Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-09-01

although the boys soon got onto the
fact that he was originally called
Benjamin Franklin, and they used to
call him Benny to tease him, as he
never liked the name.
"MacVeagh was one of the most
brilliant men in college at that time,
especially in the classics, and took a
number Of prizes for composition,
defamation and oratory, and was
one of our best debaters. His health
was delicate and interfered some.
what with his standing. although he
was graduated with hOnors.
II never saw his father, for he
died before Frank came to college,
but knew him by reputation very
well. He was prominent man in
Chester County In politics and public
affairs--a dyed.in.thc.wo Democrat,
aud the personal representative OF
James Buchanan in that section of
the State where "Old Buck as they
called him, was political boss In
Pennsylvania. Mrs. McNcayh was
a quakeress. Her maiden name was
Lincoln, aud her father was a dis.
tant relative OF Abraham Lincoln
l knew her very well and saw her
frequently from time to time until
her death, which occurred not more
than eight or ten years ago. She
was woman Of rare mental quail.
ties and much physical beauty. 1t
was from her that the sons inherited
their refinement and taste. She was
one Of the loveliest and most love.
able cd ladies l ever knew. The
father, from what ] knew Of him,
must have been man OF strong char.
acter and vigorous intellect lie was
u leader In all public movements In
Southeastern Pennsylvania, full of
grit and 90, and was generally looked
up to by the people of that section.
"When ne died Frank went to West
Chester, the county scat of Chester
County, to live with his brother
Wayne, who had studied law and
gone into partnership with Judge
Lewis, who was commissioner of in.
ternal revenue under President Lin.
coin. Wayne married the daughter
Of Judge Lewis, and her brother,
Charlton Lewis, who Is now practic.
Ing law in New York, prepared Frank
for college.
"After graduating ut Yale Frank
went to New York and enterel
Columbia law school, where he took
the regular course under the famous
Prof. Dwight, a course Of inter.
national law under Prof. Francis
Lieber and course Of law history
under Judge Edm0nds, a very intel.
lectual aud learned man, who was
the head OF the firm of EdmOnds,
Bushnell & Hamilton and one OF
the leaders Of the New York bar. lie
assisted Judge Edmonds In editing
his edition Of the revised statutes of
New York. In the law school Mac.
Veagh took the Liebcr prize, and
was elected valedictorian OF his class
by the students, but his health troke
down before he could enter the law
examinations or compete for the
prizes OF the senior year, and he had
to abandon his studies altogether. A
year or two later, however. he went
back to Columbia College and took n
special examination before the trus.
tees and got his degree. Soon after
he formed a law partnership with
Charlton Lewis, Wayne MACY eagh's
brother.in.law, who had prepared
him for college. The firm name was
Lewis & Mac Veagh, but his health
continued SO poor that he had to
give up Office work and leave the
climate OF New York city. 1t Is an
interesting fact that his place In the
firm was taken by Sunset Cox, who
ut that time and for that purpose 70.
moved to New York from Ohio.
II recOllect," continued Senator
Higgins, shat Mac Veagh was knock
Ing around hunting for health for
more than two years He made u
horseback tour through the Eastern
States and then out through the
Northwest. going as far as st. Paul
and probably to the British boundary,
The doctors told him he could not live
on the seacoast, and that a profes.
sional life or any sedentary occupation
would kill him In few years. For
that reason l believe he decided to
locate In Chicago, and 90 into bust.
ness, but l am not SD familiar with
his career out there"