originator of wit himself, but the creator of it in others. With such characteristics most men would jump at the conclusion, uttered by Daniel Webster in speaking of the profession, as applicable to Judge Flandrau, viz.: "that lawyers work hard, live well and die poor." The first two parts of the proposition in his case are true-fortunately the last not, so far as at present appears. On the contrary, Judge Flandrau, from the emoluments of his profession and judicious invest ments in real estate in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has accumulated, if not a fortune (as the word now goes), at least an ample competence, which relieves him from dependence on his profession for support and provision for his family in the future. And if it be true that "republics are ungrateful" to those who depend on them for support, it is not true that the citizens of republics are slow to recognize deserving merit. ISAAC ATWATER. JOHN B. SANBORN. The historian who seeks to portray the life and advancement of a people, or the subjugation of a wilderness to the uses of civilization and the domination of man, must, no matter how far he may be under the control of theories pointing otherwise, come at last to the individual and seek his true relation in the lives and records of those by whom the works he would describe have been performed. Thus biography becomes not merely a sidelight to history but the very essence and vitality of history itself. In the story of the leader, you tell that of his times as well. Viewed thus, it does not need to be said that the true story of the great Northwest cannot be told, as we are from time to time trying to tell it in these pages, without more than a passing reference to the soldier, jurist, orator and high-minded and liberal-spirited citizen whose name may be found above. While his works have largely been performed in behalf of the section to which he belongs, his fame is National, and those who know and appreciate his worth, may be found in every corner of the land. The events of his busy and useful life have two reasons for relation-they illustrate the days in which he has lived, and they form a powerful incentive to the grand army of youth who aspire to walk also in the path of honor to reach the goal of success. The qualities of courage, determination and industry that have made General John B. Sanborn of St. Paul, Minnesota, what he is, were not accidental gifts of nature, but came to him by natural heirship from a brave and self-reliant race who "carved their history upon the granite rocks of their native state." The characteristics of his ancestry have ever been a sturdy self-reliance, an earnest acquisition of knowledge, advancement in various departments of industry and an intense love of country. The family descent in this country alone may be traced back through over two centuries, and to a period over century before the territory now comprising the state of Vermont was detached from the New Hampshire grant, as it was then known, when Reuben Sanborn moved from Hamp ton and settled in that mountainous region where is now located the town of Epsom. The line may be traced back still farther into the original home of the family in England, but such quest is not material to the purpose of this sketch. John B. Sanborn was born in the town of Epsom, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, December 5, 1826, upon a farm which has been in the family possession for seven generations. *. His boy hood years were passed in the quiet of home, where his physical frame was undergoing proper development by work on the farm and temperate living, while his mind was being strengthened and his heart kept pure by the high precepts and worthy examples of the simple and honest lives about him. It was the expectation of the boy up to the time he was sixteen years of age, that he should remain upon the farm and care for his parents through their old age, but the failure of health of his brother while in college changed that plan. The brother came home, and, under the necessity of an out-door life, took the place of the younger son, and allowed the latter to go forth and seek his proper sphere. He went to work to seek an education with the energy and industry that have * Mr. Sanborn has related this somewhat remarkable fact, in the following words: "The family homestead in Epsom, New Hampshire, has descended by primogeniture from generation to generation, since 1750, until it reached the children of Henry F. Sanborn, my only brother. At this time it is owned one-half by myself, and the other half by my brother and his son, and still remains in the Sanborn name. Rather a rare instance in this country of a homestead remaining in the same family from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty years." marked his career, and after a proper preparation in Pembroke and Thetford academies, entered Dartmouth college in 1851, where he remained one term, and then decided to enter directly upon the study of law. He entered the office of Asa Fowler at Concord, New Hampshire, where he continued until his admission to the bar in July, 1854. He commenced practice at Concord, but impelled by the advantages to be derived from settling in a newer and less crowded field, and led by the chances offered young men of his stamp of mind and character in the then opening northwest, an examination of the field led him to the fortunate choice of Minnesota and St. Paul, and accompanied by Theodore French, a young lawyer friend whom he had met in Concord, he set forth to seek his fortune in the pioneer lands of the distant west. The account of that trip has been tersely placed upon record by Mr. Sanborn himself, in these words: About the last of November, 1854, French and myself started from Concord and went to Boston and bought about four hundred dollars worth of law books and shipped them direct to Galena, Illinois, the terminus then of the railroad, and followed on by rail, stopping a day or two in New York and Chicago and Galena and Dubuque. We reached Dubuque the fifth day of December, 1854, and attempted to get passage for ourselves and baggage to St. Paul upon M. O. Walker & Co's stage line, then carrying the mail between the two points by a road on the west side of the river, running through Elliota, Preston, Rochester, Cannon Falls, etc. The fare charged us was one hundred and twenty dollars apiece. We brought our Yankee wits to bear upon the situation, and concluded that we would buy an entire outfit, a pair of horses, harness, wagon, robes, etc., and put in our baggage and drive up more cheaply. We did so, and soon found that we had all the passengers that we could take care of to come through with us, and we reached St. Paul on the evening of the twenty-first of De cember, 1854, having more money in our pockets when we had settled with the passengers we had brought through, than when we started, and sold our horses, wagon and harness at a profit of about three hundred dollars. There was no question about the future to two young men of that sort. The partnership of Sanborn & French was formed on January 1, 1855, and a successful practice followed as a matter of course. Two years later, Charles C. Lund became a member of the firm, the name of which was changed to Sanborn, French & Lund. Upon the death of Mr. French in February, 1860, the name was again changed to Sanborn & Lund, which so continued until January 1, 1862, after the senior member had entered upon the service of his country in the Union army. These successive firms occupied a high position in the legal world, achieving a large practice in the state and National courts and a reputation nowhere excelled for ability, honesty and success. Mr. Sanborn occupied a position in the Minnesota legislature in 1859-60, con. senting to a nomination and an election thereto in order that he might aid in placing the laws of the state in better shape, as many of them, especially in those passed at an early date and relating to township and county organizations, with some relating to the general government of the state, were quite defective in their operation. Placed at the head of the judiciary committee of the house, and possessing legal knowledge and ability of the highest order, he soon became a recognized force in all the proceedings, and was instrumental in formulating and aiding in the enactment of a system of laws, which corrected many of the evils above mentioned and restored financial order and strength to the treasury of the state. He rendered such able service in this capacity, that at the end of his term he was promptly elected to the senate, and was entering upon a career of enlarged usefulness and influence when the storm of the Rebellion broke over the land, and he gave his service to his country in another and more active field. In April, 1861, Mr. Sanborn was requested by Governor Ramsey to accept the position of adjutant-general and acting quartermaster-general of the statea position full of responsibility and labor, and in which he showed great executive ability and the highest efficiency in equipping the Minnesota regiments and getting them into the field. But he could not consent to remain at home while others were marching to the front, and in December he accepted a commission as colonel of the Fourth Minnesota infantry. His headquarters were at Fort Snelling, and he was given command of all the troops along the frontier of the state. He remained in this capacity and location during the winter, and in the spring of 1862 his regiment was ordered into active service in the south, and became a part of the army at Pittsburgh Landing, reaching that point in season to be assigned a position in the forces then advancing toward Corinth. Colonel Sanborn's command was extended to a semi-brigade, consisting of a battery and three regiments. He bravely and successfully held his position until the surrender of the works at Corinth, when he was |