The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-10-05
Van Buren County staiwarts.

ladder, is represented 10y Staunch, loyal,
efficient men, but we wish before cleo
ton to call the especial attention OF
our readers to some of our Van Buren,
County citizens whose names honor the
ticket and promise to help roll up Il big
majority on November s, next.
Edwin A. Wildey who received the
nomination for our state representative
is man in the prime of life, honest,
earnest, and progressive, and peculiarly
fitted to represent the interests OF an
agricultural district such as this. Born
on the old Wildey homestead in 1913
and living all his life in its immediate
vicinity amid the pursuits of farmers
life, he was yet such Jealous student
in the district and village school and
afterward at our State Normal, and is
possessed of such desire for constant
improvement that he has fully realized
Bacon's well-known aphorism, Read
ing makes full man."
1t is this progressive spirit that has
made him prominent among the Patrons
of Husbandry and caused him to be
selected as Master of the local Grange
and also delegate to the National Farm
ers Congress held at Montgomery,
Alabama, in 1889. This body was pre-
sided over 10y Capt. Kolb, the late
Alliance candidate for governor of that
state who was counted out by the
organized Democracy" and Mr.. Will
dey's love for the old flag makes him
still remember the liberal Southern
captains words uttered then, II honor
but one flag and that flag floats from
Maine To florida and from the Carolinas
to California" Though debarred by
lameness from himself entering active
service during the Rebellion, few men
are possessed of more ardent patriotism
or have a larger circle of Grand Army
friends than Mr.. Wildey, and it is this
fact which makes the attempt made by
the organized Democracy" hereaboutS
to prove to the contrary, seem SO
despicabe.
We have seen the full text of Mr.
Charles nominating speech SO widely
misquoted and find that what he did
say, without any garbling or misrep-
ressntation, is rs follows;- Our
Democratic friends have often remarked
that none need apply for office in the
Republican party except Grand Army
men, and now 1 want to say that, while
our public offices from the White House
to the poor house are largely filled with
old soldiers, and while our annual
our state and county treasures are
drawn upon heavily each year for their
support, | say we neCer haze, or 11eUer
cdR repay those grand old soldiers for
their tribute in the hour of our country's
greatest need. Lei me repedt,-I say
our country never has or never can re-
pay those grand old heroes for their
valor and their blood. All honor is due
to the g. A. Il. but there is another
army approaching, IL grand army of
young men just rs loyal, just as
patriotic" Mr.. Charles then proceeded
To urge Mr.. Wildey's claims AS one of
these young men, and no honest person
can say that there was aught in his
words to occasion any unpleasant feel
ing on the part of Grand Army men;
but, on the contrary, everything to
show that he and the man whom he
presented entertained the best of feel
ing toward them.
The subject of our sketch has
demonstrated his practical business
ability in many ways, besides serving
as a most efficient township supervisor
for two terms, and we trust that next
November will see his genuine worth
and ability fully recognized at the polls,
and that he will be sent to quote Mr..
Charles again "to help undo some of
the bad work of that experimental
Squaw buck legislature"
Benjamin +. Heckert, whose efficiency
as Judge of Probate this fall won for
him denomination by reclamation, is
SO prominent a citizen of our town and
SO well-known throughout our county,
that review of his life would be un.
fats tl,nt 81
newcomers which must be taken into
account in every community.
He first entered life's arena in Wayne
County, Ohio, in 1871, throughout
infancy and boy-hood displaying the
same sturdy independence and frank
outspoken nature that has made him
one of the few who can be relied on as
meaning exactly what they profess.
After some years attendance upon
the academy at Canaan, Ohio, when a
lad of II he entered the Presbyterian
college at Haysvile and spent the next
two years AT that institute of learning
Then, when twenty years old, In April
Is, 1861, came the first call for 10000
men To aid in crushing out the spirit OF
armed rebellion against our starry
banner, and on the 18th the young
student eagerly exchanged his text book
for the knap.sack of humble private
soldier in the 10th Ohio volunteer in
fantry. Though the term of service
was but three months, it was sufficient
ly long for him to show his zeal and
mettle, and at its expiration, when the
regiment was recognized for a three
years term, Mr.. Heckert was installed
rs orderly-sargent of Co. X.
Entering into active service, he
participated in the engagement at
Phillip, West Virginia, the first real
action between the federals and con-
federates, and in Feb. 1861, his merit
received n second recognition, he being
commissioned 2d Lieutenant of his com
pany Within the next seven months
he witnessed the exciting scenes at
Mills Spring, Cumberland Gap and
other kentuckey towns visited during
this arduous campaign, and in Decem.
Der was captured, with number of