This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: JanSlater Surnames: FERREL, BLAINE, GILLESPIE, EWING, SHERMAN, BALOW (?), WORKMAN, McGURGAN, BOYLE, CUNNINGHAM, BOLDEN, BEALL, STOWE, WHITE, SAGE, ACHESON, HART, McKENNAN, McFADDEN, CODY, LAZEAR, SEARIGHT, STOUFFER, LEMOYNE, BAYARD Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.greene/11099/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Waynesburg Republican, June 28, 1894 BLAINE'S SCHOOL DAYS "AUNT BECKY" FERREL OF WAYNESBURG, INTERVIEWED. Some Unwritten History Brought to Light by a Well Known Writer - His First Step Into the World's History at Washington. "Yes, Chile, I knowed Jim Blaine as well as I knowed anybody - that is, when he was a little shaver and as devilish as they made 'em. Didn't never see nothing' of him after he growed up, but Brother Si did." Aunt Becky slung the pretty soapsuds off her brown old hands, wiped the seat of hones toil on one corner of checked apron and invited us to "come into the room." The familiar face of James Gillespie Blaine looking kindly down upon us from the wall, otherwise adorned with pictures of Aunt Becky and her "dead and gone" husband, and it almost seemed as if his photographic shadow divined our errand. Though not exactly of the same color, Aunt Becky and the chronicler are something akin since "brung up: in the same neck of the woods, said "woods" being that spot upon the map marked Waynesburg, situated in Greene county, otherwise the "state of Greene", by reason of its political activity. As children of Waynesburg we had always known enough to respect Aunt Becky Ferrel, b! ecause she had grown up in the service of the Blaine family, and to respect her brother, Uncle Josiah Workman, because he had "toted Jim Blaine when he was a kid," and for that matter, to treat with more consideration than we would otherwise, all the little chocolate drops known as the offspring's of these distinguished colored folks, "because as we then understood it "they were relations of the Blaines." But only now, after more years than I care to confess and after all the "poor white trash" seem to be tired out, reminiscening (sic) over the Blaines, Gillespies, Ewings, Shermans, Balows?? and others of this honorable connection, did it occur to me to hear from some of the old colored survivors. Aunt Becky had her tubs on the porch and though confessedly 71 year old, was rubbing away with a vigor that would have done credit to one third of her years. She had helped was Jim Blaine's clothes many a time when he was not much more than a baby and she young in her teens. She had washed and dressed "little Jim," too, more times than once, though she was not his nurse. Brother Si might be called that, since he was always set to watch him, "and he needed watchin, too, for there was never no tellin' what he'd git into." But when we ventured the opinion he must have an unusually mischievous child, Aunt Becky would not agree. "He wuz not a whit worse ner other boys. Of course, birds' nests tempted him some, but Lord! them do all boys. All the Blaine boys got punished for anything like that. They wuz well brought up. Their mother wuz an uncommon pious woman, a strict Roman Cath'lic. She wuz a Gillespie you know. All them Gillespies wuz Cath'lics." "And the Blaines, Aunt Becky, what was their religion?" "Lord! child. they hadn't none; leastwise 'Squire Blaine hadn't. 'Sposen it's no harm to say it now, he's been dead and gone so long; but the squire could swear powerful. He cussed the Cath'lics, too, but Miss Blaine, she didn't mind; she had the young'ns all baptized in her church. But they didn't all grow up Cath'lics. Jim didn't for one; he tuk after the Blaines, only I don't know as he wuz a hard swearer. But there never wuz a Gillespie what wasn't a Roman Catholic. Elizabeth Gillespie, her as wuz Jim's grandmother, is buried in the Cath'lic cemetery upon the hill younder. Did you know that, honey?" "Honey" did not know that, it being her impression Grandmother Gillespie's body had been removed to Brownsville. But we found the grave, as Aunt Becky said we would, "on the hill," in the most obscure corner of the enclosure; the mound, shapeless and grassless, marked by a plain gray slab, bearing the talismanic cross, and the inscription, "Elizabeth A., wife of Niel Gillespie, died August 27th 18__. in her 77th year. May she rest in peace." She is the only one of her family buried here, her death having occurred at the house of her son William, some six miles above Waynesburg, upon what was know for years afterward as the Gillespie farm, until bought by Judge Lindsey, whose heirs still own it. William Gillespie moved away from Greene county, and not even Aunt Becky remembers that any of the family ever visited the lone grave, though one of Niel Gillespie's sister, Mother Angelo, who founded the order of the Holy Cross at Cincinnati, has sent vestments to the Waynesburg church (the first set owned by the church, I think,) and by other like kindness to the church has shown the family's representative "on the hill" is not forgotten. There is only one living representative of this family in Waynesburg, Mrs. Frank McGurgan, who was a Boyle. It was Niel Gillespie's sister who married the gallant young Irishman, Hugh Boyle. And so the "state of Greene," celebrated for its Democracy, for its progressive little capital, with its fine parks (the only town west of the Alleghenies that has a park,) boasting of Daniel Cunningham, the only man in Pennsylvania who fought in the pope's army against Garibaldi; yet, with all these unique features, quite one town's share, it remains that Waynesburg is not "in it" along with neighbor Washington when it