Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-12
4 NEW sropy on oR,>r.
Governor Criucnd-n TELLS of GeuerSrs
Loyalty 90 ~ Friend.
I.ntnnn Itllu lIuF

l irtttcndcns OF Nnut was 10 nlt ono OF
the most interesting and touching stories
ever heard. having It's origin prior to and
its sequel following the war. IL was told
me by Samuel ~ Churchill some time In
the '70s. The other person involved in the
story became. during and after the rebel
lion, one of the greatest characters OF the
century. Churchill resided In ST. Louis
prior TO 1860. He was a state senate and
some time in 1870, he returned to Kentucky
and was chosen secretary Of state. His as
sociates in st. Louis we're Edward Bates
Hamilton Gamble, Samuel T. Glover. Gratz
Brown, Frank Blair and gentlemen OF that
class. much doubt II there is one reader
OF the Star who ever knew him or ever
heard of him unless 1t be Judge John w.
| Henry or Colonel Van Horn. whose knowl-
edge and memory Of Missouri cover many
years. many stada OF history. and still
he was one OF the prominent political and
social leaders in st. Louis and Missouri
In those days-genisl cultivated. brave as
man is, soft as a woman He was in
affiuent circumstances and he was never
| forgetful OF the obligations OF wealth.
| Prior to the war there was living near
st. Louis a man In the most humble cir
| cumstances. Though soldier by instincts
and education and q graduate OF West
Point, he was daily engaged in selling and
delivering cordwood to whoever would buy
small quantities from a small time worn
wagon. drawn by two horses OF inferior
grades. This man was, in address above
his business. There was something about
his appearance that indicated he was more
than an ordinary man. He often sold
Churchill his small loads and was often
told by him that when he failed to sell to
others before night to drive his load to his
| WOOdshpd In o.. ~.
next day. BY that association the two be-
came well acquainted, one always deliver
Ing good wood, full measure, and the other
ever prompt. polite and liberal in his pay
ments, besides extending other hospitalities
so wei understood and cultivated between
gentlemen of their class
The rail splitter, the toiler on the tow
path and the cartman of today may. in
the fullness OF time. become the president
OF the United States. There is no bottom
rail- now, all are on top Time in its cease.
less course drifted us on and on from that
early day and soon, from the very nature
OF our government. civil war sprung up,
In all Its wild passions and devastation.
embittering friend against friend, dividing
the benefactor from the beneficiary and
causing the world to stand agbast at the
conflict. The temperaments of those friends
the man OF riches and the woodseller-
led them far apart for more than four
years. one cast his destiny with the south
the other with the north. As the war pro-
gresseu TINS young woodseller gradually
unfolded the qualities OF a great military
leader and was advanced from grade to
grade, from section to section, from Island
No. 10 to Donclson, from Donelson 10
shiloh, from Shiloh to Vlcksburg, from
Vicksburg TO the Potomac, from the Po-
tomac to Richmond and from Richmond 10
the presidency, ever equal to any demand
} or emergency. This man was Ulysses s.
, Grant, one Of the greatest military men
me world has ever seen, one whose great =
ness OF head and heart increased to the
utmost limit OF life. whose dying words
fell from his pen
Like roses from the lips of Angelo
ana angels might stoop to pick them up
As the war progressed this wood yender
became greater and greater and his ante
bellum friend became poorer and poorer.
his property being seized. sold and copfs-
Gated, so that when the cruel war was over
he had no place he could call his home. no
; resting place for his weary feet.
! Some years after the surrender of Gen
: eral Lee. Churchill concluded to return "a
his old Kentucky home for the purpose ~,
starting again in life and, IL possible
J gather up once more the lost threads and
= regain the lost dollars. In going homeward
from Richmond he passed through Washing.
t ton, where from the politeness of his ma
ture he felt 1t to be his duty and pleasure
I 10 call on his old friend Grant who in the
= strange legerdemain OF politics, fate brains
, and fortune, had become president. Church
( Ill said he approached the White House
with fear and trembling. not knowing how
g he would be received IT, indeed, he were
received at all.
, This apprehension showed he did no,
$ know the rich qualities of head and heart
of his old friend. The reception room was
q full of senators, congressman and others
4 awaiting their time and turn on the out
4 side, to be called into the presidents room
I This alarmed him that much more, full,
= confirming his belief that he would have tC
, leave without seeing the president Will
all these doubts he still ventured to seuc
his card In. AS soon as the president saw
the name upon 1t he came to the door him
self. called him Sam and invited him in
2 in spirit that showed him to be not OIL,
great in reputation, but also great in heart
e AS soon as the door was closed between
IS them and the outside crowd the presiden
;, told the servant to notify the others h
@ would not see them for half an hour.
i Churchill told me he did not know wha
d was to become of him. All kinds o
a thoughts were rushing into his head, sue
e as prisons. expatriation and other punish
j. ment for treason. Those were soon ST
81 fenced, as the president said TO him Sam
n how are you? Sit down and take a smoke
10 You used to give me the best Havana
J. when ] could not buy; now l want to re
ie turn some OF the past favors. Have yo
st any money? How is your wardrobe? ID
you want anything? DO you want an office
s. Can l be of any service to you whatever
is think more of those who were my friend
l. when l was helpless, with a growing famil
B. on my hands, than / do for all such tim
~ servers as stand on the outside waiting I
l. press me for places.
Of Churchill was. overcome by such nobil
IN ity Of sentiment and such generosity, bu
At he replied:
81 am a rebel, fresh from the confed
Of crate army, and have too high an oplnio
In OF you as our conqueror and as an oil
D. time friend to ask any especial favor
as your hands. would accept nothing tha
ne would embarrass you in the lines Of you
as own party ! have no right to ask for any
T. thing; / did not come here for that pun
t. pose I only came to see what changes,
al any, had come over the spirit of my oil
as friend
ut THE president replied i care nothin
O. for all that. There are obligations strongt
H. than politics and ties higher than the reco