Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-12
WORCESTER.
MONDAY, JUNE 1s, 1871.
Hon. John :. G. KnowItOn,

Editor of the Palladium, and sheriff of the coun-
ty of Worcester, died at his residence in this
city, early Sunday morning, after short ILL
ness, being in the seventy-second year of his
age.
Mr. Knowltou was born at Hopkinton, N. H.,
December IL, 1893. During his minority he was
regarded as a very excellent scholar, devoting
most of his time to study and writing He
graduated at Dartmouth college and was intend
ing to study profession, but finally concluded
TO adopt an editorial life. He removed to Lowell
about the year 1927 and for several years con-
nected with the Lowell Journal. In the year 1888,
he came to Worcester and assumed the editorial
ehargeIof the Egis and Yeoman, with which the
Worcester Republican was subsequently merged
10 establish the Worcester Palladium which, for
about thirty-seveu years has been edited and
published by Mr.. Knowlton.
He was twice elected to the Massachusetts
senate and was also member of the constitu-
tiona convention, where he served with marked
ability. He was the fourth mayor of the city
of Worcester, and held the office two years. In
1856 he was chosen sheriff of the county, which
office he held up to the day of his death. He
held the office of president Of the Mechanics
savings bank for several years, as well as many
other minor positions of trust conferred upon
him from time to time by his fellow citizens.
The disease of which he died was "strangu-
lated hernia" and, although of many years
standing, il had never but once before caused
him any serious inconvenience. Two years ago
he had an attack, caused by severe exposure
and fatigue in tramping over swamps, plowed
fields and rocky pastures, while attend
ing sherifPs jury in fowage case
in the north part of the county, but he finally
recovered, and has since enjoyed his usual
health, until within a few days. The excite
ynent, fatigue and labor incident to the trial of
the Grafton bank robbers, with the thermometer
at ninety, and the vitiated atmosphere of the
court room, undoubtedly aggravated the disease
to such deglee that, in this case, it has result
ed fatally.
When he came home to tea, Monday evening,
he exhibited marked symptoms of fatigue and
exhaustion; but, on retiring for the night,
thought he should be better in the morning.
Instead of this, however, his illness gradually
increased, and it became necessary to call in the
Idllllll pug liz HOOuNdIu, WIZ
ed him in his previous attack AT first
1t was thought he might survive, as no urgent
symptoms appeared till Thursday evening
Friday evening, excessive vomiting ensued, and
neither medicine nor food could be kept upon
the stomach. Saturday afternoon, council of
physicians, consisting of Drs. Woodward, Sar-
gent and Gage, decided that an operation must
be performed, which, under the influence of
chloroform was so successfully and satisfactorily
done, that there seemed to be no obstacle in the
way of speedy recovery. About seven o'clock,
the heretofore favorable aspect of the case
changed suddenly, and the unfavorable symp-
toms continued to increase until midnight,
when he went into a collapse, and died about
three o'clock, Sunday morning, not having been
conscious after midnight.
Mr. Knowlton was man of superior ability,
which has beeu abundantly manifest in his edl-
torial writing; and he had in high degree the
respect and esteem of those best acquainted
with him. His name was well known in differ
ent parts Of the country; but his natural reserve
and reticence, tended to limit the circle of his
more intimate acquaintance. 1t was not his
habit to make himself familiar and common, in
his general intercourse with others; but he had
power to make himself felt, and was one of those
men who can not pass away without being
missed far beyond the domestic circles with
which they are Immediately connected.