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i]
Autobiographical sketch.
According to the record in the family Bible, I was born on the third day of November, 1816, in the
County of Franklin, in the
State of Virginia.
My father,
Joab Early,
1 who is still living, is a native of the same county, and while resident there, he enjoyed the esteem of his fellow-citizens and held several prominent public positions, but in the year 1847, he removed to the
Kanawha Valley in
Western Virginia.
My mother's maiden name was
Ruth Hairston, and she was likewise a native of the
County of Franklin, her family being among the most respected citizens.
She died in the year 1832, leaving ten children surviving her, I being the third child and second son. She was a most estimable lady, and her death was not only the source of the deepest grief to her immediate family, but caused universal regret in the whole circle of her acquaintances.
Until I was sixteen I enjoyed the benefit of the best schools in my region of country and received the usual instruction in the dead languages and elementary mathematics.
In the spring of 1833, while
General Jackson was
President, I received, through the agency of our member of Congress,
the Hon. N. H. Claiborne, an appointment as cadet in the United States Military Academy at
West Point.
I repaired to the Academy at the end of May and was admitted about the first of June in the same year.
I went through the usual course and graduated in the usual time, in June, 1837.
There was nothing worthy of particular note in my career at
West Point.
I was never a very good student, and was sometimes quite remiss, but I managed to attain a respectable stand in all
