The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14

the most profound interest This was Mormonism.
Since the day be spoke with such fearlessness IN
Salt Lake City-bearding the polygamous lion
in his den-Mr Colfax was instant. in season and
out Of season, in the effort to arouse the Amer
lean people to the enornity and danger OF the
polygamous hierarchy that had fastened itself IN
Utah. One of the latest productions from
his verready pen was burning article
in the Boston Congregationalist Ito which
he was a regular contrioutor), that was copied
with eager approval into almost every repu-
table newspaper in the country. Mr. ColfaX
was an earnest and sincere man. Whatever
he believed he believed with intensity, yet
with fairness; and in the advocacy Of his opin-
ions he was always courteous and deferential to
opposing views and judgments, while decided
and incorporating in his own. Flippant par
agraphers, and that brutal spirit which has a
sheer for "Christian statesmen" and reproach
for what it calls Sunday school politics, which
would ostracise any public man who dares to
avow his Christian faith or to open his voice for
morals and religion in Christian church. wore
out their rude wit and pothouse ridicule upon Mr..
Colfax; but it never moved him from the
steady propriety of his course. nor turned for q
moment the even flow of the current of his
Christian life. He was a member of the Dutch
Reformed Church; a constant attendant upon its
services sturdy exemplar of it's faith and doc
trines, and liberal but transformations supporter
of its ministry and work
Shortly after his election as Vice president.
Mr. Colfax married to Miss Nelly Wade, of
Ashtabua, o., by whom he has one child, son,
now about fourteen years of age. Miss Wade
was member of the celebrated family Of that
name has all their virtues and graces and has
been a loved and loving companion of her hus-
band during these years of his Quieter life.
She added the charms of her person
and mind to the home OF the Vice
president while he lived in Washington,
making the house in Lafayette square one of
the places in the capital where it was real
pleasure and profit to visit. The son is now
student at Rye-on- the Hudson He had been at
home during the holidays, but left few days
ago to resume his studies Mr.. Colfax had a
former wife, who died in 1863, who bore him
two children, we believe, both of whom died in
early childhood. His attentive care of his
mother, Mrs. Matthews, who was his house
keeper for many years before his second
marriage. was marked exhibition of the innate
gentleness and nobility of his nature Miss
Wade was a member of the party which made
the trip across the continent, and it was during
that journey that Mr.. Colfax fell in love with
her; love that was warmly and fully recipro
Gated, aud which was the basis of a relation the
tender completeness of which was known to
and admired by those who enjoyed the intimate
friendship of the family, but which must not be
profaned in this hour by more than this passing
ailusion.
AS a friend it is hard to make any estimate
of Mr.. Colfax without seeming to indulge in ex-
travagance. Unselfshness was of the fiber Of
his nature. He could never do enough for one
whom he regarded; he never forgot favor, nor
could he carry a resentment While in Congress
it is safe to say, he had larger friendship than
any public man. and to his constituents he was
both friend and servant. He was known by
every man, woman and child in his
district. His name was a household word
in all northern Indiana. His friendships knew
no political line; to Republican and Democrat
alike he was courteous, attentive and obliging
While representative he made the business of
to waste only about five hours in Sleep that
amount seemed to satisfy the demands of his
nature. AS consequence, he could dispatch an
enormous amount of work. At 10 o'clock he
began the rounds of the departments He
knew, and was known by, the heads of all the
bureaus, and as he passed from one room to an
other he invariably found, made and left friends,
so that his influence was almost unbounded.
AT II o'clock he was at the House, ready for his
public duties, and after adjournment the even
ing was spent in visitation, and the later hours
of the night in correspondence, which, with him,
was volumnous to degree unknown by
any other public man. He wrote with
ightning-like rapidity, and you were
always sure of a letter in his own
handwriting, on whatsoever subject he might be
addressed His relations with public men were
very close and familiar With Mr.. Lincoln he
was especially intimate. That great President,
with the awful weight of nation in war upon
his heart, frequently sought Mr.. Colfax III con-
sultation. Mr.. Lincoln had the highest respect
for the sagacity and perception of MIR. Colfax,
which was really wonderful. His mind
was not of the logical order, but it
worked with wondrous rapidity and he
seemed to jump to the right conclusions with I'M
erring instinct. He was omnivorous reader,
a student of current affairs, man of the widest
range of information, ready Of suggestion, fertile
of resources, and equipped with a stock of knowl-
edge that he knew how to use to practical ad
vantage. The friendships of private life were
his comfort and delight There was a purity
and elevation about his most ordinary conversa-
ton, mingled with degree of instruction and
edfcation, that made an hour passed in
his company one to be cherished as precious
memory. No word of questionable import or
tendency ever passed his lips no act of his life,
as it was known to his friends, ever left an I'M
pleasant flavor. No soul that was ever sum-
moned suddenly into the presence of the Judge
of all the earth needed less time for preparation.
In business matters he was ready and methodi-
cal While in public life his time was so occupied