Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-03
= az seasons q the year either at Gettys.
spgg Philadelphia or Wilmington. The

'ne elnelency Of the management and the
success and beauty Of the design was at
tributed to his Judgment and excellent
TASTE. AS chairman of the Executive
committee he was charged with the most
ueiiease duties of procuring designs, lay.
ing out and ornamenting the grounds,
erecting the lodge, fences and gatcways,
ana the arrangement of the graves and
neadstones. These duties were well and
laithlulIy performed, and in a manner
"ignly satisfactory to the Board.
lie was endeavoring at the time of his
uoath, to ascertain the facts relating to
the fifteen Delaware soldiers buried in
'ne Cemetcry, and the incidents Of their
military life and circumstances of their
heroic death. This duty must now be
performed by another, who, in performing
IT, Will have many kindly recollections of
his virtues, and pleasant memories of the
numerous times they have conferred to-
gether about his patriotic plans. The
constant regret will be that the one most
n''eu by his large experience, earnest
loyalty and discriminating taste to com
plete the work was called to better
world almost before the work was begun.
With the desire of paying Just and
merlted tribute to the memory of Mr..
L MI
l'a'lmer' whose personal friendship
salued 80 Highly, and of awaking a deeper
interest IN the national work he so mate
r'ally advanced, the following extracts
are made for publication
From Mr. LAtmer accepting the sppoiatmsnt
II accept with diffidence, not havino
done enough for the cause of our State in
TINS her hour of trial to warrant NV
being placed in so honorable n most Nc
sentry over the remains of her sons =,
gettysburg, when so many who have
earned the honor to this appointment in
the field are passed by to confer i. on an
aged civilian"
from The President of the Hoard. Jsunarv o. ,ses
-
speaking Of fthe notice of Mr.. Latimer's
ueath he says: 81 fear it is the rcpre.
'on'aA"e from Delaware in our Board.
"nu lf so we have lost one of our most
"ctive, Jealous members, thoroughly
practical business man and perfect gen
tieman IN the most enlarged sense of the
word. Please let me hear from you.n
Reply to the President, January "a, 1866 &C.,
81 regret to say that your apprehensions
concerning our mutual friend, John II
Latimer, are correct, lie died on the
day you wrote to him, very suddenly.
after only halfhour's illness. lie arose
on that day unusually bright and cheer
iul, made arrangements for storing his
ice, started for this city il his carriage.
and had proceeded but short distance.
when he was seized with a violent pain in
the region Of the heart. He was abl. 10
reach home where he shortly afterward
expired.
lie was, as you say, n perfect gentleman
r.
in the most enlarged sense of the word
and a thorough patriot. Every one here
knows that he has done much good with
his handsome fortune, and that with open.
handed liberality and generous bonevo-
lence he assisted every worthy object.
10 aid the Government in its struggle to
beiriend and keep the soldier and his
family, and to be the foremost in every
charitable enterprise has been the chej
business of his last four years.
Il feel his loss to be a personal one to
me- Almost every day he stepped into
my Office to say pleasant word. ALWAYS
cheerful, very intelligent, with great
knowledge OF men and books, and ready
with incidents of his travels he was one
oil the most agreeable and entertaining
persons ever met. His heart was in
your movement. lie deemed il the
highest honor that could have been con-
ierred upon him by the State, TO select
hlm to "stand as sentry over the remains
OF the gallant dead" 1t was his boast
that his Trusteeship of the Gettysburg
Cemetery was the only public Office ho
ever held. That he was an active and
Jealous member of your Board | very
well know and 1 have often heard him
say how proud he felt of the part that tllc
|
peepto OF Delaware had taken in the
cemetery, and how dearly he priced his
relation to it,"
TIE REPUBLIC is I,I,r1,