[p. 494] "S. B. Shotwell, Esq. says: 'Edwin M. Stanton, son of Mr. E. Stanton, a cabinetmaker in Wellsburg, W. Va., was born and lived in Steubenville [Jefferson Co.,Ohio], and studied law there under Daniel L. Collier. He came to Cadiz in 1836, buying the matthew McCoy homestead, afterwards well known as the 'Dewey Mansion.' He went into partnership with Chauncey Dewey, and remained here [Cadiz] until 1840, but the partnership existed until 1842. Chauncey Dewey was an old lawyer of the Whig persuasion, and shortly after his coming, Stanton was elected prosecuting attorney on the Democratic ticket, an office he held three years.
"Mr. Dewey was a men of very decided ability, had graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., under the celebrated Dr. Eliphalet Nott, was a thoroughly read lawyer, under the instruction of Hon. Samuel Starkweather, of Cooperstown, N.Y., and had especial ability with a jury. Stanton was then but twenty-two years of age, broad shouldered, but light in person, weighing about 125 pounds, and about five feet, eight inches in height. He was very near-sighted. The people here, at first, called him 'Little Stanton.'
[P. 495] "He appreciated the ability and skill of his senior partner, and at once placed himself under his tutelage, and owed much of his early success to him. He would often say to us, 'Well, we are all Dewey's boys.' Often on coming into the office in the morning, Mr. Dewey would say, 'Stanton, what do you think of this case?' After Stanton has expressed his ideas, Dewey would take his pen and put the points as he thought they should be presented, and hand the paper to Stanton, and Stanton invariably followed his guidance, he was his mentor. Mr. Dewey was then forty years of age. He died in 1880, aged eighty four.
"Stanton was very methodical, kept his papers and office in perfect order, and his industry was marvelous. He would read law sixteen hours a day and keep it up ever. I never saw a man with such capacity for work. I have known him to work all day in court and until nine o'clock at night, trying cases and then filing them, ride to Steubenville for some papers or authority bearing on the case and be back at court time next morning. Then he would get into his buggy, after riding a distance of fifty miles, and work all day fresh as ever.
Ordinarily, he cared nothing for the society of women, but he was exceedingly attached to his first wife. When she died he shut himself up in his room and spent days in grief. Then seeing it was breaking him down, he rallied and plunged into business.
"He was seemingly of a cold nature, never any gush. He was thoroughly upright, and if he had an important case he would make full preparation to win, even eating in reference to it, so as to have full possession of his powers. He was temperate, but sometimes, if he had a tight place to go through, would take a little stimulant. He spoke with ease, voice in a high key, and monotonous in manner, but strong and combative, hanging on with a bull-dog tenacity, brow-beating and ridiculing witnesses. He did not care if the whole public was against him; he would face them all and feel he was their master.
"Ordinarily men would wilt under his denunciations; and sometimes feel like retorting with physical violence. He knew this, and sometimes, when the court adjourned, asked the sheriff to take his arm and accompany him to his office, as I believed for protection; this was not from cowardice, but because he felt it wise to avoid a physical combat. He stood in awe of no human being. Every man was alike to him, so far as that was concerned. His moral courage was immense; his likes and dislikes were very strong, and with his especial friends he was exceedingly social and courteous. He was profound in legal principles, a safe lawyer in a good case: but if he thought a case was desperate, would not go into court. The stories of his rough language to the people who came to the war office are true. Simon Cameron, his predecessor, when he sent for Gen. McClellan would wait for hours; when Stanton summoned him, there was no delay.
"The following incident aids to illustrate the characters of both Stanton and Mr. Lincoln. The application of a man who wanted to be appointed a chaplain in the army during Mr. Lincoln's administration was recently found among the papers of the war office. Attached to it were the following indorsements:
"Dear Stanton: Appoint this man chaplain in the army. A. Lincoln."
"Dear Mr. Lincoln: He is not a preacher. E. M. Stanton"
"Dear Stanton: He is now. A. Lincoln."
"Dear Mr. Lincoln: But there is no vacancy. E. M. Stanton"
"Dear Mr. Stanton: Appoint him chaplain at large. A. Lincoln"
"Dear Mr. Lincoln: There is no warrant of law for that. E. M. Stanton"
"Dear Mr. Stanton: Appoint him anyhow. A. Lincoln"
"Dear Mr. Lincoln: I will not. E. M. Stanton"
"The appointment was not made, but the papers were filed in the War Department, where they remain as evidence of Lincoln's friendship and Stanton's obstinate nerve.
"I remember to have heard Mr. Dewey tell of his first visit to the 'Great War Lord' in Washington, D.C. in 1862. 'As soon as my card was handed to Mr. Stanton, I was immediately ushered in, to the utter disgust of the hundred or more persons waiting in line for an interview; he immediately came forward and greeted me most warmly and affectionately, and said, 'My dear Chauncey, I don't know what your purpose was in coming to Washington, but let me say to you right here, that if there is anything in my power to grant to you, knowing you as well as I do, and appreciating you as highly as I do, it is granted before you ask, for I feel that it will be a worthy request coming from so honorable a man.' He at once closed his office for the day and took me to Arlington Heights, talking with great pleasure of the past and the present. It was a most delightful visit, and one I shall not soon forget.'"