Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-02
||f@ EVENING CHAT 1

| most effective campaigners known in
pennsylvania and discussed matters
with a frankness that at times dis
mayed the managers of his party's
affairs. They used to say he never
sought q controversy, but he never
lodged one, and IL a question was put
at him that was dangerous he handled
| 1t with sincerity and did not care
where the chips flew. In fact, 1t was
| this very openness of mind and free
dom of speech that led to the famous
! message from Quay, one Of the classics
| Of PENNSYLVANIA politics: Dear
Beaver: Don't talk"
General Beaver was thrice wounded
in battle and his third wound, which
took away his leg, is believed to have
indirectly caused his death. He came
of a long-lived and fighting family of
the people who settled the Juniata
Valley and who number among their
descendants so many prominent Penn
.sylvanians. 1t was characteristic of
him to leave an envied place in the
law office of one of the great lawyers
of the day to go to war. His prompt
ness to enlist was shown by the fact
that his company was in the Second
Regiment and his record is told by
service until 1864, when he was sent
home without leg and with en-
comiums of his superiors, including
personal letter from the brilliant
Hancock. The General was wounded
at Charlottesville, Petersburg and
Ream's Station. The first time he
thought he was mortally wounded and
told the men who came for him to get
the men who needed help, adding that
1t would be time to look for the dead
after the battle. The second time he
was blown up by a shell, which ex-
ploded at his horses feet. and he had
to be sent home for care. He ap-
peared at Hancock's headquarters not
fit for duty and was sent home again,
sorely against his will, and only when
Hancock personally ordered him away.
His third wound. which cost his leg,
was while he was waiting for the start
of an attack. The man who saved
him from the advancing cavalry
horses feet was Ferdinand Rohm,
Juniata countian, who Is now SER
geant of the Capitol police. General
Beaver never forgot him and appoint
ed him to place on the HILL"
There was something heroic about
Beavers Christianity. Armies are not
Sunday schools and profanity some
times is heard more than prayers.
General Beaver used to have prayer
meetings in camp and before he went
into battle he would have prayers
right in front Of his command. Like
Frederick the Greats hard-f1ghting
field marshal, Leopold of Dessau, he
believed prayer was a necessary pre-
requisite to battle; but once devotions
were over the Amalekites were to be
smitten.
1t might have been the lot of this
distinguished son of Perry county to
have been President of the United
States. In 1880 he was a member of
the famous 1905" which stood for the
nomination of Grant in the Repub-
ncan national convention and because
of his commanding position as chair
man of the Pennsylvania delegation he
was much in the minds of delegates
he was asked by delegates from Penn
sylvania. Ohio, Tennessee and other
States to permit the use of his name
for Vice-President. The offer was
tSoI packed by the dominant figures of
that great gathering, but General
Beaver declined. Garfield was nomi-
mated for President at that conven-
ton, elected and died, and Arthur.
who accepted the vice-presidentiai
nomination, occupied the White House.
The very next year Beaver was within
reach OF senatorial seat When the
a.
mented Henry w. Oliver withdrew
they asked Beaver to be a candidate.
he stood for the balloting, but the
party breach was too great to be
healed. In 1882, when the same party
schism prevailed, General Beaver went
down to defeat as Republican candi-
date for Governor. The candidates
were Pattison. who won; Beaver and
John Stewart, now justice Of the Su-
LOT
the Republicans had learned their les
son and Beaver won by 10000 over
Chauncey Forward Black, of York
General Beaver was the son-in-law
of Hugh Nelson McAllister, who was
allied in marriage to one of this city's
families and who died at the consti-
tutional convention of 1873, to which
he had been chosen because of his
great ability as constitutional law
yer. Mrs. Beaver was one of the
most charming women who have
graced the Executive Mansion and for
years has been welcome guest in
Harrisburg homes. The eldest son of
General Beaver. Gilbert Adams Bea.
yer. married the daughter Of the late
Judge John w. Simonton, adding to
the ties that bind his family to this
city.
When the war broke out Andrew
Gregg Curtin, the Governor, showed
his confidence In Beaver by having
him elected to command the infantry
company of which he had been him.
self the chief. He personally gave
him his commission as a colonel and
when the war ended he appointed him
commander of a brigade of the Ma
tional Guard. When Beaver became
Governor he selected Daniel Hartman
Hastings as adjutant general and
placed him before the people and
when Hastings became Governor he
appointed his former chief as one of
the first judges Of the Superior Court.
The last of three remarkable men,
the Center county Governors" the
life of James Adams Beaver should
furnish an inspiration to the young
folks not only of the town among the
mountains where he lived and died,
but in the city where he resided as
chief magistrate and in whose welfare
he showed so keen an interest.
critic, who announced that he was
Bull Mooser.
The Bureau of Municipal Re-