Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-02
He passed peacefully away, with a
smile on his face, at his home in Wash
ington Friday morning, Jan. 27th.

James Gillespie Blaine was born Janu-
ary 81. 1880, at the village of West
Brownsville. Pennsylvania. He was the
second son Of Mr. and Mrs. Ephr&m Lyons
Blaine
His ancestors had dwelt for years in
tn fertile region where he was born
they were among the hardy band Of pio-
aeers who settled the rich valley iof the
Cumberland, and their name and history
are part of he local tradition Of Western
Pennsylvania. The family has honor
able memories Of the Revolution. for
Colonel Ephraim Blaine, the grandfather
OF the subject of this sketch, was one of
its heroes He was an officer of the Penn
sylvania line, md during the last four
years Of the war was Commissary- General
OF the Northern Department.
Ephraim Blaine, the father Of James
g. Blaine came into Pennsylvania about
1918, having the largest landed posses
sions Of any man Of his age in Western
Pennsylvania, owning an estate which
had IL been properly preserved, would
have amounted to-day to many millions.
Hts birthplace.
James G. Blaine was born in plain
bAN ANtAAAA4rzs vi Abt othAAt StittA
OF West Brownsville, not far from the
scene Of the campaign which ended in
Braddock's defeat by the Indians. In
Brownsville proper the visitor is still
shown the residence Of his grandfather.
Colonel Blaine, wooden building to
which brick addition has been made in
later years The mother OF General
Sherman's wife happens to have been
born at a little distance from Colonel
b.aine's home. On the hills above West
Brownsville the curious inquirer may also
see the house in which Ephraim Blaine
and Miss Gillespie were married, and,
finally, the hait-dozen houses whcn
quarrel for precedence es the birthplace
OF this sketch's subject. Mr.. Blaine has
himself disposed OF this interesting con
test by fixing upon a certain dwelling I
among these as the scene of his earliest /
recollections. The building is Of wood, |
two stories in height, and removed, in ac-
coriance with the inscrutable Pennsyl- 1
vania custom, as little as possible from 1
the road
Ephraim Blaine was careful to give all /
his children an excellent education, and 4
when James had completed at home his 1
early studies in the elementary principles,
he was sent 10 the home of "A relative at /
lancaster, Ohio. This relative was Thomas
living, then Secretary Of the Treas
ary. James Blaine was eleven when he
went to Lancaster, and he began at once
to prepare himself for college, studying
With his cousin, Thomas Ewing. junior,
now General Thomas Ewing, and once
4 member OF Congress. The boys studied
under especially advantageous conditions,
ior their tutor was William LYONS
brother Of Lord Lyons, and ancle
1f the then British Minister at
Washington. He seems to have been an
Early type Of the visiting Englishman,
and a highly fortunate type for these
fouDg students, for after two years OF in
itruction from him, James Blaine. at the
.arly age Of thirteen, entered Washing
on College.
His Marriage.
A few months after graduation In
october. says Mr.. Blaine, in a letter al
-sady presented to the reader, - i went to
Kentucky" That is a simple record, and
.onveys no intimation OF the causes
which impelled the step; and it does not
,ecome his biographer to be more wise
1e sought his fortune in what was then
lnown as the West; and the journey,
hough briefer enc in miles than that to
he region now known under that name,
nay very well have occupied as much
inc for be. vent by toat- His fortune