People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1893 — DEATH OF GEN. RUSK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEATH OF GEN. RUSK.

Wisconsin's Noted Citizen, Soldier and Statesman Is No More. He Passes at His Home in Viroqua Somewhat L’nexnectedly—A Short Sketch of His Notable Career. A GREAT LOSS. Viroqua, Wis., Nov. 23. Ex-Gov. Jeremiah Rusk died at 8 a. m. Tuesday. He had been ill for two months, suffering from inflammation of the prostate gland. Dr. John Hamil* ton, of Chicago, performed an operation on Mr. Rusk about ten days ago which for a time promised to be successful. The ex-governor was possessed of a powerful constitution and rallied after the operation to such an extent that the friends and even the physicians hoped for ultimate re-

covery. As late as Monday night callers at the residence were told that the patient was improving and favorable reports were sent throughout the country. My. Rusk was exceedingly weak, however, from the effects of morphine and almost constant pain, and when he suffered a relapse during the night it was known that the end must soon come. Ex-Gov. Rusk was one of the most popular men in Wisconsin and the news of his death has been received with the utmost sorrow throughout the state. Indianapolis, Ind.,Nov. 22.—ExPresident Harrison received the news of Gen. Rusk’s death and was much affected. He expressed the deepest sorrow at the taking off of the venerable member of his late official family. Gen. Harrison at once sent Mrs. Rusk a telegram of condolence and stated that he would probably, with ex-Attorney General Miller, attend the funeral of the ex-secretary. Jeremiah McLain Rusk was born in Morgan county, 0., June, 17, 1830; and his youth was that ot a farmer boy acquiring a common school education In 1853 he located lands in the then new and distant region of Vernon county, Wis., where he has since resided. He entered the ranks of the Wisconsin volunteers in 1862, and was major and lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin, which was a part of Gen. Sherman’s command from 'the siege of Vicksburg till the close of the war, and in 1865 he received from the president the brevet of brigadier general fqr. gallant and meritorious services. In 18c6 he was elected comptroller of Wisconsin, and continued in that office two terms: and In 1870 he was elected to congress, where ha remained an active and useful member three terms, in one of which he was chairman of the house committee on pensions. He declined the tender ot appointments from President Gar field, and in 1882 was elected governor ot Wisconsin and reelected in 1884-and 1886. In the discharge of his duties as governor, and particularly in the trying days of riots at Milwaukee, he won the commendation of the country, and with the zealous support ot the delegation from his own state he was prominent as a candidate for the presidential nomination at the republican national convention of 1888 in Chicago. President Harrison, who was then nominated, gracefully remembered Gov. Rusk by inviting him to a seat in the cabinet as secretary of the department of agriculture: and this department, which had just been raised to a cabinet dignity, found in him for four years an efficient head in organizing and developing its resources and possibilities of usefulness to agricultural interests. One feature of his work in this direction was to introduce the system ot microscopical examination of meats, whereby the foreign market for the American product was enlarged. The governor retired from office with the Harrison administration, and there was good promise that his public career was not closed.

HON. JEREMIAH M. RUSK.