Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-10-31
BIOGRAPHICAL. SKETCH.

Chas Stevens. candidate for county at
torney on the free silver ticket, is Hoos
Ter by birth and is the youngest of four
children. When a mere child his mother
brought him to this county where he iivet
the life of an orphan boy. whose days
are burdened with difficulties and honest
toll.
For several years the family gardened
and struggled along as best they could, th'
mother at times nursing the sick in Colum
bus to secure money with which TO live.
At the ages of -. - and u Charley
worked for +. a. Gee, the last year re-
ceiving sI3 per month. While ye, II
years of age he learned the broom makers
trade and aided the family in this way. Al
the age OF 10 he bought on time an old
team. some old farming tools and rented {
place where he farmed and made brooms
for two years. selling hundreds OF them IL
Columbus and vicinity. He continued
this business until he took up that Of can
vassing and repairing cook stoves at which
he was very successful in making enough
money to warrant him in taking up the
study of law. for which he always had
prediction.
After reading with Hon. C. D. Ashley
of Columbus he went TO the State Univer
sity law school of Lawrence from which
he graduated with honors in the spring oil
1893 having been admitted to the bar
While studying with MIR. Ashley he re-
paired stoves TO pay expenses, and while
attending college he bached and did his
own washing in order ,oget along with the
little money he had, par; OF which was
borrowed The day he received his
sheep skin he did no, have dollar in the
world he could cali his own, as his ex-
penses in college had been much heavier
than he had expec ted them TO lie. Owing
to the fact that there was fine college Il,
Fort Scott aud that he desired to take
years course in political history. he went
TO that place where he entered this class.
also the class of elocution. and hung cut
his shingle 10 keep down expenses, he hay
ing only what money he had made in this
county stacking wheat for c. ID. Arnold
and others the previous summer. He
laugh, commercial law in college for one
year. answering the hundreds OF ques-
tons propounded to him by over 10
bright college students.
While at IT. Scott and without any So
licitation on his part he was nominated fol
the Office 10 which he now aspires. aud
although the entire ticket. consisting of
five candidates for county Offices, was de-
feated nevertheless three of the FIVE in
Guiding Mr.. Stevens, received about the
same number of votes, Stevens and Gish
receiving the same number, while one re.
ceived 10 less. showing plainly that he ran
along with the majority of the ticket. 10
show that his defeat signifies TO weakness
it might properly be stated here tina, in the
following year. or 1906. the Republicans
of the same county defeated fusion
ticket, except one man who had an unpop.
ular opponent.
He prac,iced law between two and
three years in Fort Scott, during which
time he enjoyed good practice, paid ali
the debts he contracted while attending
law school. all the tuition in the IT. Scott
college. and nearly all the expenses of
campaign, the last of which he paid by
selling his law books and office furniture
which he had accumulated while at Fort
Scott. he having neither when he located
at that place.
One year ago December next. after hav
ing enjoyed an excellent practice IA part OF
which owing to hard times still remains
unpaid for). he returned to this county
with the intention Of practicing law.
But after learning that business was
dull here and that few lawyers were max
ing actual expenses. he concluded that it
would be worse than nonsense to go into
business only to 60 deeper into debt. so he
travelled few weeks delivering course
of lectures on scientific subjects. viz;
Phrenology and hypnoiism. making
grand success Of the business until the
season for entertainments Of that charac-
ter closed. 1t may be said that he is tner-
getic. honest and has always borne good
reputation.
He graduated from law school and was
admitted not only to the state courts, but
also to the United States courts. both dis
trict and circuit. where he tried as high as
four cases in one term. in the year 1898.
[ His opponent was admitted in 1892.
Charley Stevens has spent the most of
his life just west Of Columbus. and is
not now. nor never was. tramp" or
hobo. as the Courier and Advocate of
this city are pleased to call him. but is an
energetic gentleman in every sense of the
word. He has worked his own way from
the field. broom shop and stove repairing
business into the highest courts of this.
the grandest nation on earth. and will
compare legal certificates with his oppo-
men, at any time or at any place.-Colum-
bus Modern Light.