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ALGERNON SIDNEY PADDOCK. Every expression of life, and even the very secret thoughts of the soul, are revealed through the light and shade and form of the human brain, face and figure. We have in this instance an expressive, not to say speaking, countenance. Through it we have a sure and complete revelation of character. Mr. Paddock has a large head, supported by a robust. athletic frame. The mass of brain occupies the frontal or intellectual cavity. Broad between the ears indicates a degree of haecccity (sic) that insures him against all unnecessary encroachments; is rather neurotic for a man of lymphatic temperament: prefers some noctic (sic) pursuit to manual labor without a tinge of the groutnol (sic) ; is jocose without being battle, and despises nugacity in every form. In disposition he is temperate with a liberal degree of jocundity (sic), and is inclined to the sunny side of life; a little tinged with adiapliorous tendencies. but large perceptive faculties insure accretive results. Individuality, eventuality and human nature are strongly marked, with scarcely a tinge of the marvelous, and a reverence for only what is right and true. His religious professions would be from association rather than inclination. He is no political kablah, assuming a recumbent position at the feet of political blatherskites. He would as soon beg for bread as for office, and detests the one as he justly loathes the other. In life he has but one course, and that is indicated by the word manhood. If he obtains an office it must seek the man. A thick upper lip and full eyes indicate a frank, generous nature; an aquiline nose and a well set brow indicate firmness and decision. He has a wonderful degree of confidence in man, and does not believe his condition to be as deplorable as represented in the creeds of the churches. He interprets God by the light of nature, and the Bible by the rule of Universalism, although he may be ignorant of the name or tenets of that faith, yet his head and his heart are full of it, and outward forms cannot disguise the fact. In his mental composition there is a good share of the poetry of life; is possessed of good language, and a little more self-confidence, with the necessary experience, would make him a successful public speaker. The magnetism of his presence always commands respect; his earnest expression secures friends, and his free and social nature retains them. Opposite his name we write "success," be his undertaking what it may.
A. S. Paddock is a native of the Empire State, and was born at Glens Falls, Warren County, Nov. 5, 1830. He is of English ancestry, on his father's side springing from the early Puritan colonists of Connecticut; on his mother's side he is also of Puritan blood, her name being Wells and a de-
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scendant of the Sherman family, being through his ancestors remotely connected on one side with Gideon Wells, and on the other with Gen. W. T. Sherman. Ira A. Paddock, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Glens Falls, where his father lived for many years, but removed to the Green Mountain State when Ira was a mere lad. Growing to manhood he began life for himself, settled in Glens Falls, married him a wife, and engaged in the practice of law as a means of livelihood, which he followed for thirty years. He was a man of marked character and ability, one of the most prominent leaders of the old Whig party in Northern New York, and assisted in organizing the Republican party afterward. He died where he had spent the vigor of a lifetime, in August, 1862, full of the glory that crowns a royal life. Young Paddock entered Glens Falls Academy at the age of thirteen years, and pursued the usual academical studies until his eighteenth year. During this time he paid his own tuition by sweeping and keeping otherwise in order the rooms occupied by the male department of the academy. He made arrangements to enter Union College, advanced to the senior year, but finally gave it up and turned his face westward, locating in Detroit, Mich., to which place an elder brother had preceded him, a graduate of Union College and now a prominent lawyer in New York City. In Detroit he assisted his brother for eight months in the school-room, and then returned to New York and engaged in teaching in a district school with marked success. During his term of teaching he devoted his leisure time to the study of law. He continued his readings for over a year, but not with the full intention of entering the profession. In May, 1857, Mr. Paddock came to Nebraska and pre-empted a beautiful farm at Ft. Calhoun, which he yet retains. He took an interest in the growth and development of that town, with which he was closely identified for several years. In 1856 he worked and voted for Fremont for President. He was also a participant in the organization of the Republican party in Nebraska, and has ever been devoted to its policy as enunciated by party platforms from time to time. Mr. Paddock engaged on the editorial department of the Omaha Republican, for which he was a regular contributor, doing a liberal share of the editorial work during a part of the years 1858 and 1859, and for some time afterward. He attended the first informal meeting of Republicans in 1859, for the purpose of a permanent organization, and was a delegate from Washington County in the convention for the perfection of the work. This convention, held at Bellevue, nominated S. G. Daily for Congress, supported him earnestly, canvassing the entire North Platte country with him. After the certificates of election had been given to Experience Estabrook, he superintended the getting of testimony for a contest, and furnished the means to defray the expenses of the same. Mr. Daily was successful and obtained his seat. Mr. Paddock was a delegate to the Chicago Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860, but voted for W. H. Seward on every ballot. After the nomination of Lincoln he went to New York and spent three months in