The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-28

THE LATE SCHUYLER CoLFAx, VICE PREsT DENT
DURING PRESIDENT GRANTS FIRST TERM.
Schuyler Collar died suddenly January
Is, at Mankato MINI.
He was born in New York City, March %,
1923. and attended the common schools III
that city until be was ten years old. He be.
gan work at this tender age as clerk in q
store, in which he continued three years.
He then removed to st. Joseph County, In.
diana, with his mother and stepfather, and
soon found employment as clerk at New
Carlisle. After being about four years In
this position, he was appointed Deputy
Auditor for the county, and removed to
South Bend. He then began q course of
study, read law and wrote for the news
papers
When twenty-five years of age he became
the proprietor and editor of the st Joseph
Valley Register, published at South Bend,
which he made al influential newspaper.
His political preferences at the time were
Wing, and in 1S4S he was q delegate aud Sec.
Rotary to the convention which nominated
General Taylor. A yer after be was eleccsd
a n ember of the convention to revise the
Contribution of Indian. Mr. Colfax was
nominated for Congress 10 1851, but defeated
He was a second time delegate to National
Convention in 1862 but refused to Do
candidate for Congress in the election of
that year Two years afie:ward, how.
ever, he was elected to the House of
Representatives. against q candidate for re
election who had voted for the Nebraska
II. The young statesman soon made his
influence felt in Washington. He detecte
and defeated two attempts to put De no
cratic Speaker in the chair, aud during the
debates on the Kansas-Nebraska bill deliv-
cred two strong speeches in behalf of the
free settlers. One Of these addresses was
published as campaign document by the
Republican party in 1856 While in
Washington be was nominated for re-
election and carried bis district al.
though the national election went against
his party. He was reelected TO each succeed
ing Congress until he was chosen for higher
bonors. In the Thirty fifth Congress he was
a member Of the Committee on Indian At
fairs and in the Thirty.sixth he was Chair.
man OF the Committee on Posoffi css and
POst-roads. He was active in extending the
n ell facilities of the West, and reforming pos
tai laws. The nomination of Mr.. Lincoln was
highly satisfactory to Mr.. Oolfax, and
he worked hard for his election. At
rhe opening OF the Thirty. eighth
Congress, in Decemcer, 1868. Mr..
Coliax was elected as Speaker Of
the House OF Representatives. He was
twice reelected to the office, on each coca
sion by larger majority than before. 10
| April. 1865 he went with party of fl ads
on journey to San Francisco. He called
to take leave OF President Lincoln, with
whom his relations had been very intimate.
In an hour sfterwsrd he was astounded by
the intelligence that the President had been
| sssassinsted. Before starting for California
Mr.. Colfax delivered o eulogy on the Presi.
dent in Chicago, and repeated it in
Colorado, Utah and California. He
was well received throughout the West,
and on his return delivered lecture
&C A ha n
nomination of General Grant, in May. 1868,
Mr. Collar was nominated for the Vice
Presidency on the first ballot. When Gen.
eTsl Grant was renominated Mr.. Colfsx was
beaten by Henry Wilson in the contest for
the second place on the ticket. Charges
ton with the Credit Mobilier matter, and
this resulted In his retirement from public
life. He steadily denied the truth OF
the accusations made against him. and a
host Of friends believed him to have been
the victim OF Misrepresentation.
Mr.. Colfax was first married, at the age of
twentyone, TO playmate OF his childhood.
She had two children, both OF whom are
dead A fortnight after his election to the
Vice Presidency, he married again. A son
by the present Mrs Colfax survives, and Is
now fourteen years of ago. Since his retire
ment from public life MIR. Coifax has lived
quietly, occasionally appealing as q lecturer
been heard in nearly all the great cities of
the United States. At his home ia Indiana
he retained the friendship of his early asso-
oistes, and was q prominent church member
and abstsiner from Intoxicating liquors In.
stances of his great generosity are numer-
ously quoted. He frequently gave the whole
proceeds of lecture TO y deserving aud
needy institution, After long life of in
cesssnt activity, he died worth only about
$4,000. His residence was at South Bend,
Ind
In person Mr.. Colfsx was under the med
ium height. His hair was of a dark glossy
brown before age sprinkled it with gray; his
eyes were blue. Exceedingly pleasant and
affable in private life, his public gifts were
likewise extraordinary. He wrote win siagu-
lar force and accuracy. and greatly excelled
as q public speaker. His sudden removal is
regretted as widely as he was known, aud the
action OF the House OF Representatives in
adjourping out of respect to his memory,
when his death was announced is significant
OF the universal esteem in which he was
held on account OF his distinguished merit
as q citizen and statesman.