Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-08

convinced the deacon that it was wrong to
keep him from improving his youth by
study and travel, and finally secured his
freedom.
About the first thing the released boy I'd
was to turn bookkeeper for laundress.
His salary was ten cents a week. Besides
this he carried collars and cuffs for clerks.
who paid with copies of the old knicker-
booker -Nagasine and the Philadelphia
Courier. In the latter at the time the
"Pickwick Papers" were running as a
serial. Little as was the ambitious boy
able to earn by doing other odd chores, it
supported him while he attended the dis
trict school, to do which he was obliged to
walk three miles morning and night, win
ter and summer. 1t was proud day for
the l2-year-old boy when he entered that
school. His study at the fire and while
following the pillow bore good fruit. He
took his place at the head of an advanced
class at once, and kept it, too, against boys
in his classes, the lad led the whole school
in defamation. He could soon recite
with wonderful power for one of his years
every piece in THE American Preceptor
and Columbian Orator." the only book of
the kind in town. He has them vet among
his treasures at home. In time young Fisk
finished at the district school at the head
of his class.
Then came misfortune that changed the
whole course of his life. 1t was his great
ambition to be graduated from the Albion
Seminary of Michigan. He entered ahead
OF all follow-competitors in Latin and
Greek, which with him alone were entirely
elf-taught. In preparing for the exami-
nation fha hnx nh To- Ill
day and study oil night. The strain was
too much, his eyes gave out and he was
forced to stop porting over books.
10 leave the college, the dream of his
life, was a terrible blow, but the young
mans talents soon found occupation in
business. He advanced rapidly in the
store where he began MS clerk and at 81
married and settled down at Coldwater,
Mich. The very name Of the town was at
tractive to MIR. Fisk, for he was an out and
out hater of rum, and often made ringing
speeches against the traffic.
There was another thing young Fisk de-
tested, and that was slavery. Five years
before-in 1SA45-the home of the FAM
lily, which had been moved to Spring Har-
Dor, was regular depot of the under
ground railroad. Many night Clinton,
then 1G years old, made his trip of twenty
miles in wagon and drove o slave mother
and her babies, covered with blankets, to
the next station nearer. Detroit, Canada
and freedom.
This early love for the slave became so
strong that in 1861, when the war broke
out, Mr.. Fisk at once enlisted as private
IN st. Louis regiment, where he had been
in business since 1855. One year later he
was made Brigadier General for meritor-
ious services, and in 1865 was brevetted
Major General. He served in the Army of
the Tennessee until the fall of Vicksburg,
and then in Missouri until the close Of the
war. Then he was ordered South to carry
out the provisions of the Freedman's
Bureau.
Gen. Fisk about this time founded the
famous Fisk University in Tennessee. the
home of the jubilee singers and one of the
greatest boons to the ignorant and eman-.
cipated colored citizens of the South ever
given them. The General lost nearly all
his fortune in the war, but soon picked up
again by investments in Missouri railroads
and real estate.
The once poor farmer lad is now the
owner of beautiful home at Sea Bright,
one Of the handsomest places on the New
Jersey coast. He has no regular business,
and finds plenty OF opportunity to- do good
work for the cause OF prohibition, which
he is thoroughly convinced is the mount
| ain that will some day till the earth. Gen.
Fisk is not politician. He has refused
public Office many times. Church and edu-
cational labor is much more to his, taste,
and he cares for no party except the cold
water party. His friends say that he has
not the slightest desire to be the Presilen-
tial nominee of the Prohibitionists, but
they also say that the party will not listen
to the suggestion of any other name.
In person Gen. Fisk is q tall, WE'LL
developed man, with merry face, IRON
gray hair, and twinkling eyes. He does
not look day over 50. He is very genial
in his manner, in fact, magnetic, and can
make temperance or camp meeting
speech that always delights his Methodist
brethren and sisters. They all say he will
poll rousing vote. They like man with
human nature in him. They know the
General has it, for it is recorded once that
when asked what we're the sweetest words
to him, he replied: "Wife, mother, and
home.
1t is also recorded that out of his FIRST
successes the General provided home for
that dear old mother of his near where she
lived in poverty in Clinton.