canvass and work for the success of the Republican party. The papers were exceedingly complimentary of his efforts in the city and northern counties of the State. Through the influence of the members of the New York Legislature, United States Senators, Presidential Electors and Central Committee, he was nominated for the position of Secretary of Nebraska Territory. This nomination was endorsed by Secretary Seward, a warm personal friend, and his nomination confirmed by the Senate. He entered upon the discharge of his duties April 1, 1864. He attended faithfully to business, and during the frequent absence of Gov. Saunders performed the duties of Governor. He took an active part in the organization of the 1st Nebraska Regiment; bonded the Territorial debt, raising the value of bonds from thirty cents to par; obtained orders for organizing two companies of cavalry, and afterward the 2d Nebraska Cavalry. In 1864 he received a majority of votes in the convention for nomination as delegate to Congress, but was defeated by a mistake in the counting of votes, which was afterward discovered and admitted. He was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention, which re-nominated Lincoln for the Presidency. He took an active part in the canvass for the organization of a State government. The nomination for Gov- |
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ernor was unanimously tendered to Mr. Paddock, but was declined and Butler placed on the ticket. He was the first choice of six votes, and the second choice of a majority in the Republican caucus for United States Senator, but was finally defeated by John M. Thayer. The known conservatism of Mr. Paddock had much to do with this result. He was afterward nominated for Congress, but defeated by John Taffe. No supporter of John Taffe, in public speech or otherwise, ever complimented him more highly than did Mr. Paddock. Mr. Paddock was nominated by President Johnson for Governor of Wyoming, but the nomination was withdrawn on account of there being no appropriation to defray the expenses of a Territorial Government. This nomination was confirmed at an extra session of Congress in July, 1868, before the withdrawal of his name. When Congress met again in December, Mr. Paddock wrote to the President declining the appointment. In 1868 he worked for the election of Grant, and for the re-election of Taffe for a third Congressional term. He has always been a consistent, conservative Republican, doing what he deemed to be for the best good of the country, in whose prosperity he felt an abiding interest.
In the absence of the chief executive of the Territory, it became the duty of the Secretary to assume the duties of the executive office, and in this capacity he served during the Twelfth Territorial Council, convened at Omaha, Jan. 10, 1867. His message to the Legislature was judiciously framed, setting forth plainly the varied interests of the young Territory. He considered a union of North and South Platte of paramount interest, in reference to which he said:
"The construction of a bridge over the Platte River is a much needed improvement. The crossing of this stream, always difficult, is at certain seasons of the year an utter impossibility, and communication between two great sections of the Territory for this reason extremely limited. A journey to the Territorial capital from some of the most populous counties south of the Platte is considered quite as difficult to perform, on account of the dangers and delays in crossing the Platte, as one to St. Louis, 500 miles distant, and from the North Platte the journey to Chicago is quite as cheerfully undertaken as one across the Platte into the rich grain-growing districts below it. Such an obstacle to commercial intercourse between the two sections should be immediately removed, if it is in the power of the people to do it. It is not at all strange that with such a barrier in the way of travel and commerce, the people of both sections should not only lose their active sympathy for and interest in each other, but that they should be easily led into misunderstandings and jealousies, rivalries and strife. The whole Territory would be inconceivably benefited by this improvement. The people have it in their power to accomplish it without an additional dollar of taxation, and I think we may, during this session, very easily and very properly fix the day for the celebration of the union of the two sections by a good and substantial free bridge over the Platte. I urge upon you, therefore, the early consideration of this important subject, with the assurance that you will have the hearty concurrence of the Executive in any well considered measure which will result in securing this great improvement to the Territory. In my opinion this bridge should be free to all who may desire to use it. If we were obliged to borrow money for its construction, thereby entailing a debt upon the Territory with annual payment of interest, the case would be different; but, having the money in hand, and knowing as we do that the interests of all sections are involved, I think there can be no good reason offered against a free bridge. The revenues from Government toll bridges are not infrequently less than the expense of collection, and a bridge over the Platte, at best, could not be expected to yield any considerable revenue; but even if it were sure to do so, it would be more in consonance with the liberal and progressive spirit of our people to make it free to all."
This lesson is still a necessity; as the causes that produced the alienation have not yet been removed, although somewhat lessened in degree of antipathy. His conservatism may be more readily understood by the following extract from the same message. He says: "Unhappily the Nation has not yet experienced the full fruition of perfect peace. True, the armies of rebellion were long since disbanded, and the
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© 2004 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller |
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