Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-02-04

Col. Ephraim Blaines son, esquire" Blaine,
as he was known in the entire community, mar
ried Miss Gillespie, local belle and leading
member OF the Roman Catholic Chnrch. The
result of the union was five boys and three
girls. OF these James G. was the second son
BLAINE's BoYHooD.
During his early boyhood young Blaine de-
veoped the splendid physique that has stood
him in such good stead during his career by
working on the farm and entering into the
country pastimes of his day. AT the age of 10,
| in 1913, he entered Washington college and i'm
mediately came into prominence among some
800 boys as q scholar AT the same time he be-
came leader in all athletic sports He never
was noted for exceptionally hard study during
the hours that were allowed for Sleep but he
read understandingly ana seemed to absorb
knowledge with but little effort or hard appli-
cation. At least this was the report of his
preceptorS.
After four years. course, during which
Blaine stood near the head OF his class at each
examination he graduated with the highest
honors in the summer OF 1917
Immediately after graduating from Washing
ton college Blaine accepted an offer as professor
In the Western Military institute, situated at
Blue lick Springs, Ky. Col. Thornton +. John
ston was then principal of the school, and his
wife presided over young ladies' seminary
some twenty miles away. There the young pro-
fessor met and married Miss Stanwood of the
old Massachusetts, family OF that name
Teaching palled on the ambitious young Penn
sylvanan after n few years and he made up his
mind to take up the law, so he left Kentucky
for his old home. There ho took up his studies
of Blackstone and Kent with the same tireless
energy that has always heen a part Of his
nature. ~
He went to the groundwork OF the profession
he ad decided upon and developed his powers
of iotical reasoning upon legal foundation at
| THU time although he has never app led for ad-
mission to the bar.
HIS JOURNALISTIC CAREER
Miss Stanwood claimed Maine as her native
| state and after his marriage Blaine acceded to
| her desire and In 1853 removed to Augusta The
next year he went into partnership with Joseph
| Baker in the purchase OF the Kennebec Journal
| II was u weekly paper conseerated to the whig
party and under its new management 1t became
| something more than local political power, 1t
was at this time that Blaine obtained his lknowl-
odge of political affairs that served an enter
ing wedge for his subsequent public career
| In 1885 Blaine came forward as n public
| speaker and made his mark In the Fremont
| campaign In 81 he sold out of tho Kennebec
Journal and took hold OF the Portland Daily
| Advertiser
Before he was % years OF age in 1853, he was
elected to the legislature, serving two terms In
the lower house and two years In the chair
There he obtained the foundation for his paria.
| ncntary success in after years. During the
campaign OF 1850 Blaine returned TO his first
| journalistic love- the Kennebec Journal, on ac-
count OF the illness OF its editor. This ended
| his newspaper work, that had extended over six
years
Together with Gov. Anson p. Morrill,, Blaine
organized the republican party In Maine at this
| time. This was done as he saw that the old
whig party was doomed, or had in fact gone 10
| pieces He led tho van In the attack on the
Buchanan administration. fighting 1t tooth and
| nall and naturally became the leader OF the new
party In his adopted state
This closes Mr. Blaine's career during the