The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-06
GEN. WALTER Q. GRESHAM.
SOLDIER, JURISF, STATESMAN.
Long ana Evcntful Career as Il
iuDiic Man The Story of His Deeds
in War and Peace.

, eminent ami distinguished in thes,
three great fields Of human cndeavor
ne rose TO the rank Of major genera
ol volunteers during the war Of seces
SION. tho was for fourteen years
United States District Judge fol
Indiana and for eight years United
States Circuit Judge for Illinois, and
held three Cabinet portfolios, Post.
master General and Secretary of the
Treasury under Arthur, and Secretary
ol STATIC under Cleveland. Such an
ePltomc of public service few men
can boast. Gresham came from English
stock. Ills ancestors moved to Virgil
mia, and later to Harrison County,
Indiana, wherc he was born on St
Patrick's day, 1882. His grandfather
was farmer, honest, faithful and
courageous, particularly noted for his
piety. He was a devout Methodist
and for many years his home was the
place Of Worship for Axley, Cartwright
and other famous circuit riders whC
made that country ring with their
achievements in behalf of the church
militant. His father learned the cabi-
net-making trade, which he pursued
lndustriously, together with farming.
His courage made him popular idol
in his eighborhoOd, and he became
u colonel o. militia. His mother,
Sarah Davis, was of Scotch-Irish
descent. The house in which she lived
until her death few years ago. and
in which her disting uished son was
born, WAS u humble cottage perhaps
twenty feet wide and thirty long, n
story and half in front, standing on
the side Of Il hill past which runs the
old Indiana State Road. Until his
mothers death, Judge Gresham visited
a W nI
boyish hannts, losing for the time the
driving and restless current of tho
busy world of to-day in the old fashion
ed quiet and SCI entity OF fifty years
ago. In 1898 Greshum's futurr WAS
elected shcrlll and the next year was
murdered by IL noted desperate whom
he had gone TO arrest. His mother
was left widow with five small
children. Walter Quentin was but
two years Of ago when his father was
killed. benjamin, the Oldest was s.
n struggle cnsued, but from the hard
hands of pcnGry they earned the right
To live and finally TO prosper. Bon amin
like his father, learned the trade Of
carpenter but also clung to the farm.
Walter grew up With but Two or
three years winter schooling until he
WAS sixteen years Of age. He wus Il
TALL, slender youth, thoughtful boy,
desiring to study but without 0p-
portunity and with little in the way of
books to read. But his eyes look in
horizon that eXJ, nGrd far beyond his
| mothers farm ana by dint OF hard
work and the assi"tancu OF his brother
he succeeded in entering tho seminary
at Corydon. Two Years there and one
at Bloomington University completed
his education 80 far as schooling
was concerned. He began the study
OF law under Judge w. y. Porter,
one oft he noted characters of South.
ern lndiann, while acting us .cputy
clerk, and in 1854 entered into
partnership with Thomas G. SIaugh-
ter, an eminent lawyer Of that time
and afterwards Judge Of the Cir
cult Court. 70 combine law and poll
tics was then the universal custom
with yonng lawyers in tho United
Stalca and young Gresham was no
exception to the rule. His admission
We're coincident. The Whig party,
with which all Of his political trad-
tioEs were associated. had dissolved.
IL was an exciting time and men we're
ranging themselves on the slavery
question. In 1866 the Rcpublicun
party WAS formed and with il Gresham
at once allied himself. He stamped
his section OF the State for "Pnth.
Under Fremont, who had been nOmi-
mated at Philadelphia.
In the law Gresham had gained q
good reputation It's a. careful, pains
taking lawer. Ills style Of orLtory was
almost entirely urgumontntivu, ad-
dressed TO the reason rather than
the feelings of his auditors. While
Judge Gresham could always interest
Ia h..,. Ia tt.l
clcarncss OF his statements and exact.
ness CT his language than Indulgence
in anecdotes or figures of speech
Judge GrcshamS later decisions on
the bench have been compared with
those Of Chief Justice Marshall, whose
luminous reasoning has always been
commended to the study OF lawyers,
old and young.
Meanwhile the country was sweeping
on to great events. The death graphic
with slavery wasat hand. Mr.. Gresham
was elected to the LcgiS laIurc, where
he, as chairman Of the committee on
military affairs. brought forward a
militia bill which placed Indiana on Il
war footing.
Oliver +. Morton, the great war
Governor OF Indiana, leaned upon him
in the then impending crisis. Gresham
'ip' 'if'"'i ~ tllu was
commander Of company known as
the Spencer Rifles. With the first
shrek OF wars alarm. Governor Nor
ton appointed him Lieutenant Colonel
of the Thirty eighth Indiana, but before
he SAW active service he was appointed
Colonel of the Fifty-third in December,
1861. Grcshaln's regiment WAS order
cd to join Grant after Donaldson. He
immediately attracted the attention
of Grant and Col. A. j. Rawlins, his
| chief-of-etai1, by his bearing and
ability. Gresham was guarding the
station at Savannah when the battle
OF Pittsburg Landing (ShilOh) occurred
He participated in the siege of COrjn-
tn, however, and later took part in
Grants Mississippi campaign ana the
scigc OF Vicltsburg. On August II,
| 1865, he was appointed brigadicr gen
| eral on the recommendation Of Grant
and Sherman anu placed in command
of the NatcheZ district. His govern
mcnt OF that turbulent city was wise
and judiciOus. 1t was crowded with
cotton thieves and spccnlators, but his
incorruptibility and irmncss soon
drove them out. In the following
spring he was placed in command Of
the division of the Seventeenth corps
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