The Wilmingtonian., 1884-09-20


Ex-Governor John P. St. john nominee of
the Prohibition party for President of the
United States, is striking example of mag
nificcnt manhood, attained under adverse
circumstances. Like many others who have
become great, his success has been the
result of his own persevering and unaided
efforts, supplementing Inherent natural
ability possessed by few. He was born of
humble parentage ON a farm near Brook
| Vile, Franklin county, Indiana, February
%, 1888, and is therefore in his fifty-second
year. His father was man of some natural
ability and fair education, and his mother
was a woman of beautiful and exalted char
acter. Her best traits st. John seems to
have Inherited to the fullest extent.
From his earliest years he was Injured TO
hard work, remaining and assisting upon
the farm until he was sixteen years Of age,
his only opportunities for education during
this time being such as were afforded at the
and the perusal of such books as came in
his way. Yet, in these years, he not only
became imbued with the rugged manhood
and the sterling qualities of honesty, ,sobriety
and good sense, that have marked his subse-
l
| quent career but also developed into the
close student and seeker after knowledge.
He was pursuing systematic course Of
study before he emerged from boyhood into
youth, and depended on the kindness Of
neighbors for the loan of books suitable foI
general reading. The family was poor. Fol
this reason St. John went ont to work while
in his teens at salary of So a month. liz
continued grocer's clerk until nearly
twenty years old. When he left home h'
e1nigrated - -ssfffiss -.ri, where he wa'
engaged by guide to drive an OK team in ;
There he followed such occupations a
offered from chopping wood to compare
lively lucrative work on steamboats,. Q
the cash he made good share was sent t
his mother and the habits Of the younj
man were uniformly exemplary. At thi
period of his life st. John made voyages t
South America, to Mexico, and the Sand
wich Islands, and also took a journe
through Central America. In 1852 and 1S5
he served against the Indians, and was twic
i wounded. While mining in the Golde
State he improved his spare moments b
d studying law. In 1860 he returned
Illinois, entering the law office of Starl
a weather 81 McLain in Charleston, ILL.,, an
at the end of twelve months became a par
ner, a fortunate connection, which laste
until the outbreak of the war, when 5
John enlisted as private in Company
Sixth Illinois Infantry, and at the electic
= of officers was chosen captain. Upon IL
organization of the One Hundred and Fort
Third Illinois Infantry St. John was electC
Lieutenant Colonel, serving until 1864, VIII,
he resumed his law practice. VIII
= engaged in law practice near the outbrei
Of the rebellion he was arrested under &
black laws of Illinois for concealing al
feeding a negro. Although he plead
guilty to the charge, he was discharg
h. from custody by order of the Governor
The state, and Immediately afterward join
the army. In February, 1865, he remov
with his family to Independence, Mo, who
"a he continued to reside for four years, TAXI
m an active part in politics, and in the Ora
ba the most popular and effective speakers
or the state. In May, 1869, be removed
he Olathe, Kas., his present home. In 1872,
N was elected to the State Senate from
LET district, serving in all two terms i'll Il
er. body and four in the lower house. In Il
he was nominated for Governor by
ias Kansas State Temperance Convention,
declined The same year he was car
ian date for the nomination by the state rep
lican convention, but was defeated. I
an years later he was nominated and elec
Governor, serving four years. He {
, obtained nomination for third term
years ago, but was defeated at the polls
the democratic candidate, owing to th
tcrmism and the complications growing
of the question of prohibition. He
y heretofore been an ardent republican, hav
as he himself says, had his republican
in burned and blistered into every bone
oVer fibre of his body. But on account of
ints cowardiee of his chosen party upon the
libition question, he cut loose at the {
etc mencement of the present campaign,
,ken cast his lot with the new and living PRO-
Cas- tion party. He is a most uncompromi
men prohibitionist, and to his efforts Kansa
9Th largely indebted for her constitute
amendment. For the last two years he