Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1907 — EDWIN H. CONGER DIES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EDWIN H. CONGER DIES.

Former Mlnluler to China Saeeamba J to IHne**. ~ Edwin Hurd Conger, former minister to China, died at his home, in Pasadena, Cal., Saturday. The family was

at the bedside when tlie end came. In a varied and picturesque career Mr. Conger, as an Illinoisan, ' shed, honor t> n his State. As soldier, business man, statesman and diplomat he fulfilled his duties in m highly acceptable manner. He was

born at Galesburg on March 7, 1843, and received his education in old Lombard University. Later be attended the Albany Law School, where he was* a student with President MdKinley, and he was but a youth when he steped £rom the classroom to shoulder a musket in the war for the Union. Enlisting inthe One Hundred and -Seer end II linois-as a nrtvnteT he saw service in the same brigade with President Harrison, and susequently marched with Sherman to the sea. Before the end of the conflict he had been breveted major for gallant and meritorious service. When the war closed, Mr. Conger practiced law for a time at Galesburg, but in 1808 lie went to Dexter, lowa, and there began farming and stockraising, and also entered into the banking business. Naturally he took an interest in polities, and successively was elected treasurer of the county, and then State Treasurer. In 1884 he was elected to Congress, and served three terms. In 1891 he was first appointed minister to Brazil, and was reappointed in 1897, and the following year he was transferred to China, and while there Mr. Conger performed notable service. lie was in Peking during the siege following the terrible Boxer uprising, and after the capture of that city bj* the allies he conducted the negotiations on the part of the United States. Subsequently he was head of the commission that negotiated the new comil.ercial treaty with China, which went into effect in 1902. Mr. Conger was appointed ambassador to - Mexico in 1905, but his health failing, he resigned the post within a few months and went to live at Pasadena. where lie' was seized with his fatal illness.

E. H. CONGER.