Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-03
BLACKSMITH AND JUDGE.
The Remarkable Career Of Thomas
Chilson Of Iowa.

From tine Detroit Tribune.
There has recently died in western Iowa
man whose extraordinary position in the COM
munity-ss detailed BY the local papers-was
such as to cause him to take rank as celebrity
OF no mean quality. At the same time his his
tory demonstrates what an unusual combina-
ton OF homely sagacity and "horse sense" in
large quantity, coupled with a transparently
pure and unselfish life, will do in establishing
man in the confidence and esteem of all who
knew him, and spontaneous elevating him into
an accepted lordship over his fellowmen.
Thos. Chilson was his name. He was bred to
the trade by blacksmith. As young man
he was celebrated for his feats Of physical
agility and strength fact which makes q
man noted in any rural communicated as he
established humble business for himself he
soon became equally celebrated for the excel
lent work which he unfailingly did. He was to
the fullest extent q square" man. The aver
age Of country people at least like that sort.
Soon after he had passed the age of thirty he
met with an accident one day while attempting
some feat OF strength which inflicted an injury
% his spine that rendered him incapable there
after OF walking step or working at his trade.
1t was terrible blow; but 80 we'll was he
thought OF by his neighborr even then, that he
was chosen to such local offices as were avail
able for the use of a man so badly crippled az
new capacity and in it he displayed the same
quality of sturdy honesty that had characterized
him in his previous relations to the community.
Moreover, 1t gradually came to be known that
he was possessed of remarkable penetration
and singular clearness of Judgment He did not
seem to need law books and volumes of court
decisions. He went down to the bedrock of
right and wrong and had such a wonder
full faculty OF divining-if he could not get at
the truth. and making it stand out so clearly
that there was no gainsaying the conclusions
which he reached.
So it came about that for miles around men
brought to Thomas Chilson their disputes for
settlement. He was general referee. 1t was
FAR cheaper than going to the courts, and such
was the unbounded confidence in his integrity,
sagaclty and entire disinterestedness that men
readily agreed to this self-imposed administra-
ton OF justice ar ong themselves. 1t became a
common spectacle to see the plain dwelling Of
the former blacksmith pointed out by the array
OF horses and vehicles hitched in it's immediate
vicinity, while inside the contending parties and
their witnesses would surround the cripple's
chair and unfold their cases before him. Seldom
was his decision appealed from, SO great an
affront to the public sentiment was such a
course and 81 intelligent and just were the con-
illusions that he uniformly reached.
his quiet and potent influence extended fur
ther Whenever the local popular meetings
became divided in opinion and stormy in char
acter, Thomas Chilson was sent for and wheeled
in his chair into the midst Of the turbulent and
excited assemblage. The questions at issue
wero argued before him as though he were a
duly elected judge. His decisions, never
biased by personal or party feeling, but al
ways based on what was manifestly right and
best, and set forth in a clear and unpretending
manner. were accepted as the end of the strife
He was the peacemaker for the entire region.
At one time it was sought to secure his presi-,
dency In murder trial, both the friends and
prosecutors of the accused expressing the de-
sire. But this, of course, was impossible, al
though seriously pressed. The man was very
popular, and no one thought he could be con-
vlcted. But he was, and justly. and was SEN
fenced to be hung. His friends, of whom be
had many, secretly organized large party to
rescue him from the Jail, and one night as
sauited that structure. While the mob was
carrying one defense after another by the fury
OF the attack, the jaiior sent for Thomas Chill
son. The intrepid man responded He had
been present throughout the trial. and was sat-
ished Of the guilt of the doomed man. That
settled all question for him. He was taken
into the midst of the excited crowd and be-
gan to expostulate with them. They
recognized the well-known voice and listened
respectfully. Soon portion were persuaded of
their wrong-doing, but the larger part stood
sullen and unconvinced Just then a brother
OF the prisoner in his excitement struck Chill
son blow, infiicting wound from which the
blood began to fow. That turned the scale.
Violence inflicted on him was intolerable. The
mob turned on the assaiiant, and it was only at
the urgent entreaty OF the injured man that he
was saved from being lynched. That ended the
attempt to rescue the murderer and the law
took its course.
This remarkable man died in middle life, but
the SAVIOR Of his character will long remain to
bless the community that he served in 90 un-
usual a manner. Much was doubtless due to the
gift of intuition and sound judgment that he
possessed in such an extraor binary degree, but
a inf itxyth hat
swerved for fear or favor or self-interest. but
sought only the right and built ON its immov-
able foundations.