The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-11-30
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
OBITUARY,
tDeash Of vIce.Presldent Wilson.

Death of vIce.President Wilson.
The Vice-President of the United
States Henry. Wilson, died on the 22d
inst, at the age of sixty three, of apo.
plexy. His deccase was sudden, but his
sudden death had been anticipated. The
third apopectic attack proved fatal
About two years ago he WAS smitten
with tho malady. He had apparently
almost recovered from that attack,
though some traces Of paralysis were
visible in his face when engaged in con-
versation. A few days since he had
another attack, from which, also, he had
seemingly recovered, though it was evil
dent that at anv moment his hour might
be called His life aud public services
present some singular and interesting
phases: He was not man Of genius.
lis was not an orator. He was not q
cultured man. He had not the training
of the schools He was not coarse
man, hut he lacked the refined instincts
which have made the names Of many If
our public men sweet in the mouths of
cuitivatet people Ha was not a great
man, but among the politicians of this
generation he is the best representative
Of :hs power of soork He was one of
the most ambitious and laborious of
American politicians. Ho pas politi-
clan rather than a statesman, and to his
ambition and his labor his political sue.
cess is to be attributed. He had been
actively engaged in politics for thirty
live years, had lived economically, and
died poor. His ambition was rot di.
rected to the acquisition Of Wealth.
This is the more singular in that he was
born in poverty, and that such people
usually grasp after the things they have
not with exceptional eagerness
Henry Wilson was born in Farming
ton, N H, on the 18th of February,
1872; was apprenticed at ten years OF
age TO farmer; hoed and moved and
raked and picked stones for eleven
years; gathered twelve months OF
schooling in the meantime; went to
Natick, Mass, when of aye and hired
out to shoemaker; pegged boots for
two years; went back to New 'Hamp-
shire to school; lost all the money he
had saved from his earnings; went back
to Natick to make shoes, sand this was
in 1888. At twenty-six he was nothing
but shoemaker. Two years later be
made sixty speeches in the Harrison
campaign. From that time he was nev.
er out of politics Three times Rep
resentative in the Massachusetts Legis.
lature; twice in the State Senate; dele
gate to the Wing National Convention
of lS4S: seceder from it and organizer
Eof the Free.Soil party; editor Of the
Boston Republican for two years; State
Senator in 1850 and again in 1851
President Of the Senate during both
terms; President of the Free Soil Ma
tional Convention in 1852; candidate
for Congress in the then Eighth District
of Massachusetts on the Free-Soil tick.
ct; member of the Massachusetts Con
stitu,iona. Convention of 1858; Free
Soil candidate for Governorship Of
Massachusetts in that year; elected to
the United States Senate in 1855 IS the
successor Of Edward Everett; electej
Vice President in 1872-these are soms
Of the salient facts in the political his
tory Of Henry Wilson.
As we have said, he was AN indefatig'
able worker. AS Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs in the Senate
during the war he labored day anc
night, and was a commanding man il
the legislation of that epoch. 1t usel
to be said of him that the light in hi.
room in the Washington Hotel, in th,
Capital, was never dimmed-lhat b,
was always at work.
Henry Wilson was not destitute o
some of the vsnities of men. He caus
ed his name to be changed from Jere
miah Colbaith to Henry Wilson becaus
the name of his parents was stigma
He was polite man. He manipulated
the politics of Massachusetts for many
years He was sagacious. crafty, po
tent politician. He probably nomina
ted Andrew johnson instead of Ham
lin for the Vice Presidency. He neve
had the lofty views of Sumner, so man
years his colleague. nor did he ever be
tray trust reposed in him by his con
stituents 1t was his tireless toll thu
gave him the messure of success vouch
sailed to him. He was a contributor t
periodicals and newspapers. He had a.
most completed work upon the Iris
and Fall of the Slave Power in Amer
Ca" He could make speeches with a
most the readiness and versatility @
Horace Greeley. He was, at the sam
lGme, one of the most accessible an
tcordial of all the public men of his day
He was simple in his habits. even t
''totsl abstinence" He took an activ
part in the temperance movement, ON
ing, it is said, to the fact that his so
died from intemperance. He was pur
in his domestic life. He was 80 homes,
pecuniarily, in politics, that, after NOR
than thirty years Of public service, h
died without a competence. With pro
nounced convictions upon the politics
questions with which his life's work wa
identified he had malice toward none-
His visitto John G Breckinridge jus
before his death had a CHARACTERISED
touch Of tenderness, and his recent tri
Through the South gave evidence of hi
belief that the blossoms we're bloomin
for all. He was kindly and catholic,
not great. He was honorable. thong