Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1885 — NECROLOGY OF 1885. [ARTICLE]

NECROLOGY OF 1885.

Death’s Busy Work in the Banks of the Distinguished People of the World. Statesmen, Martial Heroeß, Bings, Princes, Artists, and Millionaires Answer His Summons. The reaper Death Las cut a wide swath through the ranks of the distinguished people of the world during 1885. Following Is a partial list of eminent persons who have fallen before his relentless scythe. It includes men renowned ( in statesmanship, wup, science, literature, medicine, law, trade, andthe ftno arts. The year will bo specially notable in history as one in which many illustrious Americans ended their busy - and useful careers. It is doubtful if ever before a single twelvemonth witnessed the entombing of four citizens of the liepublio whoso names were so conspicuously interwoven with tho history of their country as Grant, Colfax, McClellan, and Hendricks *

JANUARY. Abner Coburn, ex-Governor of Maine, died at Skowhegon, aged 82; his last illness was contracted at the session of the Electoral College. Othor notable persons who left “this busj-, breathing world” during January were: Russell Hancock, son of Map Gen. Hancock, at his plantation near Clarksville, Miss. Col. John M. Frye, father of U. S. Senator Frye, of Maine. H. H. Chalmers, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Rev. Dr. Noah Hunt Schenck, of Brooklyn. Ex-Lieut. Gov. James M. Bingham, of Wisconsin. Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines, the famous litigant, at New Orleans, aged 80. Capt. Isaiah Rynders, who figured prominently in Now Y'ork politics for fifty years, in his 73d year. Thomas Farrell, of St. Paul, Minn., aged 111-years. Roar Admiral Powell, at Washington. Hon. Schuyler Colfax, in a passenger depot at Stillwater, Minn. ; heart disease. Prof. Benjamin Silliman, of Yale Collego. Edmond About, French journalist and novelist. Mrs. Julia A. Roberts, a sister of Gen. Phil Kearney ; well-known worker among the poor; foqnd dead in bed at'Washington, At Nevvburg, "N. Y..‘'Charles Downing, noted horticulturist, aged 82. Hon. Flames Ball, at Glendale, O.; formerly a law partner of Hon. Salmon P. Chase. In battle with «E 1 Mahdi’S forces, Lieut. Col. Fred Burnaby, who made the famous “Bide to Khiva.” George Kurikle, one of the pioneers of negro minstrelSy. Roswell Grant, uncle of Gen. U. S. Grant, at St. Albans, W. Va.; aged 85. In oxilp near St. Andrews, Can., Thomas Craig Fields, of Tweed ring uotoriafy. JJja. Leonard, a native of Ireland, aged 100, died at Portland, Ort' leaving a widow aged 90. ",

FEBRUARY. Gen. James Chesnut, who was U. S. Senator from South Carolina at tho outbreak of the rebellion, died at Charleston. Other distinguished persons who passed away during February were: Baron Thomas O’Hagau, the first Catholic to be made Lord Chancellor of Ireland under British rule. Col. John W. Phelps, at Guilford. Vt., first othcer to aim slaves in the rebellion. Dr. C. C. Graham, a famous practitioner of Louisville, Ky., aged 100 years 4 months. At Allentown, Pa., Dr. John ltomig, who, in 1836, established in that city the first homeopathic school in America. Pinkney H. Walker, senior member Illinois Supreme Court. Geo.W. Bowen, who vainly claimed tile immense estate of Mme. Jumel as an illegitimate son ; at Providence, aged 91. Joseph Griitnell, who secured a reduction of letter postage to 5 cents, while in Congress a generation ago; at New Bedford, aged 96. In battle witli the False Prophet’s adherents in tho Soudan, Maj. Gen. Wm. Earle, of tho British army. Judge Evurt Van Buren, of Chicago, who was born at Kinderhook, N. Y’., in 1893. On his plantation in Louisiana, Alexander Mouton, a son of one of the Acadians driven from Nova Scotia by the British ; was Senator and Governor of Louisiana in early days, and President of the secession convention in 1861. In a Kentucky luiiatic asylum,- Colonel Thomas Buford, who murdered Judge . Elliott because of on adverse legal decision. Dr. Leopold Damrosch, the distinguished musician. Francis A. Drexol. well-known Philadelphia banker.' At Wilmington, 111., at thfe extraordinary age of 116 years, Mrs. Nancy Cass Wilmore, a native of North Carolina. At London, Mrs. .James Russell Lowell, wife of the American Minister to England. Of wounds received at the battle of Abu-ivlea,, Gen. Sir Herbert Stewart, the hero of *hat bloody field. Francis S. Drake, eminent litterateur of Boston. In great poverty, at Chicago, Lady'‘Ellen Fortesque, widow of Sir William Fertesque, of England; she was known in the Garden City as Ellen C. Williams. Dr. Joseph H. D. Rodgers, of Madison, Ind., who participated in the Texan war for independence. Xkndrew D. Potter, of Platteville, Wis.,who helped to drive the Mormons from Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. Ex-Gov. Patton, of Alabama. Ex-Gov. Beriah Magoffin, of Kentucky.

