Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-11-25

Chester A. Arthur was born at Fairfield,
Franklin county, Vermont, Oct. g. 1880.
He was taught the rudiments of his educa-
ton by his father, who was a protestant
Irishman from Baltymeria county, Antrim.
From his home studies young Arthur went
to the schools of Schenectady. He enter
ed Union College at the age of fifteen and
graduated high in his class in 1913. Dur
ing this time he eked out slender
income by teaching a country school.
After his graduation from college
he entered the law school at
Ballston Springs, where he became
graduate after two years of study, going
back to his former occupation of teaching
school and becoming principal OF the
North Pownal Academy, Burlington, VT.
This was in 1851, Having saved a few hun
dred dollars he went to New York and en-
tered the law office of Erastus ID. Culver
He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and be-
came a member of the firm of Culver,
Partson a. Arthur which was dissolved in
1857. Soon after his admission to the bar,
he married daughter of Lieutenant
Herndon. She died in January, 1880, leav-
ing him two children.
At the outbreak of the war he was APP
pointed engineer. in-chief on the staff of
Gov. G.. d. Morgan of New York, and in
1862 was advanced to the rank of quarter
master general. In the same year he was
invited TO be present at meeting OF gov
errors held in New York for discussing
measures to provide troops to carry on
the war. He was the only person present
who was not a governor At the expira-
ton of Gov. Morton's term of office he re-
turned to his law practice. He was a
delegate to the Saratoga conven-
ton that formed the republican par
ty in New. York. He was appointed
collector of the port of New York by
Grant in 1871; at the expiration OF his
term he was reappointed and unanimous
ly confirmed by the senate. He was re-
moved by President Hayes in 1878. He
was nominated for the vice-presidency at
the evening session of the convention.
His opponents were 5. Il. Washburn of
California, exGov. Jewell of Connecticut,
Judge Settle of Florida and Horace May
nard, Tennessee.
He assumed office with Garfield and up
on the death of the latter became presi-
dent. During the long illness of Garfield,
Vice President Arthur maintained a most
dignifed attitude before the public. His
conduct while in Office has been summed
up very justly by Congressman S. s.
Cox.
How skillfully and courteously he man
aged the grand trusts of the high office to
which he succeeded is now recognized. He
was well equipped for executive duties, as
a man of education, of great knowledge of
affairs, and as IA lawyer and n practical
man of business. He retired from Che
Office of president with the best wishes
of every one with whom he came in
contact. He had many severe trials con-
nected with the bad administration of af-
fairs in the postotlice and other depart
ments of government. He had some
stormy times with partisans, because he
endeavored to be just to the country But
amid all the distractions of his party and
the state, he maintained that decorous
dignity which becomes the president Of
this nation.
The most notable event of Arthur's pres
idency was the passage of the Pendleton
civil service reform bill, to which the as
sassination of Garfield had given impulse
President Arthur revised and accepted the
rules under which the civil service com
mission began work; and 10 the reform he
gave his sympathy and the benefit of his
practical knowledge of politics. The rules
as framed under him are substantially
those in force to-day.