Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1900 — MANY ARE SELF-MADE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MANY ARE SELF-MADE

CONGRESSMEN WHOHAVE RISEN - FROM LOWLY RANKS. Ily Yankee Brain, Drit and Tush Meehunics, Factory Hands and Farmers Arc No w Antons tlic Mcmlrerb of the House of Rcjtrcscn ta t iVes. Washington cun-csiiunili.-nci-;

MONO the new members of the ’ Fifty-sixth Con-, gross there is an an usually large proportion of “self-made” men — men who have ris’en front lowly station to places of honor and trust by force of their own efforts and merits. About the biggest jump is that made by Hon. Francis W. Cushman of Tacoma, Wash. This is his first year in the

House,' and iu attaining this honor lie has passed through the successive stages of common laborer, or section hand ou a railroad, to cowboy; from the ranch to the hijuher 'camp, to school teaching, to the law, and finally to Congress. He started in lowa. From there he went to Wyoming, thence to Nebraska, and from Nebraska to Washington. Only twenty-five years ago Hon. James

W. Ryan was driving mules in Mahoney . City, Fa. When a mere lad his parents moved to this mining town, and .oung Ryan began to make a little money by driving a mule cart about the” mines. By this means he supported himself till he was

IU years old. Then he was graduated from the high school. Ilis high marks brought him into such prominence with the School Board that tln-y offered him the position of teacher in the public schools. lie saved enough money to carry him through the four- years needed to study law. Admitted to the bar, he soon began to make a mark, and now is a member of the national Congress. The career of Hon. John L. Sheppard of Texas is not dissimilar?" His father died when he was only a small boy and his mother took up a small farm in Texas, moving there from Alabama. Between the season of harvest and planting the boy studied faithfully. When he was' sufficiently advanced in ‘the common

- branches he bega 11 tile study of law. Thi>» he did entirely by home reading and without tuition. He was admitted to the bar, however, “and a prSctiee~oF" . only three years I brought him sufficiently before the public to bring him the district attorneyship over seven

counties. The next step was a judgeship, and the next his present distinguished position. The Pacific coast has also furnished a self-made man. This is lion. Russell ,1. Waters of California. He was raised on a farm iu Massachusetts. He worked at odd jobs.as a factory hand and in his spare' moments attended school. lie learned the trade of machinist. What he knew of lessons fired him with a de-' sire for more, and he continued to study hard. He went to a finishing school and worked himself up therein to a professorship in Latin and mathematics. Obeying the mandate, “Y’oung man. go west!” he emigrated to Chicago, studied law, pushed further west to California, engaged in banking, gas and publishing enterprises, and became prominent iu many public institutions in Los Angeles, whence he'now returns across the continent to begin his career as a national statesman.

Born in an Emigrant Wagon. Hon. Janies C. Needham, from the Sev-

enth California district, was horn in Carson City, Nov., in an emigrant wagon, while his parents were pressing across the plains to California. From public schools young Needham passed through college, entered the War Department at Washington, was

graduated in law, and now ten years later comes to Congress. He never previously held any elective office. In the Middle States, 11011. Gilbert Haugan of lowa had a remarkable career. He was a merchant at the age of 14. 111 the first two years of small sales he had saved up enough to make the first deposit in payment for a farm. When only IS he purchased a farm and continued his education Until equipped enter a business college. He was thus eiiubled to pursue hardware, grain, live stock, implement and importation enterprises. From township and county offices he reached his State Legislature, which proved, ns in many cases, the vestibule to Congress. Farming was the first occupation of two other lowa Congressmen, McFher-

son and Smith. The former reached Washington by way of the Law School, district nttorneyship and State attorney generalship. 'A'he latter taught school until able to purchase some law books and . enter law school, whence he went into.succes s f 11 1 practice,

stepping into the Capitol from bis district bench. Hon. William A. Reeder began his career ns a school teacher. He was 14 years old when lie lirst became a pedagogue. He followed his roeation in the public schools until 33 years old; saving enough to enter the banking, business nml to establish the largest irrigation farm in‘bis Slat's

Hon. Phauor Broascale of Louisiana clerked iu a dry goods store, studied law, edited a newspaper and was elected dU- : trict atorney before receiving the eonj grcssional nomination, i ' From the bench of clothing cutter to the House of Representatives wa t the stride made by Hon. Frank C. W *,ter. who comes from Maryland. After iiig bis trade he developed the industry of examining, adjusting and refining woolen cloths. ‘ Hon. Henry C. Smith of Michigan

was employed as a farm and factory hand until 18, when ho commenced tti work himself through college by doing chores for a farmer in return for his board and by teaching during vacations. He was chosen orator for his college in an intercollegiate contest, and his elo-

quence brought him so much into public uotice that he was engaged to stump for the Greenback campaign under Zach Chandler, then chairman of the Republican State committee. He subsequently entered law practice and has participated in'every campaign since his first. Was a Printer’s Devil. lion. Edgar Weeks, also of Michigan, climbed the ladder of success to national importance by the rounds of printer’s apprentice, law student, soldier, newspaper proprietor, prosecuting attorney and probate judge. Joseph W. Fordney, his colleague, began life in the lumber woods, logging and estimating pine timber, and thus acquired a practical knowledge of the lumber business, in which he has since grown wealthy. Until within twenty years Hon. John S’. Robinson of Nebraska was working as a mechanic in a hin»o factory in West Virginia, where he saved sufficient to begin the study of law at the age of 23. Moving west, be became the attorney of his county and district judge, in which latter office he was serving when nominated for Congress. Freer of West Virginia, Mondell of Wyoming, Robbins of Alabama, Hoffecker of Delaware, Caldwell of Illinois, Brick of Indiana, Bailey of Kansas and Allen of Kentucky all\begnn their careers at the plow. lion. William C. Lovering of Taunton, Mass., began life as an employe in a cotton mill. Later he became president and general manager of the Whittendon Manufacturing Company of Taunton. From a common molder to leading crira-

inal lawyer of his State was the record made in only a few years by William D. Daly front the Hoboken (N. J.) district. He was made leader of his party on the floor of the New Jersey Assembly immediately upon entering that body; later became his party’s

leader in the State Sqpate, and in his late congressional campaign earned the dis--throtionof whipping May. Z. K. Fangborn, the veteran school teacher, who claims to be the only man who ever whipped Dewey. Another farmer’s boy is B. F. Spaulding of North Dakota. When only II years old he left his home in Vermont to earn his own living and to educate himself. lie worked upon a farm until lU, going .to school only three months during each of the five intervening winters. He then- clerked in stores for four years, being thereby enabled to continue his education in a literary institute and to be graduated from Norwich University. He later read law, went west’"and took a successful part in the territorial and State politics of North Dakota. II 011. George W. Welinoutli of Fitchburg. Mass., began as a minor employe in the mills of his native town. He is now president and director in half the business enterprises iu that up-to-date city. Hon. William C. Greene of Fall River, Mass., began life as a clerk in an insurance office. Thomas Cusack, from one of the Chicago districts, began business as a sign painter and grew rich at an extension of Ids trade before entering successful politics.

K. W. CUSHMAN.

THOMAS CUSACK.

J. S. ROBINSON.

F. C. WACHTKR.

EDGAR WEEKS.

W. D. DALY.