SC1896_FF1_030

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those days relative to the eligibility of an [underlined: Infant]
to an office of the kind. It is probable that others
might have been appointed, when under age,
but I doubt if there is another instance either
in Kentucky or elsewhere of one so young as I
was being appointed. In May, I was elected
without opposition, Clerk of the Quarter Session
Court, the Judges having declared their determination
to appoint whoever might be appointed
Clerk of the County Court - provided he
was well qualified. By the Constitution of
Kentucky, no person could be appointed Clerk
of any Court, "during good behaviores" unless
he had a certificate from the Court of
Appeals of his qualifications. I had obtain-
ed [obtained] such a certificate the preceeding October
having been examined by the Clerk of the
Court (Colo. Thomas Todd) in the presence of
the Judges, George Minter, Benjamin Sebastian
& Caleb Wallace - three aged & venerable Judges.
I had the good fortune to answer correctly
& without embarraassment every question
propounded to me - of which I was very proud
particularly as another applicant, several
years my senior, scarcely answered a simple
one & was rejected. Thus at the early age
of 16, I was the Clerk of two Courts, which
I was entitled to hold "during "good behavior".
They were worth about one thousand dollars
a year, being a solid foundation not only
of Independence but of wealth, if I had improved
it, as I might have done.
I will here state, that I owe many obligations to
[Z?]. N. Cullom Esqr for this friendship in prefering me
to all the other candidates, one of whom was a
Mr. Vandeveer, his brother in law, but who was not
qualified for the office. I also had the friendship
of his worthy brother William Cullom, both of
whom voluntarily became my sureties when I was
elected - the latter is the father of the Honble