The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-23
OBJ L u AR Y.
WILLIAM ORION.

yesterday morning, at his residence, No. Alb West
Twsnty-th street The announcement Of his death
fell with startling surprise the community and
many disposed to believe that IL was
Western Union In Wall street. The flag
al half-mnst over the compaIy's building on
Broadway soon satisfied people down town that the
was but too The effect Of the intelligence
among the officers and employees OF tho company was
extremely painful. They had learned 70 regard Mr.
Orion with feelings OF devoted attachment and the
shock OF his sudden taking of visible IN tho de-
jected countenancos of all Nopremonition had been
given Of the complaint which SO abruptly ended
his vigorous existence. He OF robust
frame, and his habits rather inclined TO
abstemiousness He had hardly ever been
III. aud lutte did he seem TO be disposed to the
ordinary ailments that affct humanity that he was
looked upon man destined 10 a hale old age. Dr.
Green, Vice President OF the Western Union, remem-
bers however several within the past
years when no complained OF trouble In his head. but
DC always made light of the matter, though he no
doubt suffered acutey from tho extraordinary amount
OF mental labor no imposed upon himself.
ILLNESS.
On Saturday he was at the Office early, in excellent
spirits and busy all day Till six evening sun
day morning he was up bctmes, usual. psrtook
heartily OF breakfast and ai,erward went, with
family, to his iavorte place worship Profess
OF Ninth avenue and Twenty eighth street AT church
he was In some way separated In the crowd from
his children and sat in different pew from
them. The Easter services had great interest for
him, and he and his wife partook OF the holy sacra-
mcnt AS he had been steady and jealous supporter
OF this church noturaIy some anxiety about Its
revenues. and when. in accordance with his duty, no
reunited the result OF the Easter offerings he ex-
pressed UGH pleasure at the amount collected,
an 4 lact,u ~
and showed an increased interest the part Of
the worshippers the welfare OF the church Ser.
vice over Mr. orion aud family returned homo
and sat down to dinner with his friend Mr.. Migan
for guest Alter dinner, in company with Mr. Mill.
pan, ne drove out the Central Park, and In the
OF the drive they talked OF Mr. Orton's affairs
Of matters in relation to his business and prop
efty. On returning he sat down supper and
l,c heartily. soon after this he began to
tcel orowsy and lad himself a lounge.
subsequently he complained OF sharp pain in hts
head but this did alarm either himself or family,
and about o'clock he badc all good night and
tired TO his chamber Soon after reaching there no
was seized with sudden nausea and vomiting, fol-
lowed by paralysis of his right Mrs. Orion
tered his room this moment and seeing the condi-
ton OF affairs called Tor help. In The meantime he
had laid himself his bod, and very after, at
about eleven O'Clock, became unconscious. Dr. Bauer,
street, at Tor and arrived at the house
about midnight, at which time the nature OF the at
tack was discovered to be apopoxy. Dr. Green OF the
Western Union Company. was summoned and arrived
NJ the house about O'Clock IN the morning Bleed
Ing and other remedies usual such tred
but without avail DR.. Bclcher was for and was
on hand little after midnight.
MOMENTS.
After consultation the strongest known remedies
WAR do will ftcfa
IL then became apparent that his hopeless.
near neighbor OF Mr.. Orton's, Colonel Borden,
rived the house at early hour In the morning,
and ne, along with DR.. Green, Mr.. J. W. Kirk
ana tho family remained at the bedside
until death relieved the sharply-sircken pa
tlent at seven O'Clock. Beyond the twitchng
OF the muscles aud fingers on the lett side there
no signs Of bodily suffering, and no Is supposed 10
have passed away without pain.
MRS. orion, ~ sIeaklhg win an ola friend OF her
husbands yesterday saii that when he returned from
Albany last week he was greatly exhausted,
In front OF his house he took her arm, leaning
slightly on her for support, and told her he very
tired He recovered, apparently, from this fatigue In
day or two anu nothing more was thought oft TIL
his sudden illness occurred. Mr. orion was lfty-two
years old when he died, having been born June II,
1s26 IN the Town OF Cuba, Allegany county, N. r.
LIFE
He had but little educat on from the schools In his
boyhood but he quick OF apprehension and
picked up ideas readily lie had strong desire Tor
self Improvement, and when the opportunity pre-
scented itself he entered the normal school at AL
bany, IRON which he graduated with honor
US a school teacher in the lutte town
OF Geneva State. Like many other
have been called the worlds big tolls ho was largely
his own instructor, choosing such studies as seemed
most nceued 10 aid IN working out the practical issues
ui laDorious hic As prophecy OF tho direction OF
Mr. ortons future lie II Is significant that his rs
jcct Tor an essay at the normal school was on tho
netc telegraph, when Was illustrated by model still
10 10 seen exhibition among the curosites of the
department. OF Education at Albany. Mr. orion, at
mo age of twenty-iour, was tall, slim, studious
ONT N. NJ ven q
hnd with thoughts ana habits beyond his years. He
wasted no time In foolish amusements but was
always adding to his stock OF knowledge, though
by no means vain OF displaying II. .His
literary scieDtnc attainhents," remarked friend
hts yesterday, "were really marve!lous when you
considered his limited opportunities IL was only
thosc who knew him Intimately that had
81 knowledge Mr. orion quit school teaching
~ tue ycur 1850 ana entered the booksellers shop
o. Derby 4 Co. ~ Geneva. When Mr. Derby removed
his business 10 Bufaio Mr.. orion TOOK the store ne
vacated, aud here his business qualifications were FIRST
ucmonsirated anu not only brought bm into noiicc,
bus helped improve his circumstances
Two years after starting IN business at &C.
ncva be concluded 10 Jon the hrm OF j. Y.
DERBY Co.. VINO had then large store at
Auburn and under The name OF Derby, orion a.
Miillgan the house did a thriving business Am
bttipus OF a WIDER heid Tor his energies Mr.. Orion
urged upon the nrm the. advisaoiiity of opcnDg a
tore IN this city, and one was accordingly started
Prk row under the name o. aiilcr. orton Co,
but the success Mr. orion anticipated ialcd of being
realized aud alter struggle % two years, tie firm
TAXING AZ INTEREST ~ POLITICS.
MI Orton THIS time began 10 take interest In
politics, and he never took hold Of anything ex-
ccpt with whole soucd carnestness, ne soon became
conspicuous IN the ranks ~ the party he belonged
TO- winch Oi the republican persua.
sion, and which ho always adncrc
After the arm collapsed no became managing
clerk Tor J. H. Gregory Il 20, booksellers end pub
lisbers, PARK row In 1889 he was nominated by the
republicans Tor member OF the Common Council IRON
ths sixteenth ward ana triumphantly elected. He
spent year the Board, always carrying himself as
stsnch and uDcomp Promising republican and an
enemy OF municipal Jobbery. Wnen the war broke
cut he showed strong loyal feeling and became some
what noted as a positive patriot.
1nis brought him TO The attention OF the govern
mcnt Vf Presdont Lincoln, ana in 1867 he was APP
IOtutcd Commissioner OF Internal Revenue Tor the
sixth district oil New York. 'It was here observed
Ur. Green. che drst showed his great executive
ABILITY do was ent TO follow the precedents
before him or do the business hts predecessors
had done IT, lie set 10 work ana examined
INTO aud coiiated the methods OF revenue manage
mont 10 England and other countries, aud laid down
hnrn hAa ~ I'll " MIN.