New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-07
OBITUARY.
GEN. HIRAM wAIBRIDGE.

Gen. Hiram Walbridge died yesterday at Il
D. H. at the Aston House. Of disease Of the bladder. after
a very brief illness Cen. Wahrdge was born in Utica
Feb d. Is1 lie came Of Puritan stock, being the son OF
Chester WalbrdEc merchant II moderate means. He
boy OF promise, precociOus talent ana joyous
disposition His education was confined TO the rudi-
mentary discipline Of a district school, but unsatisac
tory as it was it enabled him in his fifteenth
wear 10 teach in public school AT Toledo. Ohio, whittier
his parents had removed. short time aferwaTd when
no was a student at academy in Athens Ohio he ell
gagged in political debate, and canyassed the State, In
election Of great excitement, In behalf OF Gen. Har
rson After the election he returned to his home in
Toledo and engaged in the study Of law in the Office Of
Judge Myron II. Tlden. He was admitted at the age
Of o. TO practice in the state Courts Of Ohio, and in
the following year be appeared before the Supreme
Court.
The natural bias OF his mind. however. led him 10
abandon his law office for larger experience and buster
life among merchants and spectators His personal
popularity was so great that he elected Colonel Of
the state Militia the OF u, and IN the following
year he was appointed BrigadierGeneral 1t this
time that his restless mind betrayed into a most
visionary scheme. Excitement with reference TO
the admission Of Texas into the Union ran
very high, and young Wabrdge and a few
Of his intimate friends formed a plan Of
establishing four newspapers at Houston, Galveston,
Austin and another point 10 advocate tho Independence
throughout the State. The scheme wild one. but
the young Coucderates engaged in 10 with great spirit
and canyas,ed the state with reference 10 the establish
ucnt of theiI Journals. The annexation OF Texas
dercd their enterprise futile and WalDrdge returned TO
Toledo whence he removed 10 Newiork in lol 10 en-
gage in extensive commercial transactions
III ls4s he was nominated by the Democratic party "a
as Assenblynah from one OF me IOWeT wards ana was
elected by large majority. His popularity among the
German and Irish emgrants NJ this time was very great
that year In France and Germany. At the hight the
excitement IN the city he presided At meeting Of the
speech In which he aVowed bs sympathy WIN the re,
publican heroes Of the old World, hc presented the red
cap Of liberty 10 the audience amid the widest enthu
IN 1882 he was elected by the Democrats to represent
the IVth Congress District at Washington. His short
career during single session OF congress was harkrd
10y the adv ocacy of Pacific Railroad bill and the intro
dncon of bin to regulate the militia OF the which
attracted great share oil punhe attention AT the tne
AT the close Of his OF office he retired from public
life, not TO remain passive witness OF events
but oftentlnes 10 shape the current Of popular
thought and action. Al the opening Of the
war he was OutspOkeE Union man, and withdrew IN
dignautly nom the Democratic party On account OF lis
ambiguous attitude toward the Government lie
warm personal friend OF President Lincoln and was
offered scat IN his cabinet lie Wa also rendered the
rank Of BrigadiefGencr ~ the army but declined on
the ground that men Of military education should oc-
cupy posts or trust ana itSpohelDlul' During
the he frequently addressed the Boards Of
Trade IN western cues, AuNp'atlhg "a powerful
support ot the Government; lie was NCe-Pre7dent
the National Commercial Convention AT Chicago, and
subsequently presided al similar IN Detroit
and Louisville. AT these meetings he advocated free
banking, reduction Of taxation. and tie development
Of the OF the West lie was also prominently
identified with the Chamber OF Commerce or New
York In 1904 az the solicitation Of his friends he
tested the OF Benjamin Wood 10 Congress, but
Of te wears his atte nOn TO business had impaired his
health and he had obliged 10 retire from the firm
Of H. ID. WabTidge & Co.. and 20 seek relaxation IN
travel lie had anticipated spending the Winter In san
Francisco ana had made arrangements Tor departure on
Thursday last when he suddenly attacked with his
old complaint and, after painful surgical operation,
died peacefully and without pain yesterday afternoon
lie married IN 1851 Mrs. Blake OF Providence X L. who
win her "a children, survives him.