MARCH. Among those who passed away during the month were: Boar Admiral George Henry Preble, U. S. N. George L. Davenport, born at Book Island, 111., in 1817, and whose father was the founder of that city. Mrs. Eliza Walker Blaine, onlv sister of Janies G. Blaine ; at Baltimore. T. 8. Arthur, of Philadelphia, writer and Sublisher, aged 74. Henry Stull, 1(15 years, at atavia, O. ; served in the war of 1812 at Lundy’s Lane and Chippewa. D. B. Sacked, Inspector General U. 8. A. In London, Eng., Sir Curtis Miranda Lampson, native of Vermont and trustee of the Peabody fund, aged 79, Gen. Jos. H. Taylor, U. S. A., Adjutant General Department Tff the Platte. Sir Henry Parkes, British Minister to China. 'A daughter of J. Fenimore Cooper, aged 68, at Cooperstowu, N. Y. Near Boston, of Bright's disease, Joe Goss, pugilist, horn iu Wolverhampton, Eng., 1836. At Memphis, Term., Hon Jacob Thompson, who was Secretary of the Interior under President Buchanan; aged 75. Gen. Anson Stager, of Chicago, aged 60; during the war had charge of the Government military telegraph lines. Perry H. Smith. ex-Viee President N. W. R. K., one of Chicago's most substantial citizens. Prince Orloff, Russian diplomatist. APRIL. Eminent people who bade farewell to earth during the showery month of April were: Mrs. Ezekiel T. Cox,'of Zanesville, Ohio) mother of Hon. S.S. Cox, Minister to Turkey. Richard Grant White, Shakspearean scholar and literary and art critic, aged .63. Roar Admiral John Marston, U. S. N., at Philadelphia, aged 90. At Boston, Emmons Hamlin, noted organ manufacturer. Rev. Henry Whitehead, who settled in Chicago When it was only a military post, and with his owu hands erected the earliest Methodist Church in the Western metropolis, aged 75. G. Henry Shaw, Representative in the Illinois Legislature from the Thirty-fourth District, making tho third death during the session, and the second on the Democratic side. Admiral Sir George Bose Sartorius. K. C. 8., who received the thanks of President Tyler and Cougress for his efforts to save U. S. S. Missouri from destruction,bv fire in Gibraltar Bay in 1842: aged •95. Christopher Bradford, who'died at Pittsburgh. was one of three brothers who have rescued 532 persons from drowning ; tlio family had a life.ssving station at Atlantic City. Dan Mace, of New York, famous trainer and driver of trotting horses, aged 51; Bright's disease. Rev. Dr. Taylor, of New York, whose centennial birthday was celebrated in December, 1884, and who graduated from Dartmouth College iu 1809. Rev. Leonard Withington, of Newbury, Mass., the oldest Congregational clergymiui in the United States. Hon. Conrad Baker, Indianapolis, who defeated Thomas A. Hendricks for Governor of Indiana in 1868; for several years he had been a law partner of Mr. Hendricks. Isaac W. England, for . evepteen years the partner of Mr. Dona in the publication of the New York’Sun. ’ MAY. Among the people of note who went to thbif reward during May were : Prince Karageorgewitz, claimant to the throne of Servia. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. A., at San Francisco, aged 67. Queen Dowager Emma of the Sandwich Islands. Ex-Gov. Gilbert C. Walker of Virginia, aged 51 Mrs. Catherine Main, of Kalamazoo, Mich., at the advanced age of 116 years. Sergt. Leffeman at Youngstown, N. \\, aged 88 ; a veteran of Waterloo, and served fiftyfour years in the United State* army. Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen. Newark, N. J., exSoerotary of State, aged 68. On the 22d. at Paris, in his 84th year. Victor Hugo, the great poet and novelist; on his deathbed he declined the offer of spiritual consolation tendered by the Archbishop of Paris; his funeral, at the expense of the state, was such as France had not witnessed lor a century, and the day of his burial was declared one of national mourning.

