The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-10-05

| OF sut1clent importance TO have given q
lesser man lasting fame. He served in
congress for several years, he represented
the United States government for three
years at the court of the czar of all the
Russias, and he was lawyer of extended
practice.
He was a native of Bellefonte, and was
born April -, 1915. His father, who was
from County Glare, Ireland established
| one of the first iron manufactures in
| Pennsylvania. He was educated at the
| C 1mmon schools of Bellefonte and the
academy at Milton, and when he had fin
| ished the course of the latter institution
two professions were open to him-the
| law and the ministry. He chose the for
mer and was admitted to the bar in 1889.
He won his first case and quickly built up
| a good practice
1t was during the campaign of 1910,
when he was but % years of age, that
| young Curtin took the stump for Will
lam Henry Harrison, Four years later he
was even more prominent in the canvass
for Henry Clay. In 1s4S and 1852 he was
| a Wing elector. In 1854 he was consid-
cred one of the leaders Of his party, and
his nomination for governor was strongly
urged that year. He declined the honor
| because Governor Pollock, an old school
mate, desired reelection and worked
| for his denomination and election with
unbounded zeal. Pollock was elected,
and Curtin became his secretary of state.
The Republican party was at that time
| in its formative state, aud Curtin was one
of its chief spirits. He was desirous of Sc
curing the Republican nomination for gov
ernor in 1860 and backed by Thaddeus
Stevens, Galusha A. Grow Alexander X
Mcclure, John W. Forney and Matthew
Stanley Quay all Of them then young men,
but strong in the counsels of thenew party,
he won in the convention and was elected
by a majority OF $4,000 votes
His first acts after his nomination were
turned toward the national Republican
nominating convention at Chicago. Every
thing seemed 20 point to the nomination
of Seward, but along with David Dudley
Field, Ihaddeus Stevens, Horace Greeley
David Wilmot and others Mr.. Curtin did
not believe Seward nomination would be
likely TO bring out the entire strength of
the par, at the polls, and he joined the
o her gentlemen named in the fight for
Lincoln's nomination.
The state contest closed in Pennsylva-
mia In October and was no less exciting
than the national canvass. 'As goes
Pennsylvania, so goes the union" was
the cry everywhere. Mr.. Curtin took to
the stump a. soon as he returned fr9m
chicago, ana ms laoors We're lncessant un-
III the close OF the state campaign The
victory won thei' went long way s'Ward
lnsurlng na'lonal victory IN November
Governor CufUn was lhanEurattu Jan.
l, 1851, and was immedla'ed confronted
with unprecedented dllAcul'les' 1t was
evident that lhe south would revolt. Cur
Gin hrst met Lincoln on FeD. ~ at Harris
burg. Inc presldent-elect was on his way
to Washington, and at private confer
ence, at which Governor Curtin was pres
ent, the startling news was told that
plot against Lucoln's NE had been dis
covered Governor Curtin Invited LIN
coin to spend the night at his mouse, and
TO allay suspicion lett lhe remainder OF
the presidential party at he Motel In
stead Of taking the president to his house
Curun drove with MIN TO the outskirls OF
the town. where special tram was IL
waiting
Shortly after ms Inauguration President
Lincoln called HoYernor Curtin TO WASH
ington ana a~@ed him to recognize th'
, existence oI civil war In a message 10 tn'
( pennsylvania legislature. Ihls Curtin al1
ina document that, considering the haste
with which IL was prepared and all The
attendant circumstances, must be regarded