Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1886 — HIS SUFFERINGS ENDED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HIS SUFFERINGS ENDED.

Death of Hon. Joseph Rankin, , Congressman of the Fifth ** Wisconsin District. After a Long and Painful Illness He Passes Peacefully Away. [Washington special.] Hon. Joseph Rankin, member of Co'hgress from the Fifth "Wisconsin District, died at his lodgings on M street, adjoining the Postmaster General’s, on Sunday, the 24th of January. A couple of weeks ago he was very low, but; rallied, and for a few days was around apparently very comfortable. For forty-eight hours he had been in a dying condition, being at times delirious. Fears were entertained that he would be attacked by convulsions, but, happily, these were avoided. This morning it was ~ apparent - that he could-not last through the day, and during much of the forenoon he was delirious. One side was paralyzed, but he gesticulated wildly with his other arm, imagined a number of his Congressional colleagues were present, and addressed them, called for Dr. Gray, of Milwaukee, and tried to make a speech on the Fitz John Porter case The physicians,

fearing convulsions, about noon administered opiates hypodermically, and he quieted down and became perfectly rational. His two little children, Jennie and Joe, were in an adjoining room, and the dying man, hearing them prying, had them brought into his room, and was just able to summon up. strength enough to throw his arms around them and bid them good-by. He was passionately devoted to his children, and his farewell to them was heartrending. The remains were forwarded to his home at Manitowoc; Wis. The Congressional escort consisted of Senator Sawyer and Cbngressmen Bragg, Stephenson, Guenther, and Van Schaick of Wisconsin, Carleton of Michigan, Henderson of Illinois, and Johnson of New York. Mr. Rankin had been for some time before Congress met in an advanced stage of Bright’s disease, but insisted on coming here to be sworn in as a member of the new Congress, though he had to bring a physician with him, and it was' feared he would die on the way. Mr. Rankin was born in 1833 at Passaic, N. J., and in 1864 settled at Mishicott, in Manitow’oc County, Wis. He soon turned his attention to politics, and served several terms in the State Legislature, where he made a reputation as one of the best parliamentarians ever in that body. Mr. Rankin served through the war as a Captain in the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteers, He was elected to Congress in 1882 and again in 1886.- u