Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1884 — LAYING IT ON THICK. [ARTICLE]

LAYING IT ON THICK.

- - A Good Send-OflTfbr -ft-.--- - W. H. Calkins. - . s m»B a Washington Letter. Anion? those made prominent by personal worth, intellectual power and forensic ability, in the present Congress, William H. Calkins, of the 13th District of Indiana, stands in the fore front In fact, it may be said of him, that while not assuming leadership, he is the actual leader upon the Republican side of the House.. Modest to a fault, inately retiring, -• he exercises leadership by the impelling force or power that marks a man of genius, who ignoring self, seeing the right, the right maintains regardless of consequences. America has been peculiarly fortunate in the. fact, that, at the proper time, without the aid of ancestry, weald), or predisposing surroundings, from out the masses have sprung leadformed and moulded, equal i,to the occasion. Washington, Adams, Clay, Webster, Douglas, Cass, Lincoln, Grant, Blaine, Conkling and the grand old Commoner, Thad Stevens, have each been given when most needed: and to-day, when in Congress there is a comparative dearth of statesmen, from the State of Indiana, unhearalded by the sound of trumpets, but panoplied in right, William H. Calkins stands at the head of a gallant minority and hurls defiance in th? face of the most aggressive majority that has been in the House of Representatives since 1860 - William IH. Calkins was born in P.'ke«ounty, Ohio,- Feb. IR,-1842, and is consequently less than 42 years of age; he stands 6 feet 2 in height, and is one of the noblest and most princely of men in personal appearance. He is strongly grounded in the right, and all tlie powers of darkness cannot swerve him from it. While the most combative of men when attacked, m his intercourse with his fellows he is as amiable as a woman. He is moved by the woes of the sorrowing who surround him, and in his domestic relations is the most loving of husbands and indulgent of fathers. He is the truest type of the ideal American to-day in politics; and politics only has a charm for him in the fact that by and through it he can be of use to his fellow citizens. > Born in Ohio in 1812, he emigrated with Jiis father to Benton county, Ind. , in 1853,and worked on a farm until 1856, from 1858 to 1861 he was city editor of the Indiana Daily Courier at Lafayette, during which time he also studied law. At the breaking out o( the late rebellion he enlisted as a private, and was attached to the loth Indiana Regiment for 3 months. He then went to lowa and assisted in raising the 14th lowa Regiment and was made Lieutenant of Company 11, of that Regiment. He fought at the battles of Forts Henry and Donaldson and at Shiloh where ho was taken prisoner, and confined in the prisons at Macon -- and Madison,— Geo-rgiay—and-Libby,-Virginia. where he was paroled in October, 1862. He rejoined his region ent and remained with it until his ..is health gave way, the result of the brutal treatment he received while a prisoner, and in (863 he resigned. But

he could not give up the idea that his services were needed by his country, and his health being restored, in October, 1863, he ro-en tered the army and was assigned to the 128th Indiana Infantry. In Feb., 1884, he was promoted to the rank of Major of thb 12th Indiana Cavatrfrwith which he remained untiF Dec., 1860. He then returned to Indiana and entered upon the practice of law. In 1866 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the district composed of the nine northwestern counties of the State. He was re-elected in 1868. in 1870 he was elected a member of the General As-embly of Indiana, from Porter Co. In YB7l he settled at LaPorte, and entered upon the practice of law with judge Osborne. In 1871 he was nominated for Congress, and defeated by Dr. Haymond, but in J 876 he was renominated and beat his old competitor by eleven hundred majority. He was re-slected in 1878, 1880 and 1882. In the last Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Elections, and Speaker piv. tern., and-made a reputation ~fsr fairness, honesty, and impartiality, of which hiss constituent as well as himself may be proud. Mr. Calkins is comparatively a young man, and at the same time he exhibits a m atari ty of judgement and com pre. hensi veness so vast that lie is apparently at home on ad questions presented for consideration. That he is the rising statesman in the Republican rank£ is “apparent to all, and Democrats without ds sent accord him the position of the foremost man in his party in tile House to-day, ■ ' —, -♦ • ♦—.«!»—— Ayer’s Hajr Vigor improves the vt hhj unit autl prumUiCß 113 growth. It imparts,an attractive appearance, a delightful and lasting perfume. While it stimulates the route, ctenses the scalp, and adds elegance tp luxuriance, its effects fcre enduring; and thus it proves iteelt lobe the best