The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-05-28


In 1888 Gresham'a father was elected
sheriff and the next yoar was murdered
by noted dssperado. whom he had
gone to arrest His mother was left q
widow with Eve small children. Walter
@. was but two years of age whom his
father was killed. Benjamin, the old,.a
was eight. A struggle ensued. but from
the hard hand of pcnury ,hoy earned
the right to live and finally to prosper.
BENJAMIN. like his father, learned the
trade OF carpenter, but also clung to
the farm. Walter grow up with but
two or three years winter schooling. un.
til he was sixteen years OF age. lIe sue.
ceeded in entering the seminary at
Corydon. Two years there and ono at
Bloomington University completed hi,
education, 40 far as schooling was con.
cerned. He began the study OF law
under Judge W. A. Porter, one tho
noted characters OF Southern Indiana,
whls acting as deputy clerk. and in
1854 entered into partnership with
Thomas c. Slaughter. an eminent law
yer OF tia. time.
y
In 1855 the Republican party was
formed, and with /: Gresham at once al-
lied himself IIo stuiuped his section
OF tho state ior pathfinder" Fremont.
Mr.. Gresham was elected to the lcgisla-
ture, where he was chairman Of the COM
mittce on military affairs. Oliver 2.
Morton, tho great war governor OF In
diana, leaned upon him in the impend-
ing criais. Before he saw active service
ho was appointed colonel OF the Fifty.
third in December, 1861. Gresham's s
regiment was ordered to join Grant
after Donaldson. August II. 1863, he
was appointed briSadier general on the
recommendation OF Grant and Sherman,
and placed in command Of tho Natchcz
district. Intuo following spring he was
placed In command OF the division oil
the seventeenth corps Of the army of
tho Tennessee. He was in tho battle oil
keneaaw Mountain and in the engage.
ncnts that followed until July 20. At
Lecge,t's Hill before Atlanta he was
struck by sharp-shooter's bullet just
below the knee. IL was dreadful
wound aud KEEP! tho gallant general oil
the fold for year. Gresham never re-
| covered tho full use OF bis limb.
POLITICAL cAREEr.
Tho war over, General Gresham ra.
turned to his profession. forming law
partnership at Now Albany, Ind. In
1866 ho wa4 nominated -lor Congre's
agains. McKerr. but the district was
heavily Democratic aud no was do.
ieated. Whom General Grant became
President no was appointed tho United
States district Judge for indiana, Until
1855 he hold this position. When Post
master General llowc died in April,
1888, Gresham waa rendered tho cab.
met position by telegraph and accepted.
Near tho close OF Arthur's torn, on the
death OF Secretary Folger, he was ap-
pointed secretary OF tho treasury, n
position he held until October, 1881.
Prc.idon, Arthur, who had taken him
from tho bench, had tho satisfaction OF
restoring him TO tho bench at tho close
Of his service.
In 1855 Judge Gresham was made n
prominent candidate for the Ropubli-
can nomination for the presidency at
tho Chicago convention. liIst liberal
vlows on tho tariff created against him
tho nntagoniam OF tho extreme prosoc-
tiouists ut Chicago.
After Mr.. Cleveland was elected in
February, 1893. ho summoned Judge
Gresham to Lakewood, n. j., where,
ni,er n consultation. hc tondurcd him
the position Of premier Of tho cabinet
hc was forming. Judge Gresham nc.
cepted and assumed tho duties of socro.
,ary OF ata,c on March 7, 1898.
Irls DIPLOMATIC POLICY.
As secretary OF state in the preson!
administration. Mr. Gresham has had
to doal with pcrhaps more vonatioua,
intricate aud duICato diplomatic affairs
than has fallen TO tho share oi most
socro,arles Of state. Ills treatment Of
those was marked BY tho strong indi-
yidualily which was part OF tho man.
He Lal decided yiows upon tho LA.