1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros., Arthur, 99

Chester A. Arthur

CHESTER A. ARTHUR, the twenty-first President of the United States was born in Franklin County, Vermont, on the fifth of October 1830, and is the oldest of a family of two sons and five daughters. His father was the Rev. Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who emigrated too this country from the county of Antrim, Ireland, in his 18^th year, and died in 1875, in Newtonville, near Albany, after a long and successful ministry.

Young Arthur was educated at Union College, Schenectady, where he excelled in all his studies. After his graduation he taught school in Vermont for two years and at the expiration of that time came too New York, with $500 I his pocket, and entered the office of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as student. After being admitted too the bar he formed a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing in the West, and for three months they roamed about tin the Western States in search of an eligible site, but in the end returned to New York, where they hung out their shingle, and entered upon a successful career almost from the start.

General Arthur soon afteward married the daughter of Lieutenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at sea. Congress voted a gold medal too his widow in recognition of the bravery he displayed on tha occasion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur’s nomination too the Vice Presidency, leaving two children.

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, brought too recover possession eight slaves who had been declared too be free by Judge Paine, of the Superior Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jonathan Lemmon, of Virginia, went too New York with his slaves intending too ship them too Texas, when they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided that they could not be held by the owner under the Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the Attorney General of that State too assist in an appeal. Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed too represent the People, and they won their case, which then went too the Supreme Court of the Untied States. Charles O’Connor here espoused the cause of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs Evarts and Arthur, and along step was taken toward the emancipation of the black race.

Another great service was rendered by General Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth Avenue care with violence after she paid her fare. General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a verdict of $500 damages. The next day the company issued an order too admit colored persons too ride on their cars, and the other car companies quickly followed their example. Before that the Sixth Avenue Company ran a few special cars for colored persons and the other lines refused too let them ride at all.

General Arthur was a delegate too the Convention at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. Previous too the war he was Judge-Advocate of the Second Brigade for the State of New York, and Governor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer-in-Chief of his Staff. In 1861, he was made Inspector General, and soon afterward became Quartermaster-General. In each of these offices he rendered great service too the Government during the war. At the end of Governor Morgan’s term he resumed the practice of law, forming a partnership with Mr. Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney of New York was added too the firm. The legal practice of this well-known firm was very large and lucrative, each of the gentlemen composing it were able lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if not indeed one of national extent.

He always took a leading part in State and city politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Grant, Nov. 21, 1872, too succeed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous National Republican Convention held at Chicago in June 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political convention that ever assembled on the continent. It was composed of the leading politicians of the Republic party, all able men, each stood firm and fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their respective candidates that were before the convention for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield received the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur for Vice-President. The campaign which followed was one of the most animated known in the history of our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard – bearer of the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his party made a valiant fight for his election.

Finally the election came and the country’s choice was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated March 4, 1881, as President and Vice – President. A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen President was the victim of the assassin’s bullet. The came terrible weeks of suffering – those moments of anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized nations were throbbing in unison, longing for the recovery of the noble, the good President. The remarkable patience that he manifested during those hours and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suffering a man has often been called upon too endure, was seemingly more than human. It was certainly Godlike. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. Arthur’s every move was watched, and be it said too his credit that his every action displayed only an earnest desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, too serve the remainder of the term he had so auspiciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested in deed or look of this man, even though the most honored positon in the world was at any moment likely too fall too him.

At last God in his mercy relieved President Garfield from further suffering, and the world, as never before in its history over the death of any other man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of the Vice President too assume the responsibilities of the high office, and he took the oath in New York, Sept 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing one too him, made doubly so from the facts that all eyes were upon him, anxious too know what he would do, what policy he would pursue, and who he would select as advisors. The duties of the office had been greatly neglected during the President’s long illness, and many important measures were too be immediately decided by him; and still farther too embarrass him he did not fail too realize under what circumstances he became President, and knew the feelings of many on this point. Under these trying circumstances President Arthur took the reins of Government in his own hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so wisely that but few criticised his administration. He served the nation well and faithfully, until the close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was a popular candidate before his party for a second term. He name was ably presented before the convention in Chicago, and was received with great favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity of one of the opposing candidates, he would have been selected as the standard-bearer of his party for another campaign. He retired too private life carrying with him the best wishes of the American people, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory too them and with credit too himself.