lored
lady, a superintendent of a Sunday-School for colored children, who was
ejected from a Fourth Avenue horse-car, after her fare had been accepted
by the conductor, because a white passenger objected to her presence.

In the first case he was largely instrumental in establishing a
precedent, setting forth the theory that slaves brought into free
territory, were at liberty. In the second case, he obtained a verdict of
$500.00 damages in favor of the colored woman as against the company.
The establishment of this precedent caused the street railroad companies
of the city to issue an order that colored persons should be allowed to
travel in their cars. Thus did Chester A. Arthur obtain equal civil
rights for negroes in public vehicles.

In 1859 he married Miss Ellen Lewis Herndon, of Fredericksburg,
Virginia; daughter of Captain William Lewis Herndon, United States Navy,
who went bravely to his death in 1857, sinking with his ship, the
Central America, refusing to leave his post of duty, though he helped
secure the safety of others. Mrs. Arthur was a devoted wife, and a woman
of many accomplishments. She died in January, 1880, and lies buried in
the Albany Rural Cemetery.

Mr. Arthur took a lively interest in politics, and was first a Henry
Clay Whig, but later helped to form the Republican party. He held
several offices in the militia prior to 1860, and when Edwin D. Morgan
became governor of the State in 1860, he made Mr. Arthur a member of his
staff, promoting him from one position to another until he became
quarter-master general. The duties of this post were most arduous and
exacting. To promptly equip, supply and forward the thousands of troops
sent to the front to defend the Union was a task demanding the highest
executive ability and rare organizing skill, besides the greatest
precision in receiving, disbursing and accounting for the public funds.
Millions of dollars passed through his hands; he had the letting of
enormous contracts, and opportunities, without number, by which he
might have enriched himself. But he was true to himself and to his
trust. So implicit was the confidence reposed in him that his accounts
were audited at Washington without question or deduction, though the
claims of many States were disallowed, to the extent of millions. He
left the office poorer than when he entered it, but with the proud
satisfaction of knowing that all the world esteemed him as an honest
man.

From 1863 to 187