Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Page: 82 of 1,110

"I PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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I was born in Franklin spirits. He immediately commenced the
C o u n t y, Pennsylvania, study of law in the city of Lancaster, and
. April 23, 1791. The was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose
2A place where his father's very rapidly in his profession and at once
c cabin stood was called took undisputed stand with the ablest lawStony
Batter, and it was yers of the State. When but twenty-six
situated in a wild, romantic years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc1
% spot, in a gorge of mount
cessfully defended before the State Senate
ains, with towering sum
one of the Judges of the State, who was
mits rising all around. He tried upon articles of impeachment. At
was of Irish ancestry, his the age of thirty it was generally admitted
father having emigrated in
that he stood at the head of the bar, and
1783, with very little prop
there was no lawyer in the State who had
ve his own strong arms. a more extensive or lucrative practice.
; remained in his secluded home for In 1812, just after Mr. Buchanan had
tars enjoying very few social or entered upon the practice of the law, our
ualadvantages. His parents were second war with England occurred. With
ous, frugal, prosperous and intelli
all his powers he sustained the Governn
I799 his father removed to Mer
ment, eloquently urging the rigorous pros>,
where James was placed in ecution of the war; and even enlisting as a
nd commenced a course in English, private soldier to assist in repelling the
nd Latin. His progress was rapid British, who had sacked Washington and
80o he entered Dickinson College were threatening Baltimore. He was at
;le. Here he took his stand among that time a Federalist, but when the Con,
scholars in the institution, and was stitution was adopted by both parties,
naster the most abstruse subjects Jefferson truly said, "We are all Federalility.
In 1809 he graduated with ists; we are all Republicans."
.est honors in his class. The opposition of the Federalists to the
as then eighteen years of age, tall, war with England, and the alien and sedi-