JUNE. On the Ist day of the month Judge Josiah MeRoberts was re-elected Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, and cm the morning of the 2d was found dead in bed at his home in Joliet. Other distinguished persons who joined •the silent majority* iu the sixth month of the year were Charles Antoine of Hohenzollern, lather of the Hoheuzollern whose candidature for the Spanish throne brought about the Franco-l>russian war.. Robert Treat Payne, a distinguished citizen of Boston, and a descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Sir Julius Benedict, London, famous musical composer: Archbishop Bourgeot, of Montreal. James Moucrieff Ar’<a» ' > i

nott, eminent Rcotoh surgeon, aged 02. In harness on board hia flagship In the China Sea, Admiral Courbet. Prince Frederick Charles, nephew of the Emperor of ’Germany, who commanded the Prussian army which captured Motz in 1871;.apoplexy; aged 57. Orson b. Murray, of Cincinnati, an original anti-slavery agitator, aged 79. Field Marshal Baron von Munteuffel, Governor of Alsace-Lorraine, aged 79. Ex-Senator James W. Nesmith, of Oregon, in his 60th year. Richard \T. Merries, a distinfuished advocate at Washington. The report of !1 Mehdi’s death on the 29th from small-pox, was confirmed.

JULY. Hon. Rueben Ellwood, M. C. Fifth Illinois District, was numbered among the victims of the dread disease, cancer. Commander Henry H. Gorringe, U. 8. N., who brought the Egyptian obelisk to New York, was stricken with-spinal' disease. Other prominent deaths during July: Mrs. Henry W. Sage, widely known for her eon.neotion with charitable institutions of New York; killed by accident In a runaway at Ithaca. Hiram Dixon, of West Brighton, N. Y., one of the founders of the Adams Express Co., aged 76. At hia home near Independence, Mo., at the age of 111, Christopher. Mann, a companion of Daniel Boone, and the ildest man in Missouri. At Youngstown, 0., Mary Clemens, 103 years 2 months ; her father anil mother lived to the age of 106 and 110, respectively. James G. Wintersmith, of Louisville, Ay., Doorkeeper of the National House of Representatives. Rev. Irenseus S. Prime, for forty-eight years editor of tho New York Observer. Judge T. Lyle Dickey, of the Illinois Supreme Court. On the 23d of Julv, Gen. U. 8. Grant, winner of many battles and captor of many foes, encountered the King of Terrors, and became a captive to the universal enemy at Mount MacGregor, N. Ts., his deathbed being surrounded by all hiß family ; his end was peaceful and without evident pain. Judgo John W. Okey, of the Ohio Supreme Court. Sir Moses Monteflore, tho famous Jewish philanthropist of England, who celebrated the 100th anniversary of his birth in October, 1884. died in London on tho 28th. Hon. C. B. Stewart, one of the signers of Texas’ declaration of independence, was interred at Montgomery, Tex., at tho age of 91. Henry A. Pierce, ex-Minister to Honolulu, died at San Francisco, at which place he arrived in 1828.

