Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-01-13
MIR. BENTON'S SPEECH,

ON ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF HIS
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR LINN.
Mn. PREsIDENT:-I rise to make
10 the Senate the formal communlca-
ton of an event which has occurred
during the recess, and has been heard
by all with the deepest regret. My
colleague and friend, the late Senator
Linn, departed this life on Tuesday,
the Sd day of October last, at the ear
" age Of forty eight years, and with
out the warnings or the suierings
which usually precedc our departure
from this world. He laid him down TO
sleep and awoke no more. 1t was to
him the sleep of death! and the only
drop of consolation in this sudden and
calamitous visitation was, that it took
place in his own house, and that his un-
conscious remains were Immediately
surrounded by his family and friends,
and received all the care and aid which
love and skill could give.
l discharge mournful duty, Mr..
President, in bringing this deplorable
event to the formal notice of the Sen
ate; in offering my feeble tribute OF
applause to the many virtues OF my de-
ceased colleague, and in asking for his
memory the last honors which the res
poet and affection of the Senate bestow
upon the name of deceased brother.
Lewis Field Linn, the subject OF the
annunciation, was born in the State OF
Kentucky, in the immediate vicinity
of Louisville. His grandfather was
Colonel William Linn, one of the la
voritc officers Of General George Rod
gers Clark, and well known for his
courage and enterprise in the early set
Element of the great West. At the age
Of eleven ne had fought in the ranks OF
men, in The defence Of a station in
western Pennsylvania, and was seen to
deliver deliberate and effective fire.
He was one Of The first to navigate the
Ohio and Mississippi from Pittsburgh
to New Orleans, and back again
daring achievement which himself and
some others accomplished for the pub
lie service, amidst every species OF
danger, in the year l776. He was kill
ed by the Indians at ali early period
leaving family of young children, Of
whom the worthy Colonel William,
Pope Gather of Governor Pope, and
head of the respectable and numerous
family of that name in the Vest be-
came the guardian. The father of Sen
ator Linn was among these children,
and, at an earl y age, skating upon the
ice near Louisville, with three other
boys, he was taken prisoner by the
Shawanee Indians, carried off, and de-
tanned captive for three years, when all
four made their escape and returned
home, by killing their guard, travers-
ing some hundred miles Of wilderness:
and swimming the Ohio river. The
mother of Senator Linn was Penn
sylvanian by birth; her maiden name
Hunter; born at Carlisle; and also had
heroic blood in her veins. Tradition,
il not history, preserves the recollec-
ton Of her courage and conduct at Fort
Jefferson, at the Iron Banks, in 1871.
when the Indians attacked and were
repuised from that post. Women and
boys were men in those days.
The father of Senator Linn died
young, leaving this son but eleven yrs
Of age. The cares of an elder brother
supplied las far as such loss could be
supplied) the loss Of father, and IN
der his auspices the education of the
orphan was conducted. He was intsn.
ded for the medical profession, and re
ceivcd his education, scholastic and
professional, in the State of his na,ivi
ty. AT an early age he was qualified
Tor the practice of medicine, and com
menced it in the then Territory, now
State, Of Missouri; and was immedi
aiely among the foremost Of his pro