The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-09-30

/
- nd not a military man, his
ENHhs<'" rates the truth OF the poet Mil
toms words:
Peace hath her victories no less renowned
Than war.
A sketch of such man will doubtless be ac'
ceptable to the readers of the Democrat. IL
will be seen that his life was an active ana
busy one, and he never lost sight of doing
good to his fellowman. Organizing and es-
tablishing our government on correct principles
Of liberty and justice is largely due to him,
Thomas Jefferson was born April 2, l74S, in
Shadwell Albemarle county, Virginia, and
died at Monticello, in the same county, July
4, 1926. Peter jefferson, his father, was noted
as a large and powerful man, and with the
help Of his negro slaves, thirty OF so, raised
tobacco and wheat on his plantation Of l,9OO
acres. Peter jefferson, though not an educat-
ed man, was good mathematician, skilled IN
surveying, fond of standard literature and a
British whig in politics. He was member
of the colonial legislature, served as Justice Of
the peace and was q vestryman of the parish.
The first Of the name was an early settler, for
he was a member Of the first legislative body
convened on this continent. Peter Jefferson
was married in 1873, to Jane, daughter of
Isham Randolph, substantial citizen. OF the
ten offspring Of this marriage, Thomas was
the third. Thomas resembled his father in
stature and bodily strength, being six feet two
inches high and well proportioned. Peter
jefferson died in 1857 when Thomas was four
teen years old. On his death bed he told his
wife to see that his son WAS well educated, for
already the lad was well advanced in prepar.
atory school. In due time he waslsent to the
college of William and Mary. He always re-
membered his father with gratitude, saying
that he valued the education more than his
fathers estate. He was noted among his
schoolmates for good scholarship, industry and
not forward or obtrusive. His father also re-
minded the mother not to neglect the exercise
necessary for the boys health, and the youth
became keen hunter and would swim his
horse over the Rivanna, a tributary of the
James. The Jeffersons were musical family,
the girls singing the songs of that time and
Thomas accompanying on the violin, at last
becoming quite fair performer on that instru'
ment and which for long years was source
of enjoyment. 1t is evident Thomas Jeher
sons early surroundings were of the best,
At seventeen he entered college and is
spoken of then as tall, raw boned, freCkled
and sandy-haired, with large feet and hands,
thick wrists and prominent cheek bones and
chin, and with fresh healthy look and erect
and strong, and somewhat bashful in de-
meanor. The college was not then fully
equipped, but in DIR. William Small, of Scot
land, professor of mathematics, Jefferson found
an educator of great value and gratefully re.
membered him as grand teacher and of
agreeable manners. In his autobiography he
says the influence OF Dr. Small probably fixed
the destinies Of my life" 1t is proper to say
that the learned and agreeable professor be- |
came attached to his pupil and they were com.
panions in their daily walks. DR.. Small was
a man with advanced views, and was up with |
the times in progressive thought.
jefferson was hard student and so devoted |
to his books that at times he neglected the dy-
ing injunction of his father as to exercise, not |
even using his horses, or making his rides
shorter, and even emitting his. violin exercise
He mentions studying fifteen hours day, for
l time, Governor Fauquier gave a musical
party once week and Jefferson was always
here with his violin, the governor himself be-
ng performer, and at times taking a hand
n the concert. George Wythe afterwards
chancellor. was then young lawyer at Will
iamsburg and frequented the governors hos
,itable table. He was an able and gifted man
md helped greatly to form Jefferson's mind,
or after graduating Jefferson entered upon the
tudy of law under the direction of Wythe.
lis fathers estate being charged with the
upport of large family it was necessary the
'oung man should look to doing something
or himself, and so he entered upon his legal
tudies with resolution.
When of age, in April, 1894, the
of the family estate, and was ap.
ointed TO his fathers two offices, justice of
he peace and vestryman. He gave great at
ention to the farm, and through life was
,nown as an improving farmer. His legal
raining was based upon the works of Lord
,oke, of whom he said that "a sounder whig
lever wrote, nor one of profounder learning in
he orthodox doctrines of the British constitu-
ion, or in what were called British liberties "
,Oke died in 1888 at the age Of S1.and of course
new not the name Of whig, but he was promi-
tent in opposing Kings James and Charless
surpations. 1t was Jeffersons judgement
hat COke's great work, Coke Upon Lyttle-
on" prepared colonial lawyers for the part
hey took in opposing the usurpations Of the
ling and parliament; but from the time Black
tone became the leading text book ''the pro-
ession began to slide into tOryism." While
VI law he witnessed these memorable
Genes in the Virginia legislature that followed
he passage of the stamp act. He was a spec.
ator in the house when Patrick Henry read
lis five resolutions, written on a blank leaf
orn from "COke Upon LyttletOn." These de.
Jared that English subjects living in America
lad all the rights of Englishmen living in
England, the chief of which was that they
ould only be taxed by their own representa-,
ives In his old age at Monticello he loved to
efer to that great day, and tell of the thrill
nd ecstasy of the moment when the master
rator was interrupted by the cry of treason"
m saying Cesar had his Brutus, Charles first
lis Cromwell and George third-may profit by |
hese examples. If that be treason make the
most of it." Jefferson said he had heard the
,reatest orators of Europe but he never heard |
he equal of Patrick Henry.
ITO be continued