come to Blaine history. "Oh, if it's Blaine matter you want, stop off in Little Washington. They are still running Jim Blaine for President over there," said a Waynesburger, and the remark calls for an explanation. You see, Washington has a crematory and Waynesburg has not, while Waynesburg has a park with two fountains that splash and spray water and with the most citified notices to "keep off the grass;" furthermore in this park, in what was then the old Catholic burying ground, for years reposed the body of Blaine's grandmother, but neither a park, nor a fountain nor a keep-off-the grass sign has Washington, though she has had her oil boom, while Waynesburg -- well, she has her boom to get. While each of these progressive towns -- and honors are easy on the score of electric light... has famous colleges, it happens --fortunately that Blaine was only graduated from one of them. Quite naturally this, together with the rival attractions above, referred to, occasion a little "feeling" among thes! e neighbors, and so Washington, with a cultivated pathos in her voice always pitying says, "poor Waynesburg " and Waynesburg, and in order to keep Washington from feeling just too big for anything, never fails to remind her she is "little Washington," which term has much the same effect upon a Washingtonian that the red rag has to a certain infuriated animal. But I stopped off at Washington, for Aunt Becky had instructed me to see her nephew, Henry Bolden, who was born and raised near the Blaines and he "could tell everything and more too." I found Washington quite the reverse of "little," especially when came to hospitality and Continued on Fourth Page. Continued from First Page Blaine memories. It is not so much Blaine, the politician that is worshipped there, but Blaine, the school boy, friend and neighbor. His personal qualities are not forgotten. The town abounds in stories and reminiscences of his college days, when he was in his closing teens and fullest of boyish enthusiasm. Here his first sweet heart still lives, a "college widow." Just why the marriage never took place is not known, but we know it would not at that time have been just the greatest match a pretty girl could make to marry Jim Blaine. Washington certainly can (unreadable) down: Waynesburg in the matter of Blaine relatives. The little city abounds with his distinguished connections. There are still a good many who remember when Ephraim Blaine with his family of little people moved to Washington. This was after he had been elected prothonotary , and a mention of this canvass always brings out the story of how the opposition tried to defeat him by circulating that he was of the Catholic religion, whereupon Squire Blaine instructed some on to write to the priest at Brownsville and find out. The following reply of the priest referred to forever settle the matter, and as was supposed secured his election: "No! Ephraim Blaine is not a Catholic; nor, in my opinion, is he fit to be a member of any church." The new courthouse had just been finished and Ephraim Blaine was the first prothonotary to occupy the new room. Through the courtesy of W. C. Baldwin, one of Washington's citizens and a Blaine worshipper, I was privileged to visit the room which is still the prothonotary's office. The only change made has been the introduction of larger windows and the removal of Blaine' (sic) old desk. On one of the small panes removed appears the name of Ephraim Blaine stretching crooked clear across it. This was cut in with a diamond which the "squire: is said to have "sported." Surely that smacks loudly of prosperity and a very human vanity. The squire is credited with having had a watchful eye on the family finances in general, and by reason of such interest had his father-in-law, Niel Gillespie, tried for lunacy. It seems Grandfather Gillespie was fond of the ladies (rest his soul!) and would load up his buggy with fine silk dress patterns and go through the country distributi! ng them right and left. His relative-in-law got unease over such recklessness and had him arraigned. Zepheniah Beall, his brother-in-law, with two other "good men and true," were the examining committee. From the verbal description I have had of the old gentleman's physical make up, I judge had and Abraham Lincoln could have passed for brothers. It is an incident of the trial that he turned upon Ephraim Blaine, raising his long arm, pointed his bony index finger in the face of the his greedy son-in-law said: "Ephraim, how many farms had I when you married my daughter!" "Seven." How many had you?" "None." "How many did I then give you?" "One." "How many have you now?" None "How many have I now?" "Eight." (Curtain) The records in the prothonotary's office seem to show that Ephraim Blaine was a man well qualified for the office; and judging by his legible and attractive chirography he could write by rule as well as swear by rote. All down the pages his signature appears, clean and uniform never showing a pen-stroke of difference, and always finished with the same neat little flourish underneath. Of course visitors to this office felt cheated because young Jim was not then old enough to assist his father in the office, in which event the books setting forth his clerical ability would now be upon exhibition. But Aunt Becky's relative, Henry Bolden, assured me young Jim was then enjoying his play days - that is, enjoying them when not getting punished, which happened all too frequently to be funny. One of his mother's favorite means of punishment for an infringement of her rules was to make Jim wear on of his sister's dresses. This was not only ignominious but inconvenient. As his sister was quite