River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-09-16
TIE REPUBLICANS.
Pen Pictures of the Candidates--Th,
DIatforua

~ DE4lOANSs
Pen Pictures of the Candidates--The
Platform.
The Wisconsin Republican State COnven-
ton at Madison on the Sth, renominated
Gen. jeremiah Rusk for Governor by ac-
clamation, Geo. w. Rylaud of Grant coun-
~ for Lieutenant Governor, +. g. TImme
of kenosha for Secretary of State, II. II.
Harshaw of Oshkosh. State Treasurer, c.
f. Esterbrook of Manitowoc, Attorney
General, j. b. Thayer River Falls, State
School Superintendent, Gen. Phillip Cheek,
Boraboo, State Insurance Commissioner
II. A. Taylor was again chosen chairmen
of the state committee. The platform
strongly commends Gov. Rusk, endorses
high license for the liquor traffic, railway
regulation by the State and legislative sup
port OF farmers institutes aud the agricul-
tural college.
Gov. Rusk was born in Morgan, Ohio, in 1885,
He was the youngest Of ten children, seven OF
whom were boys. He came from sturdy
stock in which gevity and bodily development
were remarkable characteristics. lis mother
reached the age OF 81, but the record Of lougeyi-
~ in his ancestry was broken by the death Of
his father when young Jerry was Lad Of four
teen years. The mother ard two sisters re-
manned at home on the farm and depended al
most wholly upon jeremiah for suppOrt. lie
enjoyed but little schooling and IA Il only such
as the country district school provided. At the
age Of Is he secured the lob OF driving stage be-
tween GAINESVILLE and Newark, Ohio. The stage
was drawn by four horses and the young driver
rode astradde ofthe near wheel horse and manip-
ulated the four hand by single rein. II was
during his stage driving experience that he met
the boy on the tow path Of the canal at Newark,
who in future years became president Of the
United States. And the first time they metit
was at "a wrestling match which had been gotten
up between a stage driver and canal mule
whacker 10 satiate the rivalry between the
friends OF the TWO primitive modes Of locomo-
ton in those early times. II will take no stretch
of the Imagination to program young Rusk
as the stage driver and the late James A. Gar
field as the mule driver on the tow path. The
close acquainanCcship formed on that occasion
lasted though life and they met again in army
life during the rebellion, ana again they met
when both were serving in congress, each in his
different locality rising step by step from where
they started in that obscure Ohio canal town.
During the administration OF Garfield Gov. Rusk
was especially favored by his old associate
lie was nominated by the President as minister
TO Paraguay, and the nomination was confirmed
by the senate, but was refused by the nominee.
He was also rendered other places OF trust by
his old friend among which was that OF minister
20 Denmark and chief of the bureau OF printing
and engraving, but in each instance he de-
cllned the proIered honor. In 1858 Mr.. Rusk
immigrated 10 Wisconsin and located in Vernon
county, and settled on farm which is still his
home. He diverted his attention for a time
from matters on the farm and opened a hotel,
and also established a stage line between Sparta
and Prairie du Chen, often mounting the box
and refreshing himself in the Of the reins he
had dropped years before in Ohio. His first
official position was that OF sheriff Of his county
which position he held for some years. In 1861
he was elected to the legislature and served
during the following session. Al the close OF
the session he enlisted in the 25th Wisconsin
regiment and received majors commission.
He saw considerable service during the Indian
Outbreak in Minnesota, and when the rebellion
Of the savages was subdned he sent TO aid
in the suppression Of the more formidable out
break then raging in the south. He served
during the siege and the capture of Nicksburg
and then went to Helena where he promo
ted to Observation-Disclosures and acted as pres
ident OF n court martial.
In February Of the next year he returned to
his regiment, of which he assumed command,
and Joined sherman in time to participate in the
Meridian campaign, and at its close he was
complmented in general orders ''for the discp-
line he had maintained on the marsh and for
not losing man from struggling or inattention."
lie was WITH sherman and was a part OF all the
fights in the movements which preceded and end
ed in The capture Of Atlanta. After the surrender
of this strong hold he followed Hood in his raid
into Alabama, and then accompanied Gen. Sher-
man in his famous march TO the sea. During
TINS movement ne ndu charge OF INe advance OF
the Seventeenth corps, including the skiTmsh-
ers, pioneers, engineers and pout0on train. In
the campaign from Beaufort island north he was
brevetted brigader general for his gallantry at
the battle Of Salkahatchie, where he held the
advance against the strOngly-proteCted position
Of the enemy, at the crossing Of the river, and
carried it against terrible odds. lie was mus
tered out of the service in June, 1865, having
been unnterruptedly in the field with sherman
from May Of the preceding year.
In the autumn Of 1865 Gen. Rusk was
nominated in tle Republican convention by
acclamation for the Office Of bank comptroller,
and elected. In 1867 he was again elected To
the same position, and held il until, owing To
the decline in state banking institutions, the
Office was abolished by amendment TO the
constitution.
In August, 1870, he was nominated by the
Republicans ef the old Sixth district as candi-
date for congress, and was elected by very
large majority-":he largest" said local jour
nal, "ever given by any district of the state to
its representative. He took his seat in con
gress in March, 1871.
At the close Of his term he was again elected,
and this time, 10 great was his popularity and
so overwhelmingly Republican the district, no
one cared to contest the election, and he was
returned without any opposition in his own
party. During This period Of his service in con-
gress he acted as chairman Of the committee on
pensions, and to his assiduity and pains-takiug
while in this place is due the great popularity
which he enjoys among the old soldiers OF his
state. He elected third time in 1874,
and this time refled his old position OF char
man Of the pensions committee, and also that Of
agriculture. AT the close OF this congressional
term he retired TO his farm. and renal I'd there
till, in the fall of 1881, he was placed IN nomina-
ton for the goyemorshp by the Republicans,
and he won by a very respectable plurality over
three competitors, composed Of Democrat,
Greenbacker and Prohbiuonist. He was
again elected governor at the close OF his first
term. His administrations have been character
ICED by such simplicity, economy, cool Judgment
and sound sense, that the Republicans Of the
state are almos, a unit in demanding his re-
election for still another term
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
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