Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-30
A YOUTHFUL. STATESMAN.
Romantic Career OF Albert j. Beyer-
idge Senator Elect From Indiana,

The election OF Albert j, BeveridSe
| To represent Indiana in the United
States senate was less personal tri.
umph than an answer to popular de-
mand, He is man of the people,
and has worked his way up from the
bttterest poverty, He Is, ueverthe-
less, one Of the youngest men ever
elected 10 the senate.
Mr., Reveridge Is about & feet 8
inches tall. but looks taller because OF
the erectness OF his sinewy figure and
his eld-tashioned manner Of dress
He weighs about i5S pounds. and has
the magnificent muscles OF an athlete.
He has high cheek bones. a profusion
VI brown hair, worn slightly longer
than the eastern custom, and steel-blue
eyes ,aat have in them the subtle quail
ity OF magnetism, His Is u middle
western face, mobile and expressive,
Of the type to which Lincolns be-
longcd, The new senator is precise
and formal in his dress, He wears 4
long frock coat, always buttoned up,
and a hlgh-standing collar, He takes
himself seriously, He is In earnest
He reminds you OF what Lincoln said
about western men growing old and
statd at an early age,
Mr. Bcveridge not unnanrally takes
himself seriously. He was never
boy. He was born on farm on the
border OF Highland and Adams coun-
ties. o., Oct, 6, 1862 Though only
| th,rty-siX years old. he is n veteran
OF twenty-four years in the war with
poverty, Bevoridge's father and his
older brothers were all In the union
army, AT the close of the war the
former found himself ruined. He
moved to Illinois, following rs SO
many have done the course Of the star
of hope. At twelve years of age Bey-
ertdge was following plough, as a
farm laborer, doing the heaviest work
in railroad grading, such ms straaning
to the kick OF the old fashioned
scrapcr, At fifteen he became u log
ger In the Illinois and Buffalo Heart
Grove black walnut district OF Illinois,
saving and hauling great logs OF heavy
walnut, to be cut up for making furni-
turc. Already the boy showed ca
pacity for command over men, and was
made foreman OF his camp, To this
day his skill as n teamster remains
with him, In this rough life, hand
ling rough men and doing rough work,
the courage, energy and force OF char
acter were developed which are the
elements Of Beverldge's strength. BE-
sides the labor of the logging camp
Beveridge STUDIED with the fierce ener-
gy of the ambitious young westerncr
by entering late In the fall and leav-
Ing early In the spring working nights
and mornings, he managed to com
plete a high school course His deter
mination attracted the attention OF
Edward Anderson, now living In La
Moure, N, D., who lent him $50 to be-
gin college course.
BevcNdgc with this money entered
De Paw university. He earned his
way the first year by acting as steward
for college eating club. Two more
years expenses he partly met by win
ming money prizes for scholarship es-
peeially In oratory. Notwithstanding
the fact that he was obliged to enter
very late each fall and quit early In
the spring. so that. he might toll at
the hardest manual labor during this
long vacation. he made n brilliant
record in college, representing Do
Paw in the intercollegiate oratorical
contest On Indiana In 1856. and subse-
quently In an Interstate contest, where
he held the first place, That happened
which was inevitable. The strain Of
these years Of fierce application told
on his splendid strength; by the end
of his course In college his health was
broken. He went west, became
cowboy and regained his strength by
slow degrees In the pure air that for
ever sweeps over the plains OF Texas.
When his strength was restored Bev-
idge returned to indianapolis and
entered the law Office Of Mcdonald Il
Butler as student. Again he Injured
his health by the privations his pow
erty required and by the tlreless zeal
with which he studied. At the end Of
one year Senator Mcdonald offered
him the post Of managing clerk.
But have had no experience" said
Beverldge astonlshed.
well. Albert" replied Mcdonald, ~
We can stand 1t guess you can.
Thus the matter was settled, and the
young man entered upon the duties.
practically. OF a junior partner. His
first argument in court was In mat
ter OF constitutional law, In his first
jury case he faced as the opposing
counsel Gen. Harrison and his firm In
the United States court.
Before the conclusion OF this case the
date set for Mr. Beycridges wedding
arrived. Judge Woods adjourned
court, and the young lawyer went to
Greencastle, Ind, where he was mar
ried to Katherine Langsdale, the belle
OF the college Next morning he was
Mr.. Beveridge soon began the prac-
tice OF the law on his own account.