tall he found the long drapery a great impediment to locomotion. It is told of one occasion, when so attired and in the midst of his affliction he heard the shouts of the boys playing ball on the green near the house; the temptation was irresistible. He twisted the hateful skirt around his waist, letting it float over one arm, and with a whoop of freedom plunged into th! e thickest of the players. "Uncle Henry" is not responsible for that story. He remembers young Jim better when several years later, after his father had moved from Washington, he returned to attend college, making his home the while with his relative, Major Ewing. The young colored lad had a home there also, and if anyone doubts it is a good one, let him interview Uncle Henry, so loyal to the old stock, and of whom he says: "No such people now' adays - much as I can do to endure some people these times, for you see I am used to so much better. Our best people now are in the cemetery." There was no color line in those days. Many a meal, Uncle Henry says, he has eaten with Jim Blaine and the Ewings, "and all served alike." The boys tried to teach him from their books, and young Jim would get fighting mad because Henry did not show greater disposition to learn. But when cornered, Uncle Henry reluctantly admitted that Blaine was not rated the most progressive boy in s! chool. He only stood "middling well," was not valedictorian of his cl ass and had contested for the honors for his society and lost. Blaine belonged to the Washington society, but all the Ewings (Henry included) were Unions. Uncle Henry said he only "leaned" with the Ewings, but he thought he was a member just the same. Uncle Henry has several books there were used by Blaine. These he keeps in his barbershop where we found him, much to disgust, it being in his opinion "no fit place for ladies." He had sent us word not to come, as he did not care to be interviewed: anyway, "there were white people in town who knew as much as he did" - a great compliment to the white folks, of course - but Uncle Henry suited out (sic) purposes better, for was he not Aunt Becky's own relative! For two mortal hours there was neither shaving nor shampooing in that shop, though Uncle Henry, too polite to sit in our presence, stood in a business-like attitude back of the barber's-chair. So much afraid of "telling tales out of school" in the beginning, the historian gained courage as the interview progressed, and proved himself no less susceptible to womanly blandishments than his sex in general, colored or white. Whether learned under Jim Blaine's tuition or received by absorption through living among the "be! st people," it must be said that Uncle Henry talks well, better than many a man noted for his "book learning." Along with Blaine's school books Uncle Henry has reverently preserved some old college catalogues. These show that Blaine entered that school in 1843 and was graduated in 1847. It is interesting to notice the names of men who have since attained distinction, appearing in these catalogues and during Blaine's time. Of legal talent there is a showing literally too numerous to mention; but of those having reached the "bench" we noticed as most familiar to us those of Judges Stowe, White, Sage, Ewing, Acheson, Hart, McKennan, O. B. McFadden and Cody, now of Olympia, state of Washington. Nicknames belonged to all these "boys" at school, but Uncle Henry could not recall them. He remembered Jim Blaine was always called "Nosey" Blaine, and that "Tom" Lazear, Pittsburg's (sic) clever lawyer, having the misfortune to hail from "poor Waynesburg," was "Irish Tom, the verdant Son of Greene;" while Thomas Benton Searight, known to us familiarly as Col. Tom, was respectfully called Be! nton, but always, affectionately (?) as "Red-Head." Of all Uncle Henry's recollections those of "Red-Head" seem to be the most amusing to him. The barber echoed several hearty laughs, chorused by us when he tried to tell us of Col. Tom's school-day pranks, which we out of deference to his present day's dignity, promise not to repeat. Uncle Henry had a recent letter from Col Searight which he produced with pardonable pride and allowed us to read. It seems Uncle Henry had written the colonel for a copy of the forthcoming history of the old National turnpike, now in press, and in backing his claims for a complimentary copy, had referred to some of "Red-Heads" campus speeches. Col. Searight had replied in substance that anyone having heard those speeches was entitled to a copy of this history, and Henry should have his as soon as out of press. Uncle Henry says; "Young Benton Searight was a born speech maker; there was simply no keeping him speechifying, and he was always, most eloquent long abut midnight, or from that until ! morning. You see the boys would be returning from seeing their girls, or maybe somewhere else, but they would always meet on the college campus before going home; then Searight would mount the steps for a platform and orate so loud and so long that some one of the faculty was sure to hear the fuss or else someone would report, and the next thing the college authorities would be along to break up the meeting. The boys would meet the faculty next perhaps, but would repeat the performance that same evening." Having heard that Blaine was noted for his oratorical talents while at this school one of us ventured to inquire if he did not do some "speechifying" upon these occasions, when Uncle Henry said: " he never got a chance, 'Bent' Searight always got there first. No one could have mad a speech then if they had had one ready. It was all the boys could do to keep their sides from busting. Why they would just roll over