New-York tribune., 1902-06-08

| ambition as parents Of the Middle west noo Out
| the story of Lincoln the rail splitter.
The first step after five years, when ne was
| appointed Surrogate of the county Then he went
to the State Senate, and from that to the ONCE OF
Attorney General Of the State In 1918 he reor-
ganized the Democratic party in the state. ana
| three years later sent to the United states
Senate. After that offices came to him so rapidly
that he was continually resigniag one TO accept
another. He left the Senate to become Governor
of this State, and. in turn, deserted Albany Tor
the portfolio of State. rendered him by President
Jackson The Senate kept him FROM being Minister
to England but the rejection resulted in his be-
coming vice-Presdent. His election to the highest
Office followed
As soon as President Van Buren retired to private
life he returned to his estate at Kinderhook-lln-
denwaId he called ii. When the civil struggle over
slavery began the venerable ex-Presdent was III
poor health. He declared himself warmly for the
integrity of the republic, and until the day Of his
DEATH July a. 1852 he took interest In LiHcoln's
efforts to crush the rebellion. He was much graft
fed that public confidence in the President re-
maned unshaken the dark days of July, 1862
Samuel Jones Tilden, who stands after President
Van Buren in Columba's roll Of fame, was born
at New-Lebanon in 1914. He attracted the attention
of Martin Van Buren, when a youth by the merit
of q political article which he wrote. It showed
that there could be no honest alliance between
the Republicans and anti-Masons against the Demo-
Gratis. The article taken to Van Buren by
Tflden's father, and its merit attested by the
formers decision to publish it throughout the State
Again. In the fall of 1888, after his "Crno'' papers
in defence of the Presidents policy had attracted
attention all the country, young Tilden had
a chance to show what he could do. Nathaniel P
Talmadge United States Senator from New York
went to Columbia County to speak against the
financial policy OF the President. The Whg man.
ayers invited reply. The Democrats accepted the
challenge and named Tilden as their champion.
He faced the veteran Senator without finchins,
and spoke mastery refutation to his argument.
The speech stampeded the meeting against the
Wings. A few years later he removed to New
York, and his later successes were not won from
the ground of his home county.
There is still another Columbia County lawyer
who attained unusual prominence in the old days.
He is mentioned by Oliver Wendell Holmes in his
Poet at the Breakfast Table The author put
this question to Gulian c. Verpanck. old New
Yorker:
Who, on the whole, seemed to you the most
considerable person you metz" and then
comes this comment: Now, it must be remem-
bered that this a man who had lived in city
called the metropolis; who had been member
Of the State and national legislatures; who
had in contact with of letters, of
business, with politicians and members of all the
professions, during long and distinguished public
career. paused for his answer with little curios
ity- Would II be one of the great ex-Presidents
whose names were known to all the world? Would
1t be the silver tongued orator of Kentucky, the
godlike champion of the constitution own New
England Jupiter Capitolinus? Who would it be?'
Take 1t altogether. he answered very deliber-
ately. should that Colonel Elisha Williams
was the most notable parsonage that 1 have ever
met with
Colonel Elisha Williams! And who might he
be, forsooth?
"A gentleman of singular distinction, you may
be well assured even though you not familiar
with his name; but I am not writing a bio
graphical dictionary I shall leave 1t to my reader
| TO find out who and what he was
Elisha Williams son of Connecticut. who
! came to Columbia County to practise law soon
after he had been admitted to the bar. AS an
orator he famous all over the State and his
powers were almost well known in New-York as
| in Hudson.
Columbia County the of the most
bitter ant-rent riots, and from the beginning OF
the trouble against the holders of until the
courts finally decided in favor of anti-renters
1t the centre of strife An anti-rent party
figured in the elections for number of years and
] its organization was kept UP after its legitimate