The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-09

rough voyage, and very glad the young
man was when it was over. Going
back again in 1864 to Portland, Reed
secured an appointment as paymastcr
to the navy. a position he held for
about one year, when, resuming his
legal studies, he was admitted to the
bar finally in 1865.
He took in partnership with him
young man named Smith. the firm be-
ing Smith & Reed. They had little to
do. Times were hard and money was
scarce. He did not remain long with
Smith; they had some misunderstand-
ings, the result of which was that they
parted.
One of Portland's lawyers says Of
Reeds law practice: The first case OF
Importance that remember Reed had
was homicide affair, involving a
drunken sailor. woman, bottle of
whisky and several such details 1t
was plain case against the sailor, but
Tom undertook to defend him. He
lost the case. 1t was, I believe, next
to impossible to have won. The facts
against the sailor were too plain.
1T was difficult for Tom or any
other young man to make headway at
the Portland bar in those days. The
then, as now, very conservative, and 1t
was hard hoeing for the newcomer.
Old lawyers did not form partnerships
with young aspirants, you may DC
sure"
Tom Reed now was confronted with
condition which, in one form and an
other, has mad its influence on his
whole life, and that was the State
Street Congregational church and tho
desire of the women thereof, who had
in part paid his college expenses, that
he become a minister. Whatever tho
religious opinions of the youth may
have been when he entered college,
suffice it to say that he came from
Bowdoin fully satisfied in his own mind
that he could not embrace the full bo-
liefs of the State street church. What
was to be done? He must repay the
money the women had advanced him.
He determined to do SO without delay
1t was a struggle, but the Independent
young man finally conquered Then
Tom signified his intention OF with
drawing from the Congregational
The upshot of the whole matter WAS
that Tom was one day informed that no
had been dropped from the rolls, or, in
other words, he had been, in the Ian
guage of the mean politicians, who are
low enough to make capital out of any
thing, put out of the church." If
ever you hear the story that Tom Reed
was put out of church." you will now
know how much weight to attach to it.
In three years. Tom Reed had ac-
quired a living practice. Then, one
day, there came to him what has since
proven one OF the opportunities of
life time, the chance to serve his ma
tive state in the legislature. This was
in 1858. Two years later when he was
well up in the law, he was seen walk
ing, occasionally, about the elm-shaded
streets of Portland, In company with a
petite widow, by name, Mrs. Jones.
Her father was Rev. S. r. Merrill. the
chaplain of the First Maine cavalry.
Tom was very tall while she was small
and slight One child. Catharine, a
charming daughter, is the result Of the
union.
In telling this story of the rise Of
poor boy l wish to lay stress on the
fact that Tom Reed-everyone in Port
land calls him "Tom"-told me that he
cares nothing for publicity. nor would
he aid me in any way in obtaining
these facts Indeed there are people
in Portland who would. if they could,
leave ont the lowly degree of the boy
and begin this narrative only with the
mans later fattering successes. There
is nothing in Tom Reeds life other
than that which may inspire and en-
every poor boy ia the Land
even to hopes of being struck one day
by the presidential lightning.
Had No Last Words.
Mice What rors ttn -1.%