this sketch, James Gill
lespie Blaine.
STUDENT AND TEACHER.
James entered Washington College in
1s43, being then thirteen years OF age, and
| became al once prominent as scholar
among the two or three hundred other
lads from all parts of the country, and
because of his splendid physique he was
also n leader in all manly athletic sports
He was not bookworm, or burner of
midnight oil but he was close student
and possessed the happy faculty of assim.
ilating knowledge from books and tutors
far more easily and quickly than most of
| his fellows. In debating societies he held
his own well, and was conspicuous by his
ability to direct and control oilers.
AT the end Of the usual four years. course
at college he was graduated, in lS47, with
the most distinguished honors of his class,
and went forth into practical life well
fitted in requirements and training TO deal
with ils problems, and bearing as crown
Of youthful honor the affection and estee m
of all his associates.
4 From his alma mater young Blaine
went TO Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky, and
became professor in the Western Mill
tary Institute, in which there were about
45O boys. Colonel Thornton L. johnson
WAS the principal of the school, and his
wife had young ladies' school at Millers
, burg, twenty miles distant. 1t was at
this place that Mr.. Blaine met Miss Stan.
wood, who belonged to an excellent fam
ily in Massachusetts,, and she aiterward
became his wife.
! After few years work as teacher Mr.
y Blaine returned to Pennsylvania and be
:. gan studying law. He read law care
FUZZY, and obtained a thorough knowledg,
of its principles, but never presented him
self rs candidate for admission to the
v bar.
s EDITOR AND STATE POLITICAL LEADER.
9 Miss Stanwood was native OF Maine
and after her marriage to Mr.. Blaine WA,
anxious for him to make that State hi
}, home. This he determined to do, and il
n 1858 the young couple removed 10 Angus
d ia, where they have ever since made thei
a home. In the following year Mr.. Blaine
entered into partnership with Josepl
Baker, a prominent lawyer OF that town
II and the two purchased The Kcnnebec Jour
j. nal. of which Mr.. Blaine at once becam,
F, editor. The Jo,tnd2 was weekly paper
one of the organs of the Wing party, and
y exercised considerable political influence
e In 1857 Mr.. Blaine disposed Of his in
g terest in this paper, and became Editor o
= The Portland Daily Aduertiser. In th'
campaign of 1860 he returned temporarily
!, to his old post on The Kennc6ec Jou'mat OF
= account Of the illness of its Editor. His
career injournalism lasted only six years
. . but was marked throughout by ability
I and success, and it served to give him
: good introduction to the world Of politics
. and craftsmanship.
!. When the old Wing party went TO pieces
8 Mr.. Blaine joined hands with Governor
e Anson p Morrill, IN organizing The Re
). publican party in the Pine Tree State
/ His vigorous attacks upon the Buchanan
n Administration made him power in the
. new organization. In 1858, when he was
, in his twenty ninth year, he was elected
| to the Legislature. He served two years
: on the floor of the Lower House and TIVE
. years in the chair, where he displayed the
, qualities of parlam entary leadership and
/ control that afterward gave him such re.
/ nown in the Maternal Legislature at Wash
ington. 1t is also worthy OF mention that
he took an active part AZ public speake
in the Fremont ampaign Of 1856.
REPRESENTATIVES, IN CONGRESS
Goo M, .,
Conc, ess in the Kennebec District and
was elected Inv n majority of 1000 votes
'To tLis nosition he Was successiyeIy cleo
> ,ed In a,ch sncceedine Cnngres. until
his nromotion TO The USited States Senate
Inv the Governor of Maine JnIv 10 1875
IN fiji the vacancy cn,,sed Inv tIe resigna
lion Of Ssnatnr MorriiI Win than kecs sme
Sscrs,arv of ,he Treasnrv Ua w,s snhe
sennen,ly elec,sl for ihe ,nexn;red tern
and for the ensuing term expIrinr in 1883