Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-10
ZONE 70 MS FINAL REST.
Of William A. Howard, Govsrno,
Of Dakota.
lie Expired AZ Eight. o,elssk this Morn
Ing, at Washington. DC.

A telegram received By us this afternoon
from Delegate Bennett, dated at Washing
ton, D. G., to day, says:
Governor Howard died Al eight o'clock
this morning"
This is the simple announcement, bu,
within it is a burden Of sorrow to our PEG.
pie. Dakota mourns the loss of one Of
natures noblemen-one Of Gods best crea.
lions. Without = peer among his fellows
death has indeed chosen a shining mark.
All that was good and true and honest
and noble was his. In the sancti,y
of his existence no word Of reproach
could assail him and the shafts OIL
malice fell harmless from the armor|
Of his purity. A steadfast friend, 4 wise
counsellor, an unflinching patriot, he gave
his entire life to the go.d Of mankind aud
|bat.led persisteutly against evil whenever
and wherever it raised its front. I'M
all this broad Dakota there is mol
man who can say aught against
the honor Of our beloved executive, so sud
denly and painfully taken from us. The an.
nals of territorial existence do not give US an
official, high or low, who was 90 completely
in the hearts Of the people and none haye|
gone before him whose loss could bel
80 sincerely mourned There are
tears Of grief in the eyes of the
people to day and a paug Of sorrow has
entered the universal heart. When our
governor left US, feeble from . long snd|
Frustrating illness. We hoped n fel. thar
! change Of scenes and the skillful stten-
ton be would receive would speedily bring
back to him the health and viRor We sol
much priced, and this hope has zen chung
to up the very end. For several days past
iiecourasing Letters have been received
from his wife aud from Judge Benz
nett, but the people could not and
would not realize that dissclu-|
ton was approaching. Our telearaphic in
formation is the FINAL message from him for
whose welfare We had hoped. 1t tells Us be
lie dead, and all that now is left is for US to
mourn his loss and to revere his memory.
Governor Wm. A. Howard was born in
the state of Vermont in the year 1912, and
was sixty-eight years Of age when death
overlook him. His life has been one of busy
experiences. He was 3 graduate Of Mid.
dlebury college in the class of which John
G. SAKE was . member and was an intimate
friend of that gentleman. After leaving
college Governor Howard began studies with
the design Of entering the ministry in the
Presbyterian faith, but subsequently, aban7
doned this intention and took up the study
Of Law, which he completed and became al
prominent representative Of his profession.
Some forty years ago he moved to Detroi,I
Michigan, which was bis place of residence
up to the time of his appointment as COVER
nor Of Dakota. In 1856 he was chosen al
representative of congress from the Detroit
district and was the FIRST republican elected
TO that body in Michigan. He served With
distinguished ability through three terms.
in 1862 with the highest honors a
grateful constituency could bestow. nuring|
the period Of his congressional services he
wasplaced 10 positions Of the first import
|ance. An uncompromising abolitiopist from
beginning,his work lay in the direction of
Ehe freedom of an enslaved race and he en-.
tered heartily and courageously upon it and
turned not aside from the plain path Of duty.
He was a prominent element in the Kansas
troubles and BY his wisdom and eagacity did
much to wrest the state from the grasp of
the rufian element and place it in the list ol
the free commonwealth Of the north. The
outbreak of the rebellion found Governor
Howard among the leading republicans in
congress and he devoted himself a%ssiduousl,
10 the task Of combating treason. In this
capacity his acts became a part Of our
country's history.
At the close of bis third term Governor
Howard retired from congress and va.
made postmaster Of Detroit, q position
which he held for several years. He was q
|~ieleRate from Michigan to the convention
1876. and led the movement which rave
ibis state to Rutherford B. Hayes, anil
eliminated 10 the nomination Of tba,
gentleman as the republican candidate 70,
the presidency. On the 18th Of March,
1873. Governor Howard was commissioned
Governor of the territory of Dakota, and op
the 18th Of the following Aprll-,wo years.
'go next Monday he took the oath of
and entered upon bis official duties
|He has sluce been Q resident of Yapkton.
Last winter be was taken with neuralgia of
he chest and for . couple of weeks was ,p|
4 critical condition. Recovering from this|
attack he sought 10 the east and the south
The climatic influences which he hoped
would restore him to complete health. AL
national capital be wss sgain prostrated|
by the old silment and . complication al
lung troubles ensued. which ended bis life
1T eight o'clock this morning. He leaves
! wife and several children.