The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-01
The Ex.Prcsidcnt's Career.


Chester Allan Arthur was born in log
cabin in Fairfield. Franklin county, Vt, on
October |, 1889. His father, DR.. William Ar
thur, was q Baptist minister He studied at
Union College, under DR.. Eliphalet Most; ana
in order to defray the expense taught schooL
He graduated in 1913, and than b'gan 70
study law. He came to New York in lSo0,
and entered the law Office Of Erastus ID. Gull
yer. In 1857 he formed partnership Win
Mr.. Henry D. Gardiner, and soon atter Inao
married Miss Herndon, daughter OF the la1e
Lieutenant H rndon, of the Unlte1 osaCes
navy. Two children q son and dau5hter,
were born to them. Mr.. Arth1r's most noted
law case was the Lennon slave case IN lSos.
The de .ision in this case was the first blow
in the courts a.a;nSt the s1ave-holding over.
In 1855 Mr.. Arthur entered into new part
nersbip, the firm being Arthur. Phelps, kue-
walls & Ransom. Previous to the war he was
Judge Advocate of the S,con | Briga1e OF
State militia Early in 1861 he was ap-
pointed Engineer-iu Chief on Governor :i
Morgan's staff, and on January q, lST?,
was promoted to Quartermaster-Geler His
first vote was given for General Winfield
Scott in 1852 for President. In 1871 be was
appointed Collector of the Port, and on July
2i, 1878, was suspended from otice by Mr:
HAYES, with whose administrator ne naa
not baen in accord In 1879 he was Chairman
of the Republican State Committee, and was
nominated for the Vice-Presidency at chi
cago in Juno, 1881. On the death OF frel-
dent Garfield on September -, 1881, ne Pc
came President. After retlrlns from tne
White House Mr.. Arthur resumed his con.
nection with the law firm of Messrs. Kneva!s
& Ransom, but owing to the condition OF bis
health he never took active part in the basl-
ness
In personal appearance General Arthur
was q notable man. He was slightly more
than six feet in height. and his physique was
that of an athlete. After he had served MS
term as Pre- ident he showed considerable
rain Of flesh but the sick ,ess. which was
soon to prove fatal, removed this indlcatlon
of health, AMI when he was last seen in pub,
lie, at tie opera last season, he showed
all the signs of physical decay. de was
motel for his ta5t, in following the
fashion, and to him frequently was
accorded the double distinction OF lead
ing the policy Of the government and the
fashions ut the same time. As IN eplcure ne
was equally famed and his dinners at the
White House, given to personal friends or 70
officers OF the government, were known as
the finest ever given under its roof. In man
ners the e1-President was gentleman IN
every action, his attention AMI regard Tor
ladies being chivalrous to degree that won
for him an instant regard from his newest
acquaintance.
General Arthur was an ardent fisherman.
His collection of rods, reels, flies and tacSle
is one of the finest in the. country. he was
one of the originators Of the Restigou he
Salmon Club, and p siel two or three weeks
every summer casting tiioS on the banks OF
the Saguenay, in Canada.
General Arthur'S immediate family. be-
sides his son and daughter, consists OF one
brother, Major William Artaur. U. 5. A.,
who is stationed at San Antonio: Texas, ana
five sisters, Mrs. Mary. M:Elroy, VIE
of John f. McElroy, of Albany; Mrs.
Maloma Haynesworth. wife of Henry
J. Haynesworth, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Regina
McCaw, a widow; Mrs Amelia Masten, wife
of James H. Ma ten, Of 'hoes, and Miss
Annie L. Arthur, of S :henectady. The estate
left by General Arthur is valued a. s!cO, 'oo'