AUGUST. Judge James Garland, who served in the war of 1812, and had been in the Masonic fraternity seventy-three years, died at Lyncnburg, Ya., aged 95. Cholera in Spain carried <-ff the Archbishop of Seville. Othor distinguished people gathered to their fathers during the mouth were : Richard Mongkton Milnes (Lord Houghton), poet and critic, London, aged 70, James W. Marshall, the disc’overer of gold in California, aged 74 j near Placerville, in extreme poverty. At San Francisco, Mrs. Helen Hunt Jacksou, authoress. In Sajem, Mass., aged 83, Gen. Henry K. Oliver, the venerable composer of tho psalm tune “Federal Street.” Lord Vane Tempest, an English nobleman who served with distinction in tho Union army during the rebellion. Near Vicksburg, Miss., A"nn Hogan, a colored woman reported to be 100 years old. At Osceola, Mo., Waldo P. Johnson, a prominent lawyer of tl.at State ; member of the U. S. Senate at the outbreak of the war, and expelled for dislovalty. Ex-Gov. Julius Converse, of Vermont. Sir Francis Hincks, former Premier of Canada. In London, Admiral Kennedy, who served in the civil war in America. The wife of ex-Gov. B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri. Ex-Gov. Reuben E. Fenton, of New York. Ex-U. S. Senator Edgar S. Cowan, of Pennsylvania.

SEPTEMBER. Prominent pooplo called hence during the month were; Ex-Senator Gwin, of California, aged 80. Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, the veteran clergyman, author, and editor, of Irvington. N. Y., aged 85. Judge John R. Eakin, of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Major Aaron Stafford, last surviving officer of the war of 2812, at his residence iu Waterville, Oneida Cafinty, N. Y.,in the 99th year of his age. Judge George W. Clinton, Vice Chancellor of the N6\v York Stats Board of Regents. EdwardA. Rollins, rs Philadelphia, formerly Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Col. James B. Walton, of New Orleans, who commanded the Washington Battery, of Louisiana, during the war with Mexico, aged 72. Sebastian Bouglmer, a soldier who fought at Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie, agetl 90. Rear Admiral John W. Livingston, U. S, N.. aged 81. Christian Cooper, of Columbia County, N. Y„ at the advanced age of 111 years 10 months 15 days. Emery A. Stores, of Chicago, widely known bv his brilliancy as an orator and his ability as a lawyer audsidvocate. Col. George Ward Nichols, President of the Cincinnati College of Music ; during the war he served on Gen. Sherman's staff, and wrote “Sherman's March to the Sea.’’ Henry R. Seldeu, ex-Lieutenant Governor and ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, of New York. Prof. John Campbell Shairp, eminent English scholar and writer. George Wilkes, of New York, famous as an authority iu sporting matters. Moses Marrenellah, a Christian Jew, in a poor-house at Poughkeepsie, aged 105, and a resident of this country lor seventy years. Judge Waldo Colburn, of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. OCTOBER. The Earl of Shaftesbury, noted as a devoted religionist and reformer, passed away on the Ist, aged 84; his long record as a philanthropist earued for him the name of “The Good Earl.” Other notable deaths during October were : Fred Hassaurek, of Cincinnati, well known as a Ger-man-American writer, editor, and speaker. ExGov. Talbot, of Massachusetts, at Lowell, aged 77. His eminence Cardinal John McCloskey, at his residence in New York, aged 75. Mr. H. W. Shaw (Josh Billings) of apoplexy at Monterey, Col. Boron Strathnairn, prominent iu English diplomatic and military circles, and a leadiug figure in the suppression of the Sepoy rebellion in India. Rt. Hon. Hugh Henry Rose, Field Marshal of the British army, and at one time commander-in-chief in India Capt. Alexander Haley, the only colored man who ever commanded an ocean trade vessel, at Baltimore, aged 86. Chas. Leland, well-known hotelkeeper, in New York City. Caspar Butz, German poet, writer and politician, at Des Moines, aged 60. At Pittsburgh, Hou. Malcolm Hay. ex-First Assistant Postmaster General Rev. Dr. James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, Eng., of the Established Church of England. Mrs. Mary Anne Booth, mother of Edwin, j. Wilkes, anil Junius B. Booth, to l New York, aged 83. Dr. James R. Woodford, Bishop of Ely.' Eng. ExGov. Pace, of Vermont. Bridget Farley, iu West Stratford, Conn., aged 104 years 2 months and 5 days. Gen. George B. McClellan, one of the prouiiuont military leaders in the late civil war, and a candidate for President of the United States in 1864, at his home in New Jersey, of neuralgia of the heart, aged 59. Rear Admiral J. C. P. De Kraft, U. S. N., at his residence in Washington. At Amityville, Long Island, Geo. F. McDonald, an actor, founder of the Order of Elks, aged 16. The Duke of Abereom, in London, aged 74 ; he had twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and was the head of the illustrious house of Hamilton.

