The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-04
rHE DEATH OF GOV. STANTON,


rHE DEATH OF GOV. STANTON.
Our citizens were painfully startled
and profoundly grieved by the an
nouncemeut yesterday morning OF the
Heath of Hon. BENJAMIN STANTON. The
Llow was so sudden, 80 entirely unex.
pected, and the popular mind was so
utterly without warning of or prepara-
ton for the sad event, that it could
scarcely be realized that he who had
been seen SO recently upon our streets
10 the full tide Of health and who occu.
pied so large place in public estima-
ton, had been, in single hour, brought
low and stricken from the list OF the
living. On Sundny he was in the en-
joyment of his usual good health; he
attended church; visited the houses Of
friends, and responded to the greetings
OF acquaintance upon the street. AS
the result Of but an hour illness he has
been taken from the midst OF his labors
and his usefulness.
BENJAMIN STANTON was born In the
village Of Mount Pleasant, Jefferson
county, Ohio, on the 4th Of June, lSO9,
and would therefore have been sixty
three years ofage to-day. His parents
both died while he was yet an infant
and he was brought up by an uncle, as
G. farmer until seventeen years OF age,
receiving only very meagre common
school education. He learned the trade
ola tailor and worked at it until about
1880 or 81. He studied law with
MARSH and SToKELEY at Steubenvllle,
and in 1884 commenced the practice OF
his profession in Bellefontaine, Logan
county, Ohio where he spent the great
er portion of his life. He rose rapidly
IN his profession and in the confidence
of the public, and in lS4l was elected a
member OF the State Senate. He after
wards resigned and was ree!ec-
ted in lS43. In 1850 he was
a member of the Convention
that framed the present Constitution
OF the State of Ohio and in the same
year was chosen to represent the Eighth
District in the Thirty Congress.
He was not member of the next Con.
sress, but was reelected in 1854 and
served, by successive reflections, until
the close Of the Thirty-sixth Congress
on the 18th of March, 1861. Shortly
after the expiration Of his fourth term
IN Congress, he was nominated and
elected bv the Republican party to the
office OF Lieutenant Governor OIL Ohio,
running on the same ticket with Gov
ernor DAVID s. ToDD. In 1865 he re-
moved to this State aud opened law
office, in company with his son,in.law,
&. w. B. ALLISON, Esq, in Martinsburg,
Berkeley county. Not long thereafter
the law firm of STANTON and ALLISON
came to Wheeling and established its
office here where Mr.. STANTON has been
actively engaged in the practice Of his
profession until the day of his death.
of his ability as a lawyer we are not
competent to speak critically, but the
TACT OF his retention in the most i'm
portant cases that have been before our
courts during his residence here sutti-
GENTLY attests the estimation in which
his services were held by the people.
lie was fine advocate, one of the best
that has ever spoken at the bar in this
county, and all his speeches, whether
in court or in the political forum were
marked by clearness ofstatement and
an apparent earnestness and sincerity
and honesty OF purpose that rendered
them unusually effective. He took an
active part in whatever concerned the
public welfare and was ALWAYS ready to
devote his time and his labor to the
discharge of whatever duty his fellow
citizens imposed upon him. 1t has
been our fortune to differ with him,
both politically and upon many ques-
tons Of local Importance, and to know
how great an influence he welded and
what strong hold he had upon the
public mind.
His private character was above re.
proach. He has been for many years a
member of the Methodist Church and
in all the social relations of life has
enjoyed the warm friendship Of all who
knew him. Kind hearted, generous,
sfable and courteous. he had attached
to himself hosts of friends and was ad
mired no less for his brilliant talents
than for his estimable qualities So q
man.
W The death Of such man is always q
public calamity, and we feel sure that
we but express the sentiment of the
entire community when We say that
without distinction or exception the
citizens Of Wheeling mourn his death
From the midst of his activity and biz
usefulness he has passed away, leaving
behind him the perfume of q well spent
life and the commentator of his fellow
men.