National Republican., 1874-07-13
0BTTUARY.
GENERAL WILLIAM 8. HnLYrR

dENEhAL WILLIAM O. HlLL1Eh.
The numerous friends and acquaintances of
the brave soldier and genial gentleman whose
name heads this tribute were much shocked
yesterday evening at the intelligence of his
death at ass O'Clock In the afternoon, at the
Owen house, in this city. The General had
been very low since the 18th of June with
pleuro- o-pneumonia, but was improving latteriy
and supposed to be out of danger, when uE-
fortunately . relapse occurred, Terminating
fatally In congestion Of the bowels and dysen-
terry. About ten days since General Hillyer
lost an infant daughter, whose remains were
deposited in q vault at Glenwood cemetery,
and upon consultation with friends, among
whom were General Denver, General W. T.
Clarke, of Texas, Colonel W. H. Merriam and
Captain Ross, the family have decided to place
the remains of the father with those Of the
child for the present. The funeral services
Will take place at the Owen house at o'clock
this afternoon.
William Snliman Hillyer was the son Of Mr..
James Hllyer, prominent lawyer and Whig
politician Of Kentucky, and was born at Hen
derson, in that State, on the Sd of April, 1880
His mother was q niece of the late Professor
Benjamin Silliman, of Yale College. His
father was also q native of Connecticut, and
when the late war broke out the General was
accustomed TO remark to his friends of rebel
proclivities that, though born in the South, he
was a thoroughbred Yankee. Young Hillyer
entered College at New Albany, Indiana, where
he graduated from Anderson College in 1s4s
with high honors, and Afterwards spent year
at Yale as resident graduate. He then re-
turned to New Albany, and studied law. He
was admitted to practice before he became of
age, in 1851, and was elected city attorney the
same year. The following year he was chosen,
as Wing, 70 represent the eounty-the ban
n. IT,. Fsn. O. A.
Legislature, where he served with such signal
ability as to again receive the nomination, but
having determined to go West he declined
reelection, and removed to St. Louis, where
he resumed the practice Of his profession and
esehewed politics until the presentation of the
exciting issues of the campaign of 1860.
Having espoused the Republican cause, he
was chosen a delegate to the Chicago conyen-
tion which nominated Abraham Lincoln.
During this campaign General Hnlyer Joined
Frank Blair, B. Gratz Brown and other young
Republicans in canvassing the city of Louis,
which was carried for the Republican ticket-a
result which at the time was acknowledged to
be eminently due to the fervor and eloquence
of the appeals of young Hillyer. It was here
and about this time that he made the acquaint-
ance of Captain, now President Grant-an ac-
quaintance which ripened into an intimacy
which has continued unbroken until the present
time.
When the war broke out, Hillyer Joined
the volunteer troops under the lamented Lyon,
as a private soldier, and was present at the
capture of Camp jackson.
When, few months later, President Grant
was commissioned Brgadier General, he ex-
pressed a desire that Hillyer and Rawlins
might be ordered to his personal staff. Hillyer
Joined him at Cape Girardeau as adjutant gen
eraI, with the rank Of captain, and continued
a member of his military family and staff, par
ticipating in all his battles and campaigns
with honor to himself, and rendering import
ant services to the country up to the fall of
Vicksburg in July, 1893.
After this event, in fulfllment of promise
previously made to his wife, he resigned his
commission of bTevet brigadier general and
settled in the city of New York to resume the
practice of his profession. When Mr.. Edward
G. Bates was appointed Attorney General he
offered Mr.. Hillyer q position in his office,
which was declined for military service. Dur
ing the first year of his residence In New York
he was a great sufferer from rheumatism, con-
tracted in the military service. He, however,
obtained a lucrative practice, very much of it
being business growing out of the war, which
occasioned the spending of large portion of
his time in this city.
Subsequent to the death of President Lin
coin, he adhered strongly to the policy and
fortunes of Andrew johnson, who offered him
the mission to Portugal. This he declined, and
was appointed general revenue agent for New
York and New England. He rendered efficient
service in this capacity until the Office was
superseded by the creation, in 1867, of the
memorable Metropolitan Revenue Board. He
became about this time an active Democrat in
politics, and engaged in an animated and some
what bitter newspaper controversy with the
veteran editor Thurlow Weed, that brought
him prominently into public notice, owing 10
the remarkable ability which characterized his
letters. His name was then presented to the
Treasury for the important office of surveyor
of the port Of New York, but the war between
the administration of Mr.. johnson and the
Senate, Which resulted in the impeachment
trial, prevented his appointment.
Political differences prevented his support of
his old military commander for the Presidency
IN 1868, but never severed their personal rels-
tions, On the contrary, General Grant, upon
several occasions, Endorsed General Hilyer as
fully capable to execute the duties Of any
himself with powerful party Of army friends,
at one time numbering over six thousand, and
In 1872 he gladly found himself able to rally |
them to the support Of General Grant. He
also made unrelenting and active war against |
the corrupt Tammany Ring in the most efec- |
tive manner with both speech and pen. 4 few !
months SINCE the President sent his name to the |
senate 1Or Lne ONCE Oh Appraiser ~ Large, OUT |
afterWard withdrew il at General Hillyer' own |
request. The latter had arrived at the deter |
10 give up politics and devote his en-
ergies entirely to private business pursuits,
which were largely engaging his attention with |
promise Of rich rewards, when he was pros
trated with the Illness which terminated in his
death, at the age Of forty-three.
Perhaps no man of his age enjoyed the ac-
quafntance and esteem of larger and more
widely extended circle Of warmly-attached
friends. He was a conspicuous and influential
member of the ''Theta Delta Chi " fraternity,
a Greek letter society Of standing and import
ance in the collegiate institutions Of the coun-
try, and through which he was brought into
contact with the young men connected with the
institutions of learning over whom he exercised
& careful and well-directed influence. In 1858
General Hlllyer was married to Miss Annie s.
Rankin, OF Newark, New Jersey, by whom he
has had eight children. His last Illness was
attended by his wife and the five children who
survive him, and who have the earnest SYM
pathy Of his numerous friends in their sad be-
Teavement.