Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-28

Middlcsex. Cumberland county, Pa, VINO
wac commissary- general Of the Continehtai
army on the stan or General Washington II. m
+ 1S TO the close of tho Revolutionary war. inc
family were part OF the colony OF scotch ma
ScOicn-irish Presbytcrians who had settled III no
Cumberland Valley about lfSb. hls lalheT lh-
beritcd n large landed estate in Western Ienn-
Fylvania and removed 20 Washington county IN
1918, whore IN 1920 he married the dauch-
ter Of Neai Gillespie, wcil-knoWn koman
Catholic. n man Of wealth, noted IN MS
section for high character and abilty. Tho edu-
cation OF the boy was looked after with great
care both by mis- father and his national grand
father who personally conuufied IL 70 some eX-
tent themselves lie sent 70 SCHOOL Tor
time NJ Lancaster, OHIO, in 1871. whero he lived
In the family Of his relative, Thomas Ewing, AT
that time Secretary of fhe Treasury In MS four
fcenth wear ne entered Washington College,
PcnnsylyauIa. where he was graduated, tho
youngest member oi his class except one, in
September, lS4 4. He was awarded one oi tho
hOnOT- Of tho class and delivered 1T commence
ment the English salutatOry and an oratiOn On
"The Duty Of an Educated American lie
ranked high In mathematics and languages.
After graduation he was an instructor lor some
time IN tho Western Military Institute Of Ken
lucky. During thi, period he made the a.
quaintance of Miss Harriet stanwood, the lady
who became his wife.
Az EDITORIAL wRITER
After leaving kentucky Mr.. Blaine lived in
philndelphia for three years, whore he was n
teacher In one ~ The public institutions and was
an editorial writer for "A considerable part OF the
time on the stan of ,ne DdHV Inquirer. Mr.
Blaine at the same time completed ms
law studies, which he had been pursuing ever
since he left college He lad an excellent
opportunity in 1893 TO enter the law-Oflce Of
Theodore Cuylcr twhO aiterward became proinl-
nent at the bar ut Philadolphia) and seriously
contcmll lated the acceptance Of this place, with
the intention OF pursuing the law Hs his pro'es-
sion. But he was induced by very 0atterlng
ofier from Name 10 remove 20 that state and
enter upon the editorial profession. lie settled,
In a Augusfq Mrs. BlnIQp'4
brthplace) and purchased a half interest IN the
KtnH bee journal. His partner was John l..
stevens, at ono time United States Minister 10
Sweden.
EDITOR-IS-CBIBF.
Mr.. Blaine was gifted with an extraordinary
memory. and on assuming his editorial duties
rapidly familiarzed himself with the details ut
Maine politics by reading every issue ~ the
paper IN the bound file frOGneJanuary. 1870,
when 10 WAS originally established. Under his
management the paper was both financial
success and a journal OF great influence, while
both through It's columns aud through hls per-
sonal qualities Of leadership Mr.. Blaine became
powerful in tho councils of the Whig and Repub-
iican parties From 1898 10 1861 he edited the
Portland ACrertiser, but still retained his resi-
dence mt Augusta.
DELEGATE TO NATIONAL CONVENTION.
In 1886 he was delegate 70 the first national
convention Of the Republican party, IN Phlla-
delphia, which nominated Fremont; ard IN
1850 he was mado chairman OF tho Republican
State Committee. which post he held until 1870.
Ia the same year he was elected 10 the lower
house OF the State Legislature. His hrst puollc
speech was made IN Augusta on his return from
Philadelphia ia 1896, in response To request
Of his friends and neighbors that he tell them
about tho convention During the canvass then
begun he spoke many times, and since then ne
had been known as one of the most elective po-
litcRl speakers IN the country.
Ia his capacity as editor ne mad called attention
20 tho cOnoition OF the penal ana reIOrmatOiy H.