The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-11-27
THE DEAD EX-PRESIDENT.
sketch of the Life and Services OF Chester
A. Arfhur


The stroke came in his sleep between
Tuesday night and Wednesday morn
ing and he did not rally thereafter.
His death was painless, the slow going
out OF burned-down candle, and for
hours before the end came he
was conscious of his surround
ings. His son and daughter, his
sister, his former law partner, sher-
man W. Knevals, and his closest
friend, Surrogate Rawlins, we're at his
bedside. For many months Gen. Ar
thur had been q very sick man, and
although Immediately prior to the IA
tai shock he was apparently brighter
and more cheerful than usual, his
death was not unexpected by his more
intimate friends. For two years he
had been suffering from complication
of Bright's disease of the kidneys and
an enfeebled and enlarged heart. 1t
was this latter disorder that wrecked
his robust constitution and prepared
the way for the rupture OF the blood
vessel in his brain which caused his
death.
Chester Alan Arthur was elected vice
president in 1880, and became president oil
the United States on the death OF James A.
Garfield, September 10, 1881. Hewas born
in Fairfield, Franklin County, Vermont,
October 8, 1880, the eldest OF two sons
OF the Rev. DR.. VIM. Arthur. He had four
sisters older and two younger than himself.
His father, Baptist clergyman, at the
age Of IS, emigrated from Ballymena,
County Antrim, Ireland. He was a grad.
uate OF Belfast University. He was pastor
of the Calvary Baptist Chu-ch in Albany,
n. Y, from 1855 to 1865, and died in New.
tonville near that city, October 27, 1878.
The second soD, VIM. Arthur, distinguished
himself in the Union army during the war,
and is now a paymaster in the United
States army, with the rank OF major. A
thorough course in the best schools OF
Union Village and Schenectady, with a care
full training in the classics by his father
enabled the President to enter Union College
at the early age of Is. He graduated high
in his class in 1S4S. He commenced the
study OF law at Fowler's law school at
Rallston Spa. During his college course he
supported himself in part by teaching, and
after his graduation he continued at that
occupation several years, meanwhile devot-
ing himself to the study of law. In 1858
he went to New York and entered the law
Office of ex-Judge E. D. Culver, was ad-
mitted to the bar the same year,
and began the practice of law. In 1859
he was married to Ellen Lewis Herndon, OF
Fredericksburg, Va, a daughter of Capt.
VIM. Lewis Herndon, who heroically re-
mained at his post and went down with his
ship, the Central America, in 1857. His
widow was the recipient OF gold medal.
voted by Congress, in recognition of his
bravery. Mrs. Arthur died in $780, leav-
ing two children, Chester Alan, aged 15,
and Ellen Herndon, aged 8.
Mr.. Arthur early took an active interest
,,rD1r% NI,v1 A.,
delegate to the convention at Saratoga
which founded the Republican party Of
New York. He also had fine taste for mil
itary affairs, and before the civil war was
Judge advocate of the second brigade OF the
state militia. When Edwin D. Morgan be-
came governor of New York, at the begin
ming of 1860, he appointed Mr.. Arthur to
the position of engineer-in-chief on his staff,
and he WAS afterwards made Inspector
general, and then quartermaster-g general OF
the military forces OF the state, an Office
which he held until the end of Gov. Morgan's
term, at the close OF 1868. He conducted
the duties of his office in eQuipping, sup
plying and forwarding the immense number
OF troops furnished by the state with such
success that his accounts were audited and
allowed at Washington without deduction,
where those of some of the states were re-
duced by millions of dollars.
In 1868 Gen. Arthur returned to the
practice OF law, and built up a large busi-
ness in collecting claims against the
government. Meanwhile he took an
active part in politics and be-
came known for his skill as
an organizer and manager. On the goth Of
November, 1871, he was appointed by
President Grant collector of customs at
the port of New York, an office to which he
was reappointe in 1876. President Hayes
| after his accession to Office in 1877, pro-
mulgated an order forbidding persons in
the civil service OF the government from
taking an active part in political manage
ment. Mr.. Arthur was at that time chair
man OF the Republican Central Committee
OF New York City, and A. B. Cornell,
who held the position OF naval officer,
was chairman OF the State Central Commit
tee of the same party. Both gentlemen
neglected to comply with the Presidents
o-2er by resigning their party positions,
and were suspended from Office in July,
1878. An attempt had previously been
made to supersede Gen. arthur by remov-
ing him and appointing his successor
during the session OF the Senate,
but the appointment was not confirmed
THE successor appointed after his suspen-
sion IL July was confirmed in office at the
following session OF the Senate. Twospecial
committees investigated Mr.. Arthur's ad-
reported nothing on which a charge OF OFF,
cial dere,iction, could be based. Both the
President and the secretary OF the treasury
in connection with his suspension, acknowl-
edged the purity Of his official acts.
petition for his retention in Office
signed by all the judges OF the New York
courts, most of the prominent members OF
the bar, and nearly all the importing mer-
chants OF the city, was suppressed by Mr..
Arthur himself. The only accusation made
against him was that Of disobeying the
Presidents orders in respect to active par
ticipation in political management. His
reforms in the methods OF conducting the
business of the Office were generally ac-
knowledged.
On retiring from the Office OF collector
OF the port OF New York, Mr.. Arthur
returned to the practice of law in
that city, and continued to take an
active part in politics, contributing ma
terially to the nomination and election Of
Mr.. Cornell to the governorship OF the
state. He was Jealous supporter of the
claims OF Gen. Grant to the Republican
nomina ton for the presidency in the Chi
cago convention of 1880, being closely as.
sociated with Senator Conkling in the effort
to secure that result. When the movement
feated and Mr. Garfield was made
the candidate, Mr.. Arthur was NOM
mated for the vice-presidency by acclama-
ton, for the purpose OF enlisting the hearty
support OF the Grant Republicans for the
ticket, and securing, il possible, the vote OF
New York. He took an active part in the
canvass which followed, especially in his
own state, acting as chairman Of the Re
publican Central Committee. He presided
In the Senate during the special session
which began on the 4th Of
March with dignity and general accept
ance. In the contest between the President
and Senator Conkling in regard to the ap-
pointments in the state OF New York, the
vice-president took no part, but. after the
resignation OF the New York senator's he
went to Albany and actually participated
IN the effort to secure their reelection. 1t
was during this contest that President Gar
deld received the shot that subsequently