Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-03-06
RATES OF ADVERTISING;
A Noble Son Of the Old Dominion.

pOpuAouS Citics auu 6Iapu upon one OF Its
most crowded thoroug ghfsres, we would see
men ipstinctively move aside and mako
room for one who with firm tread and gal.
liant bearing, showed himself eager to press
his way through.
Thus it Is in life. Edrnestness Is, as Il
were, badge of nobility, and everywhere
IN our land, mankind open their ranks to
him who possesses this royal passport. He
may lay down the trOwel and take up the
pen; go from the Telling of forests to the
making of laws; in short, be may leave the
sloughs of poverty and obscurity, and travel
| the broad highway of distinction and honor.
Such man is Joseph Wilson Fifer, Gov
ernor of Illinois.
Mr. Fifer was born in Staunton, Vir-
ginia, in l840, and was named. for the late
DR.. Joseph Wilson, so well remembered by
many of our citizens. 1ss1@t
Of poor. but respectable parentage,
Joseph Wilson Fifer had q heritage which
money could not purchase, and this hsrit-
age was earnestness in all his undertakings.
| His father, John Fifer, or "Jack," as he
vas Familiarity called by many, was a
brick-mason, and there are yet many build
lDgs in our county which stand as monu-
ments of his superior workmanship. He
WAS of German descent, and married Mary
Dauisls, whose mother was o Van Wig
John and Mary Fifer had nine children,
and being poor, they found it ficult to
provide for the bodily wants of such
numerous family and could not even
dream Of giving them any sort of an educa-
| tiou.
In 1857, the family decided to move
West. Joseph Fifer was then about Is
years old and able to read little in the
First Reader. They first settled 10 Mis-
souri, where the mother died. After her
death. they returned to Virginia, but
started West again ia few months, set
tling this time in Mclean county, Illinois.
The boy Joe being among the older chill
dron, not only worked in the brick-yerd and
chopped in the forest, for they lived in
what the natives called the "Brush'-but
he also tenderly watched over, and cared
for the younger children SO unfortunately
deprived of mothers care and mothers
love.
The family lived in log cabin, one room
below, and an attic above which was the
boys sleeping room. Living there in one
of the most uninviting sections in the whole
State Of Illinois, Joseph Fifer worked faith
fully, earnestly, and almost slavishly for
four whole years, all the time dreaming
that he would some day leave that wilder
ness, go into the world, aud do something
and be somebody.
About this time, the war commenced,
and now came the opportunity to see some
thing of the world. Obtaining the consent
of his father to enlist in the army, the tall,
ungainly youth of 90, tTudged barefooted
to the city of Bloomington, twelve miles
from his home, and there was enlisted.
He proved to be brave soldier, and
fought faithfully in the service of his coun-
try until the summer of 1868, when, in the
assault on jackson, Miss, he was so.severe-
ly wounded that the surgeors despaiIed Of
his life. The weather at that time was ex-
tremely hot; his wound was very dis
tressing-similar TO, and even more danger
ous than that from which President Gar
fisld died. But there was something in
the nature of Joseph Fifer that kept him
from despair.
After lying in the field hospital for seven
days, he was moved in an ambulance to
Ficksburg, and as the distance was sixty
miles, it required four days to make the
journey. From Vicksburg, the wounded
and almost dying soldier was started home
ward, and contrary to the expectations of
his friends, he reached Bloomington, ILL.,
nois, alive.
He soon began to improve, and by the
following January he was able to return to
the South with his regiment. In 1864, he
WdS uuStcIcu Out, udfluk Dctu III keINIC6
more than three years.
The haraships of the war had not in tho
least weakened his ambition; on the con-
trary, he seemed more determined than
ever to make his mark in the world. He
was now "a; had no education worth
speaking of, and 20 money except a small
sum saved from his pay. But he had that
same perseverance, and eATnestness he had
always possessed, and be at ouce set to
work as a student.
He rented the cheapest room he could
find in the city of Bloomington and thero
commenced his studies. He studied in his
room for short while, but soon entered
the Wesleyan University, from which be
graduated after tour years. hard labor. He
was not brilliant student, but an indefati-
gable worker. Not only did he make his
own way through the college, but he. also,
greatly assisted his younger brother in
securing an education.
1t soon became clear to all that Joseph
Flfer was good finaueer as we'll ss a con-
scientious, high minded, hard working stu
dent. He had great faculty for getting
along in the world. If he could not do one
thing, he would do another, and no matter
what he did, be was always a gentleman.
One winter whils at college, be bought
tract Of woodland some distance from
Bloomington, hired hands to clear it, and
every Saturday walked out to help with the
work himself. During vacations, he
worked, of course, ard in this say sac
ceeded in paying his own and his hlother's
expenses at college.
AS soon as he graduated, he entered
law Office as student, and early in 1850,
he commenced the practice of law ia the
same city where, eight years before, he--a
bare.foo boy-had enlisted in the service
of his country.
Mr.. FIfer made successful lawyer. In
1871, he was elected Corporation Counsel
of Bloomington, and in 1872 he was
chossn by the Mclean County Republi.
cans as their candidate for States Attor-
nsy. Being elected to that Office, he held
it eight years, and at the end of that time
took his seat in the Senate. Ia the spring
of 1885, he WAS nominated for Governor,
aud now holds the highest Office in the
third State of the Union.
Whatever Mr. Fifer has done. he has done
we'll. He was brave soldier, an earnest
student, brilliant lawyer and wise legis-
lator. Judging his future from his past,
wa have great reason to believe that he
will, in every respect, prove himself worthy
of the high honor lately bestowed upon
him.
In appearance, Mr.. Fifsr is tall and
slender. He has keen, black eyes,
swarthy complexion, and an abundance of
irou-grey hair.
In 1870, he was married to Miss Gsrtie
Lewis, of Bloomington, lady of rare cul-
ture and refinement. They have two chill.
dren and Mr.. Fifer's fondness for his home
aud his devoted attachment to his life COM
panion is evident to all who know him in
his private life.
Whether in public or in private. ha is
man to command the respect and admira-
tion of his fellow men; and, regardless of
party principles, Virginia blu.hes not as
she records upon her list of noble and hon.
ored sons, the name of Joseph Wilson
Ffar.
A VIReINIAN.
DEATH OF LEWIS r. BoswELL-Lawis