Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1879 — Sketch of the Life of Gen. Dix. [ARTICLE]

Sketch of the Life of Gen. Dix.

Ttzw York, April 21Gen. John A. Dix died at 11:35 to-night, after lying in a profound and nearly unbroken coma for seventy-two hours. The incidents of his illness were a long and painful attack of inflammation cd the bladder, convalescence after four weeks of suffering, and an accident a week ago Saturday that brought on the fatal relapse. Last Friday morning Gen. Dix was convinced that his end was near at hand, and took final leave of the few intimate friends who called that day, among them Bishop Potter and the Rev. Dr. Swope. He also dictated a brief good-by message and blessing to his absent daughter, Mrs. Walsh, now residing in Japan. He then passed an hour or more in conversation with his wife, his son, the Rev. J. Morgan Dix, of Trinity, and his daughter, Mrs. Blake, who has constantly attended him. He occasionally lost consciousness, and at length relapsed Into a state of coma, from which he did not once recover until the moment of his death. The four physicians in attendance who predicted his speedy death on Friday night were astonished at the tenacity with which lie clung to life. All last night he was reported visibly sinking, and to-night his extraordinary reserve of vitality Save out. During the day the condition of the ying man underwent no perceptible alteration, until about four o’clock, when his failing respiration sensibly gave way, and the death gray crept gradually over his features. At 11:30 Dr. Gilbert hastily summoned the members" of the family, and they had scarcely arrived when the heart of the old man ceased to beat., „ Gen. Dix leaves a large fortune, but so selfreliant and reserved was he that only the general particulars of it are known to his only son, Dr. Morgan Dix. The disposition of his real estate and other property will not be known to his own family until the will Is offered for probate. The deceased was the son of Lieut-CoL Timothy Dix, of the Revolutionary Army, and was bom In Boscawen, N. H., July 24, 1798. True to his Revolutionary antecedents, he entered the army when a mere lad, serving in the war of 1812-’ls, first as an Ensign, and afterward as Adjutant 6f a battalion. Later he was Aide to Gen. Brown, Commander-in-Chief of the Army. In 1828, having resigned his rank in the army, he settled in Cooperstown, N. Y., as a lawyer, and soon entered politics, espousing the principles of the Demo-cratic-party. In 1830 he was made AdjutantGeneral of the State, and In 1833 was chosen Secretary of State. He became a member of the General Assembly in 1842, and in 1845 was elected United States Senator to fill the unexpired term of Silas Wright, serving in that capacity four years. During that time he bore a part in the discussions on the annexation of Texas, the Mexican War, the Oregon dispute and the question of slavery in tbe Territories, espousing the views of the Free-Soil Democrats, whose unsuccessful candidate for Governor he was In 1848. He was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, and a leading member of that on Military Affairs. Being an active supporter of Gen. Franklin Pierce for the Presidency, he was at first selected by that gentleman for his Secretary of Slate, but difficulties arising, Gen. Dix declined in favor of Gov. Marcy. In 1853 he accepted, temporarily, the post of Assistant Treasurer «f the United States, at New York Citv. He was Postmaster of New York City in 1859, and in December, 1860, was appointed by President Buchanan Secretary of the Treasury, in place of Howell Cobb, serving in that capacity till the Incoming of Ms. Lincoln’s Administration. While Secretary of the Treasury, he issued the memorable order: “If any man attempt to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.” , U+ Immediately on the inception of civil war Gen. Dix rook strong and decided grounds in favor of the Government and the Union. He was appointed Major-General of the New York National Guards In the opening cf the war, and was commissioned Major-General of the United States Volunteers May 16, 1861, subsequently receiving the same ranjc in the regular army. In 1862 he had charge of the Department of Maryland, and during the antidraft riots In New York in 1863 he was in command there, and quelled them. After the close of the war he was sent to Paris as American Minister in 1566. In 1872 he was elected Governor of New York, being defeated for reelection in 1574 by Samuel J. Tilden. Since then Gen. Dix has lived in retirement, spending much time in literary work, to which he had always devoted a largo portion of his leisure time. For several years Gen. Dix has had charge of the finances of Trinity Church, New Yofk City, of which his son is Rector, v —<The physicians of North Adams, Mass., attribute the sudden death of Miss Leonard, who dropped dead in that town a few days since, to the drying.up.of.her blood from the habit of eating large quantities of cloves every d »y- ; , ■ .... jOr the pounds of an average maD 116 is water. * >