St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-01-08
Governor Shaw in Vermont.
The New Secretary of Ihe Treasury 4
Native of TOrFjsIOwn.


The New Secretary of the Treasury
Native of HIOrrjsIOwn.
Leslie Mortier Shaw, who has been
selected by President Roosevelt as the
successor to Lyman !. Gage as secretary
of the treasury, is a VermOnter, having
been born in the town OF Morristown
about three mics from Morrisyille, in
LamoilIe county. His parents were in
| humble circumstances at the time of his
birth, and he was the second OF four
children, there being e daughter and
three sons. He was born Nov. 2, 1913,
in a log cabin, nestled at the foot OF Mt
Mansfield, the highest mountain in the
state, and named for Chief Justice Mans.
field, from fancied resemblance in out
line to the profile of this noted jurist.
The log cabin is described by old resi-
dents OF the vicinity as being of the most
primitive type, having absolutely no
convenience, and resembling lean to-
rather than the modern idea of the
picturesque log cabin which figures so
frequently as the birthplace Of successful
Americans. The first few years of Gov.
! Shaw's life were passed amid the humble
surroundings where he helped in the
lighter tasks of the farm and household.
He was particularly helpful in caring for
his younger brothers.
BY dint of hard work and Yankee
thrift, his parents were able to leave the
| log cabin and purchase farm i'll Stowe,
which adjoins Morristown, and said to
be one OF the most beautiful spots in
Vermont, situated in the Green mountain
| bo 10 bt1,.ty rf,-
Here he was able to continue bis
schooling which he had begun in Morris
| town, where he attended the district
school when not obliged to labor on the
farm. This was generally in the winter,
when farm work III this rugged state is
stopped by the frost and snow, and short
DAYS make it impossible to perform any
outdoor tasks. His early education was
obtained in this fragmentary manner,
| the longest time he went to school being
two terms of II weeks each. When in
his teens he developed an ambition to be
a lawyer, but had no time or means TO
devote to the stujy, and continued to
help on the farm until he was i years of
age, when he went to Iowa, and shortly
atterward entered Cornell college at Mt,
Vernon, and was graduated from that
institution in 1874. He was so success.
tul in his college career that he was
urged to continue his studies, and grad
uated from the Iowa law school in 1876.
He never practiced law, though he was
admitted to the bar of Iowa, but pre-
terIed to lead business life and became
a successful hnancier Though so lar
from his native state he continued his
interests in Vermont, and has acted as
loan agent for the Burlington and Wi
nOoski savings banks for many years,
and has made many wise investments
for the university of Vermont. 1t is said
of this famous NermOnter that among
| his many excellent qualifications for this
| position, that he has never lost dollar
of money intrusted to him. In recent
visit to the towns of Morristown and
| Stowe it was found that many remem.
bered Leslie, and all spoke particularly
of his being good boy, having been
brought up to attend, as regularly as
possible, the services in the Methodist
meeting house. Possessing all these
good qualities he was not free from a
spirit Of iun and boyish pranks, and as
known as a hector" but was never
known to be mean or deceitful. One Of
his favorite methods Ct enjoying himself
was cited by gentleman residing near
Morrisville at a recent interview. He
said that Leslie, having physical pecu.
liarity OF possessing six toes on one foot
used to delight in frightening his young
er playmates by exhibiting his foot.
This never tailed to cause panic among
the small boys and girls, which he
counted as a huge Joke Though favor
tie in school, he is described as being dit
ferent from other boys OF his age. He
cared more for reading and was less de
pendent upon tie COmpanionship OF
Others for amusement. His early relig-
ious training in the Methodist church
has not been lost, and since his residence
in Iowa he has been an active worker,
and has several times been a delegate to
the general conference of that church.
His father, Borden O. Shaw, died about
year ago. Nearly every summer Gov.
Shaw pays visit to his old home, where
herenews cid acquaintance and keeps in
touch with his native tOwnspeOple
Among those who remember him as a
boy are Ex u. S. Represent alive H. Henry
Powers, Ex.Gov. George w. IIendee and
c. F. Smith Of Morrisville, P D. Pike,
GeorgeWilkins and A. H. Cheney Stowe
all of whom express themselves as well
pleased with the honor bestowed upon
their former townsman. Gov. Shaw 5
stepmother is still living in MorrsviIIe,
and when seen by a Globe reporter she
said that she felt proud of the success OF
herstepson, who has always been a good
; and dutiul son to her. She was greatly
pleased to think President Roosevelt
thought that Leslie was capable of fill
ing the place, but thought that the work
would break down his health. She wa.
. in hopes that when he vacated the gov
: ernorship that he would retire to private
life for a while, as she knew that he haC
p. recently made large additions to hi,
: residence, and knew that his wife wa.
: anxious that he should retire from otfic
ial life for a while 80 Boston Globe
i Old Soldiers Experience.
i M. NJ. Austin a civil war veteran, o