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CHAPTER I.

THE BOY-THE STUDENT-THE SOLDIER.

OHN ALEXANDER LOGAN was the son

of Dr. John Logan, a native of Ireland, who

when a young man sought a home in the United States. He first settled at Ellicott's Mills, in Maryland, but soon removed thence into Kentucky, and from there to Missouri, where he married Miss Laramie. She died a few years afterward, leaving a daughter, and the bereaved widower again removed, settling on a tract of land in the fertile county of Jackson, in Illinois. Although there had been some old settlements in that region, it was only then filling up with adventurous pioneers, and the young physician commenced practice among them, enjoying the privilege of witnessing the constantly advancing prosperity and power of his adopted State.

Soon after settling on his farm, Dr. Logan married Miss Elizabeth Jenkins, a native of Tennessee, whose family came originally from South Carolina. She was a lady of rare worth, great industry, unusual strength of judgment, and indomitable energy. When the town of Murphysboro' was laid out, partly on Dr. Logan's land, he built a brick hotel there, which was managed to a

great extent by his wife. He was naturally a Democrat, and the poor laborer, in his shirtsleeves, would find accommodations at his house and be seated at the table with the judges and the lawyers riding a circuit. The doctor had a large circle of patients, some of whom would come from long distances to consult him, and he was regarded as an unusually skillful and successful practitioner of the healing art. He also became a large stock raiser, and was always fond of a good horse. In the development of the neighboring coal mines, the establishment of the Illinois Central Railroad, and other public works, he was always consulted, and his opinions had great weight. He was elected by the Democrats to represent his locality in the State Legislature, and he held other trusts. His spotless integrity, his professional skill, and his bluff yet genial manners made him personally popular. He died in 1855. generally beloved and respected.

John Alexander Logan, the oldest son of John and Elizabeth Jenkins Logan, was born on the 9th of February, 1826. He was raised at the rural home of his parents, and inured to the hardy pursuits of country life, which developed his physical strength and power of endurance. He did not, however, altogether like the restraints of farm labor, but it developed in him patience, industry, a stout heart, and self-reliance. On one occasion, when he was a small lad, his father found that

the squirrels were carrying off the corn ripening in a field which was bordered by a piece of woods. Young Logan was sent to watch the chattering thieves until his father could find time to come and shoot them. After remaining on guard a few hours, the boy found it rather monotonous, and taking a piece of paper and pencil from his pocket he wrote a note addressed to the squirrels, informing them that if they did not keep away from that corn-field they would be shot. Fastening this proclamation to the fence, he joined his play

mates.

The public schools of the vicinage, which young Logan attended, afforded only limited educational advantages, but Dr. Logan was fortunate enough to secure the services of a Mr. Lynch as tutor, and to thus give his children, under the parental roof, a thorough English education and the rudiments of the classical studies. These John perfected in 1840, when he attended Shiloh College. His remarkably tenacious memory enabled him to retain all that he learned.

While he was a lad political excitement ran high, and he eagerly read all the newspapers which came in his way, naturally espousing the Democratic views entertained by his father. He was fond of music, and occasionally performed on the violin, but his great delight was to discuss the leading topics of the day with the young men of the vicinity. He was a daring rider, a good shot,

and the foremost to undertake any difficult or dangerous exploit. When a mere lad, some of his neighbors had built a flat-boat on the bank of a little stream, intending to float it down to the Mississippi when the spring floods came. It happened, however, that the water rose unusually high, and the owners of the flat-boat were afraid to pilot it through the eddies and the fallen timber. In this emergency young Logan volunteered to take command, and, with his usual resolution and fixed purpose, he piloted the flat-boat through all the dangers of the river navigation into the broad Mississippi.

When war with Mexico was declared, young Logan, with that decision and spirit which had always characterized him, volunteered. He enlisted as a private and was chosen second lieutenant in Captain James Hampton's company of the first Illinois regiment which enlisted for the war, and which was commanded by Colonel Edward B. Newby.

The regiment was ordered to New Mexico, and as there were no railroads in those days in that region, the march there was long and fatiguing. But after having crossed the uninhabited and uninhabitable desert, the column reached a more interesting region. The magnificent mountain scenery, the fertile valleys, the healing springs, the descendants of the Spanish conquerors in their picturesque costumes, the docile peons, and the wild