NOVEMBER. Rev. Thomas Tenant died at Evansville, Ark., at the age of 115 years; he had served as a Methodist minister for ninety years. Other distinguished persons who passed away during the month were : John McCullough, the tragedian, at Philadelphia, from paralysis iu the muscles of the neck, aged 50. Ex-Judge Albert Cardozo, of IS'ew York. Ex-Senator Wm. Sharon, of Nevada. Horace Brigham Claflin, the New York dry-goods merchant prince, aged 73. Mrs. Rhoda Howard, of Bath County, Ky., aged 116 years ; she smoked tobacco during the greater portion of her life, and never took a dose of Elizur Wright, of Boston, famous as & reformer, journalist, insurance expert, and free-thinker, aged 81. King Alfonso of Spain, at Madrid, of consumption, aged 28. Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President of the United States, at Indianapolis. of heart disease ; he was born in 1819, near Zanesville, Ohio. Marshal Serrano, Spain's illustrious political and military leader, aged 75. The Duke of Somerset (England), a Liberal in politics and an atheist in religion. DECEMBER. Charlotte Wickliffe, a negress of Louisville, who passed away at the age of H 7 years, claimed to have handed George Washington a cup of water at the battle «f Y"orktown; she left seventy-five children and grandchildren, the oldest being nearly 100 years. Other deaths during December were: At Melbourne; Australia, Clarence Whßtler, noted wrestler. Rt. Rev. Dominjdk Manucy, Catholic Bishop of Mobile. William H. Vanderbilt, the most (Conspicuous figure in the railway world, died suddenly at his home in New Y'ork City, of paralysis of the brain, aged 65 Ex-Gov. B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, candidate for Vice President on the Horace Greeley ticket in 1872. Patrick O'Rourke, who loaned Home 9 Greeley $1,090 to aid in starting the New York Tribun?, and who had ever since had charge of the press-room ipt that establishment. Commodore Chas. Lowndes, U. 8. X., retired list, aged 87. At Santa Fe, N. M., Gen. Gustavus A. Smith, formerly of Decatur, Til. Prince Ferdinand, father of the King of Portugal, from facial cancer. Ex-Senator Robert Toombs, of Georgia, aged 76. A Sanders, captain of the hold on UAS. S. Swatara. fell dead on the streets of Portsmouth, Va.; he entered the service forty years ago, and was the first colored man ever enlisted in U. S. navy. Bishop F. X. Krautbauer, of the Catholic diocese of Greeji-Bav. Ex-Congressman J. H. Defrees, of Indiana Hon. Wm. Pitt Lynde, ex-Congress-uiislram Wisconsin. Ex-Gov. Ryland Fletcher, of Vermont, aged 90. Stephen Barker Guion, founder of-tKeßlack Ball line of ocean steamers. Ex-Gov. Hiland Hall, of Vermont. A married daughter of Lieut. Gen. Winfield Scott; of paralysis, in a Baltimore hospital, aged 69. "WhaT this country needs as mack as anything is a three-cent piece that can’t swindle a near-sighted man out of seven cents every time it bobs along. s '