the campass (sic) in every direction holding their sides." "Were they political speeches, Uncle Henry?" "Oh, all kinds. Searight was a Tory, or thought he was. But Blaine was a Whig all right enough. So was I, and furthermore I am one of the four men in this town who went down with Whigs and came up with them. All the Republicans here are converts; I played the fife at the convention that nominated Freemont. Yes, Miss, I heard Blaine say intended to be president some day. Seeing the name of Charles J. Stouffer catalogues in Blaine's class of '47 reminded me that Mrs. Stouffer had told me her husband and Blaine were intimate friends at this school and that whenever Blaine wanted his chum Charley Stouffer to grant him a favor, he would promise him he should be secretary of state when he (Blaine) got to be president. Although this, the goal of his ambition, was never reached, more is the pity! Yet his life from the time he left Washington and Jefferson college down to the time of his death read like a political romance. Only 12 years afterward he was elected to the Maine legislature; three years later to congress; then successively cabinet officer, United States minister and presidential candidate, coming within 524 votes of being elected. Washington delights to talk of the last time Blaine visited his alma mater We all remember it was during his last political campaign, and when Washington county met him with a delegation that flooded Pittsburg, Uncle Henry was among the number and he has no other remembrance which he hugs so closely as the meeting with Blaine in the crowded corriders (sic) of the Monongahela house. Henry says he was "keeping back a little" while men of all parties passed about the great statesman, but all at one Blaine spied him, and making his way to the wall agai! nst which he leaned, Blaine laid one hand on his shoulder, grasped his right hand with the other, and with apparent emotion said: "Why Henry Bolden, are you here too?" Whereon Judge Stowe said: "Well Henry you do ho'd your own with any of us. Why, you were 100 years old when we all went to school up there." Among the many who came down from Washington, since not sure the "plumed knight" could take time to go to them, was Hon. John Ewing, who had only the day before celebrated his 93rd birthday. When he appeared in the crowd, someone said: Why, there is Maj. Ewing!" And catching the words Blain Wheeled rround (sic), put his arms lovingly about the old man's neck, saying: "Why uncle! This is indeed a glad surprise." But Washington need not have gone to Blaine, for Blaine went to Washington, and from the steps of the old college addressed the people. The reception committee had escorted him to the front of the magnificent new building, but he asked to be permitted to speak from the door through which he had passed so often in the old days. Many who did not have the pleasure of hearing the magnetic speaker will remember reading that heartsome (sic) address, in which he apologized for his emotion, which he said might seem affected in view of his prolonged absence from his alma mater, but for which his exceptionally busy life was alone responsible. It was not that he loved Maine more nor Pennsylvania less that he had stayed away 35 years for in his own words, "My attachment to Pennsylvania and Main can no more conflict than does the attachment a man has for his wife and his mother. To-day I visit my mother and I am sure I bring a heart full of kindly recollections to all with whom I was! associated, and to their descendants, and to this venerable institution for which I have a feeling of reverence. I have desired never to omit a fitting acknowledgement of the great obligations I feel under to this school; and I may say here, that having in other relations of life had experience of colleges that in the world's reckoning are more famous, I have met none that for thoughtfulness and utility of instruction, have gone beyond my own recollections of the college at Washington." Let it be borne in mind, Blaine had had no experience in or of Waynesburg college! Several were the anecdotes of this visit, drawn out of Uncle Henry and and (repeated word) abundant additional proof of Mr. Blaine's remarkable memory for faces and names. Upon this visit, when meeting so many people he had not seen for 35 years he never came nearer forgetting than when he mistook Miss Madaline Lemoyne for her sister. Everyone colored or white, were quickly recognized and given a special greeting which left no one doubting that Mr. Blaine knew them from Adam and Eve. All old servitors of either Blaine or Gillespie family were rewarded by a gift of money before they were bidden goodby (sic). I remember when old "Uncle Si" Workman came home to Waynesburg the richer by $25 for having gone to Pittsburg to see the great man whom he "toted when a kid," and whom, by his own acknowledgement, he had wished he dared drown as they did the supurfluous (sic) kittens and pupies (sic) of the place. Of course Mr. Blaine visited the hall of the Washington Literary soc! iety, from which place he spoke for the benefit of the college boys, dwelling upon the advantage of society drill in speaking, assuring them that if they attained confidence to address the society with still greater ease, address mass meeting of 10,000 people. In looking over the archives of the society, the minutes during Mr. Blaine's course were resurrected and furnished him a good deal of amusement. He at one place recognized his own handwriting; at another he said: "that is Tom Searight's," then he smiled as he said: "Blaine fined for non-performance." MARY TEMPLE BAYARD Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.