The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-06-18
CAREER OF BOIES.
HE MAY LAND IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.
Iows's Favorite son-Perhaps He will
Unite the Democratic Hosts-Ear1y
Struggles of Self Made Man
why He Took UP Law.

The position Of Hon. Horace Boies of
Iowa is unique in politics. Even if he
fails to make the slightest personal ef-
fort, he is bound to figure prominently
as presidential possibility. The situa-
tion presses him to the front,
A large majority Of the Democrats of
the west are for the free coinage of sill
yer. So is Horace Boies. Naturally they
will seek to nominate for the presidency
that man among them who is strongest
in his personal backing" and at the
same time most unfinching in his adj
herence to the free silver idea. To fulfill
these conditions the finger of prescience
seems to point inevitably toward the Sc
lection of the Iowa man.
To be sure, there are others, and
among them Bryan Of Nebraska and
Bland Of Missouri, each popular in his
own state and entitled to due recogni-
ton at the hands of the silver men, but
it goes without saying that the follow
ing Of Boies is many times larger than
both the others could muster jointly.
Indeed, it is admitted by the warm.
est friends of other aspirants for presi-
Dental honors, that, since his official
Endorsement at the recent convention Of
Iowa Democrats and the general ap-
proval Of that action that has come from
Democrats all over the west, the strength
of the silver faction of the Democratic
national convention at Chicago will
measure the chances Of Ex-Governor
Boies for the presidential nomination.
In view Of this contingency people
generally are beginning to cast about
for further knowledge of the man who
may be destined to wear high national
honors. 1t is not to be inferred that tho
American people are in entire ignorance
of his career. The sound of his political
achievements has reverberated far, but
accurate date respecting his personality
and his life are wanting. To supply this
information is the purpose Of this article.
Horace Boies was born 6S years ago
in little country village near Buffalo.
His parents were both American born,
but his father was Of remote French de-
scent. The elder Boies was private in
the war of 1912. At the close of the
war he married and took up his abode
on what was then the frontier in west
ern New York. Here he brought up his
children. There were three boys and
three girls in the family.
Young Horace attended school in the
winter and worked on the farm in sum-
mer When 16 years Of age he conclud-
ed he would better go west His father
secured him passage on lake boat to
Racine, Wis, where he landed with 20
cents. He worked in that neighborhood
for farmers for some months, when he
was called home by his mothers sick
ness After-a short stay he again went
west and worked season or two on the
farm of his brother, who had settled in
Illinois Returning to New York, he
again went to school He had long
thought Of studying law, and his ambi-
tion had been encouraged by school
mate at Aurora, Adelia King, who aft
erward became his wife.
Did Chores and Studied Law.
When he concluded to take the all
important step, young Boies had only
So. Troubled about his lack of funds,
he explained his position to lawyer of
Springville, n. Y, whose Office he en-
tered. The lawyer sympathized with
the young man and offered to give him
his board if he would do the chores
about the house. The chores consisted
chiefly of taking care of two cows and
a horse.
There is reason to believe that the
struggling young law student found
comfort in the presence Of the school
mate of Aurora who had spurred his
ambition, for she had become an at
tendant at the academy at Springville.
For IS months young Boies applied
himself diligently to his lawbooks. He
was then examined very vigorously, &C
cording to the impartial methods Of that
time. The ordeal of examination lasted
three days and only OF the 13 candi-
dates passed the trial successfully. 1t is
scarcely necessary to add that Horace
Boies was one of the successful four.
In 1852 he was admitted to the bar.
He had just married the girl of his
heart, to whom he was so deeply in
debted for the words of hope and cheer
with which she had helped him. At the
time he opened his Office his total assets
consisted of SO and wife. Shortly
thereafter he removed to Hamburg, a
town near Buffalo.
At that time he was Republican, and
it was not long until he began to attain
prominence in the party. He was public |
spirited and earnest in his advocacy of |
what he considered proper legislation,
and in 1855 he was rewarded for his
zeal by seat in the state Legislature. |
1t is said that he would probably have |
been elected for the succeeding term had |
not his county been gerrymandered so
as to prevent Republican success in his
district
BY this time he was recognized as one |
of the leading lawyers Of western New
York, and, upon the advice of friends,
he moved to Buffalo and opened his law
office.
There he came into contact with |
Grover Cleveland. Mr.. Cleveland was |
assistant district attorney in Erie county |
in the closing years Of the war, and in |
1865 he was nominated by the Demo
Gratis for district attorney. Mr.. Boies |
was candidate for the Republican
nomination, and was defeated by only |
two votes by Lyman X. Bass, who was
a partner Of Mr.. Cleveland and defeated |
the future president
In 1867. the health Of his wife being
very poor, Mr.. Boies determined to move |
farther west in the hope of finding a
climate better suited to her. The place |