Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-28

Methodist, ana TOT many years hlS homo was the place of worship for Axley, Cart wright and other famous circuit riders who made that country ring with their achievements in behalf of the church mil itant. His father learned tho cabinet making trade. which he pursued indus triously, together with farming. His cour- ago made him a popular leader in his neighhorhood, and he became a colonel of militia.
 His mother, Sarah Davis, was of Scotch. Irish descent. Tho house in which she lived until her death a flow years ago and in which her distinguished son was born was an humble cottage perhaps 20 feet wide and 30 long a story and half in front standing on the sido of hill past which runs the old Indiana state road. Until his mothers death Judge Gresham often visited hor thero and spent day or two in his boyish haunts, losing for the time tho driving and resistless current of the busy world of today in the old fashion ed quiet and serenity of 90 years ago
 In 1888 Grosham's father was elected sheriff, and the next year he was murder cd by noted desperado whom he had gone to arrest. His mother was left a widow with five small children. Walter c. was but years of age when his father was killed. Benjamin, tho oldest, was S. A struggle ensued, but from tho hard hand of penury they earned the right to live and finally to prosper. Benjamin, like his father. learned the trade of car penter but also clung to the farm. Wal ter grew up with but two or threo years winter schooling until he was 16 years of age He was tall, slender youth, a thoughtful boy, desiring to study, but without opportunity and lhtle in the way of books to read. But his eyes took in 0 horizon that extended far beyond his moth CTS farm, and by dint of hard work and the assistance of his brother he succeeded in entering the seminary at Corydon. Two years there and one at Bloomington university completed his education so far as schooling was concerned
 The Law and Politics.
 He began the study of law under Judge w. A. Porter, one of the noted characters of southern Indiana while acting as dep uty clerk and in 1854 entered into part | ncrship with Thomas C. Slaughter, an | eminent lawyer of that time and after | ward judge of the circuit court. To com | binr law and politics was the universal custom with young lawyers in the United ! states. and Gresham was no exception to 1 the rule. His admission to tho bar and the l Nebraska agitation wore coincident. The Whig party, with which all of his 1 political traditions were associated, had dissolved It was m exciting timo, and mon were ranging themselves on tho slav- cry question. In lS65 the Republican 1 party was formed, and with it Gresham at | onco allied himself He stumped his sec 1 tiun of tho stato for Pathfinder Fremont, who had been nominated at Philadelphia. l In the law Gresham had gained a good | reputation as a careful, painstaking law yer. His style of oratory was almost on tirely argumentativc, addressed to the reason rather than the feelings of his au- diturs While Judge Gresham could all i ways interest his hearers, he did so more by the clcarness of his statcmonts and cx- RCtno's of his language than indulgence l in anecdotes or figures Of speech. Judge GrCshams lntor decisions on the bench haVe been compared with those uf Ch!uf | Justice Marshall, whose luminous rensnn- ing has always bcun commended to the study of lawyers, young and old.
 Meantime tho country was sweeping on 10 great events. The death grapplc with slavery was at hand. Mr Gresham was olocted to tho legislature, whero he as chairman of the committee on military affairs, brought forward a militia bill which placed Indiana on war footing. Olivor F. Morton, the great war governor of Indiana, leaned upon him in the then impending crisis. Gresham had natural military instincts and was commander of a company known as tho Spencer rifles.
 Gresham as n Soldier.
 With tho first shriCk of wars alarm Governor Morton appointed him licuten- ant colonel of the Twenty eighth Indiana. DnU before no saw active service he was appointed colonel of the Fifty-third in December. 1Si1. Grcsham's regiment was ordered to join Grant after Donaldson. Ho immediately attracted tho attention of Grant and Colonel A. J. Rawlins, his chief of staff, by his bravery and ability Grosh- am was guarding the station at Savannah when the battlo of Pittsburg Landing (ShilOh) occurred. Ho participated in the siege of Corinth. however and later took part in Grants Mississippi campaign and the siege of Nicksburg.
 Aug. IT, 1>G3, ho was appointed briga dior general on the recommendation o Grant and sherman and placed in com mand of the Natchoz district. His govern mont of that turbulent city was wise an( judicous. It was crowded with cottoI thieves and spcculators, but his incorrupt
 ibility and tirmness soon drove them out.
 In the following spring he was placeC in command of the division of the Seven tornth corps of tho Army of the Tennes I
 against Atlanta. He was in tho battle O
 konrsaw Mountain and in the engage
 ments that followed until July 20. A 1 Leggut's $ Hill, before Atlanta, the CnioI
 forces wore preparing for an engagement
 whom Gresham ordered a battery to be 10
 Cated upon bluff. A mistake as to tn
 position being made, he went to atten'
 to it in person and was struck by sharp
 shooters bullet just below the knee. l
 was a dreadful wound and kept the gal
 lant general of the field for a year. T
 the day of his death Gresham never recov
 cred the full use of his limb. Many time
 the surgeons said the leg must come of
 but the sufferer, with grim determination
 replied When that leg goes, l go too.
 He saved the leg but was on crutohes fo
 several years.
 The war over, General Gresham return
 ed to his profession, forming a law part
 nership at New Albany. Ind. In 1866 h
 was nominated for congress against NJ.
 Kerr, but the district was heavily Demo
 cratic, and he was defeated. When Ger
 eral Grant. who thought much of him became president, he offered him the co lectorship of the port of New Orleans, tn second best office of the kind in the couI
 try, but he declined, as he did the positio
 of United States district attorney of II diana. The circumstances attending thi { latter action showed him warm hearte feeling to his friends.
 Gresham and Grant.
 , He had come to Washington to solic
 this appointment for a friend and ha
 brought all his influence to bear on Ger
 eral Grant. Grant told him he had a
 ready made his selection for this position "Who is he?" asked Gresham.
 } Yourself, replied Grant.
 But Gresham would under no circun stances take the office. He was finally pr, vailed upon to accept the United State district judgeship for Indiana. Unt April. 1883, he held this position wit honor to himself and satisfaction to lit gants