Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-07
Death of George wilkins Ken.



Our neighbor, the Picayune, received
yesterday telegram announcing the death
of George wilkins Kendall, which occur
red day before yesterday at Post Oak. his
residence in Western Texas, near New
Braunfels. Mr.. Kendall's death was pro-
duced by congestive chill, disease which
has been very prevalent and fatal through
out the Southwest during the present sum-
mer.
The announcement of the death of this
veteran of the Southern Press, and genial,
popular and accomplished gentleman, will
be received with sorrow by a large circle
of admiring friends throughout the coun-
try, and in this city, where he was known
intimately and so long, the grief for his
demise will be deep and poignant. Though
past middle age, Mr.. Kendall, at his last
visit to this city. presented such an ap-
pearance of health and vigor, and his hab-
| its so prudent, his constitution so we'll pre-
served, and his disposition so eguable that
there were few men of his years who would
have been more confidently insured for a
score or more of years, of a green and
hearty old age. Yesterdays edition of the
Picdyune contained a letter from him,
marked with his old characteristics OF
quaint humOr and vigorous thought.
| Mr.. Kendall was the veteran of the Ne,v
Orleans Press, that is, he was the Oldest per-
son who had been associated with our jour-
nalism in an editorial capacity. Born in
Vermont, he had received only common
school education, but having served his
tire as printer, managed to exc out his
defects of education in that school which
has turned out so many of our ablest states
men, scholars and authors-the composition
room.
| He was the contemporary of Horace
Greeley and set type for many years in the
s sime Office with him. Having worked in
Washington on the old Telegrnph, under
Daft Green, and on the Globe under Blair
& Rives, and in other offices in the North
ern cities, he came to New Orleans about
we believe, in the office of John
Gibson. "old faithful and bold.''-
In 1886 he engaged with the late Mr.
F. A. Lumsden in the enterprise OF
publishing small daily paper, which. on
account OF its dimensions, its modest pre-
tensions its tone of pleasantly and iocul-
arity was styled the Picayune, the old creole
term for the smallest coin in circulation in
this city. After some years of struggle the
Picdyune proved success. and enlarging g
its sphere and elevating its pretensions
rapidly arose to be a large, tlourishing and
highly respectable journal. No one con-
tributed more to this result than Mr.. Ken.
dali, who combined all the qualities needed
to conduct popular journal, in which
good sense, prudence, tact and a large in
fusion of humor and pleasantly were blend
ed, and from which partisan politics and
personalities were carefully excluded.
When the Picay,.ae had become an insti.
tuition of the city, and had acquired large
reputation throughout the country, Mr.
Kendall felt justified in gratifying hi:
strong taste for travel and adventure, by
joining several expeditions to the Wes1
and to Mexico, of which he contributed
to his journal very agreeable sketches and
graphic narratives. In one of these eX.
cursions he was unfortunately involved in
what was regarded an enterprise against
the independence. of MeXico-was captured
by the MeXicans and suffered long and
veXatiOus Imprisonment and very hard
usage. Out of this affair, too, he managed
to extract material for many interesting
sketches.
During the Mexican war, he accompanied
II our army, witnessed and participated il
many OF the scenes of that drama, and sup.
piled the Picdylne with constant aud wei
written narratives of the events thereof
At the end of the war his letters were col.
lected into large volume. which was pub.
lished by him at great expense and Illus
trated by very splendid engravings OF the
principal battles of the war.
After the Mexican war, and when tht
revolutionary fervor began to pervade tht
continent of Europe, Mr.. Kendall hurried
to the scene of the exciting events O
that epoch. and resumed his position
as correspondent of his journal. Hi
J letters were regarded as an attrac
tive feature OF the Picdyune, and wer,
much copied. He had great tact and in
dustry in collecting and describing in
cidents of a stirring and interesting char
acter-was never tedious or verbose, anC
r often humorous and piquant. After res
idence of some years in France, Mr.. Ken
dali married an accomplished and elegant
lady of that country, and returning to the
7 United States, proceeded to carry out hi
design of establishing himself on a rancho
in Western TeXas-and engaged largely
E; and enthusiastically in the enterprise O
: sheep raising. This employment of lat,
E years had absorbed the larger portion O
4 his attention, and neeessitated his with
: drawal in great measure from literary
pursuits. A letter now and then to tn
Picaplae. mostly on farming and grain.
questions and the interests of Texas, EN-
: braced the extent of his contributions te
: the literature OF the day for several year
i past.-NeW Orleans paper.
4 Every boy baby in Bulgaria has to pay
+ tax for exemption from military DUTY
: They regularly belong to the intantr,
e corps.
n Another delectable prize fight near Ney
d York. One man got his head in chancer
S and was pounded for seven minutes, wbe
: the referee compelled his antagonist to le
him escape.