St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-28
GREsHAM's ANCESTRY.
Born in Log Cabin and Inherit
ing Sturdy Traits of Charac-

Gresham is country-bred man. His
grandfather, George Gresham, and his
granduncle, Dennis Pennington, were
Virginians of English descent. They
were farmers, and emigrated first to Ken
tucky and then to Harrison county, In
diana. They took up land on Little
Indian creek, where LaneSville now
stands, and became prosperous. They
were honest, truthful, brave and indus
triouS frontierSman, the kind whose
sturdy traits survive through three
generations In religion they were
strict Methodists. Sarah Davis, Walter
@. GreSham'S mother. was also OF Viz
ginia stock. The house where he was
born stands intact to-day, ten miles east
of CorydOn. William Gresham. his
father, was something of politician
was colonel of militia, and from him
young Walter inherited discipline and
courage. He was elected as Whig to
be sheriff of Harrison county by an al
most unanimous vote the year Walter
was born. Two years afterwards the
sheriff was shot down by rural desper-
ado while attempting to make an arrest
in the course of his duty. He left a
young widow with five small children
in very moderate circumstances. ALI OF
them went to work.
"Walt" Gresham, as his neighborS
still love to call him, grew up on the
farm, with Scant schooling, until he was
sixteen. The county auditor gave him
a little clerkship, and he gladly took it,
eager to earn money to educate himself.
He soon entered the seminary" at
Corydon, studied there earnestly and
conducted himself quietly. His teacher
said lie never flogged him, though
whether wisely or not may be ones
ton, as little fiogging now and then
helps rear the best Of men. From Cory
don ''Walt'' went to the Bloomington
Qnd.) university" where he finished"
his education. Then he went home.
got deputy clerkship in the county
clerks affice. and began studying law
under Judge William A. Porter.
The future great man was at this
time tall, slender youth with fine
hazel eyes, pale complexion, and
bright, well-fOrned features. His
neighborS and associates seem to have
liked him in those days, as they do now.
girls" but very discreet. 1t was said
he knew his lessons as soon as he read
them over. and that he kept at the head
of his classes. There is, indeed, good
deal of the Sunday school book hero
about Judge Gresham'S early life, as de-
scribed now by contemporaries who
may since have learned to admire him.
He chung out" his shingle in year
or two and began practicing the profess
sion of which he is an ornament. He
also Joined the Spencer Rifles, a mill
tary company in COrydon, became well
versed in tactics, and was elected cap
tain. But he held another office before
the time came to prove his quality as a
soldier. He was nominated in 1860 for
the legislature in Harrison county, as
Republican. He was Republican from
the first organization of the party, and
has been one ever since. There was a
reliable Democratic majority OF 500 in
the county, but young Gresham was
elected handsomely.
As chairman of the committee on
military affairs, he brought forward and
had passed militia bill which placed
Indiana almost ON war footing. He
was valuable coadjutOr of War Gov.
Morton, who leaned upon him and gave
him his confidence. He aided in pro-
curing the assent of the Indiana legis-
lature to the proposal to the legislature
of Virginia for a conference of repre-
sentatives of the border states at Wash
ington. Indiana sent her representative
men to that conference, the laborS of
which shortly afterwards were blown
into space by the guns which opened
against Sumter