Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-13
GEN. JOHN II. RAYMOND.
Sketch of the Career orthe late Superin.
tendent of Indian Affairs.

tendent of Indian Affairs.
Gen. John III. Hammond, whose con-
'ession and arostration by an attack Of
heart disease formed so sensational
feature in the Wa shington dispatches
ON yesterday morning, Is n gentleman
about forty-hve years OF aye, with a
brilliant military and an honorable
business record. lie went into the army
At the beginning of the war. from Ohio,
and during the early portion OF the war
held the position Of adjutant general on
the staff of Gen, w, 4. Sherman. He
was restless, energetic, and fond Of ad-
venture, and in the latter part Of the
war he found congenial occupation az
hrigsdier general OF cavalry. After the
war he settled at Chilicothe, Mo-, and
did a considerable banking business.
amassing wealth, and winning posi-.
! ton in that region. He took hold OF tho
North Missouri railroad projec, and
continued the line frsm Cnllicotho rs
far rs Pattenshrrgh ON its way to
Omaha, but at Patlensburgh the work
stopped Feeling that he had done all
he could in the provinces no came TO
Chicago, and went into the City Savings
bank with Obadiah jackson. This
proved u failure, and Gen. Hammond
attributed tho result To Mr.. Jackson's
conduct. Gen. Hammond always stood
high here, He was most congcn,al
companion and his generosity was al.
most prodigal. He was regarded in
kentucky rs shrowd energetic ard ven
nresome, but his integrity was unques.
toned.
When the City Savings bank failed
three or four years agothe general went
to Washington and got the appointment
of the superintendent OF Indian agencies.
His family remained here in Chicago,
but his position kept him constantly
travelling from ono agency to another.
II IN believed 10y those who know him
that he wei into tho service OF the In.
dian bureau with the laudahe ambition
of making himself famous by cleansing
the Augean stable of the Indian service.
For couple OF years he was q terror TO
the agents. lie fell upon them in true
cavalry style, relentlcssly exposing rns.
calites, and forcing rasoals out of the
service. For n year or moro nothing
has been heard of his raids ON dishon-
eat Indian agents. Either he has work
ed every dishonest agent out of the
service, or his ardor for the purity Of
the service had cooled decidedly. IL
~ the belief of those who know him
that in an unguarded moment, and per
haps under the influence OF his we'll.
known generous impulse, and his ro-
markab,e readiness 10 obligo friend,
he took eis fret false step asa matter
REORGANIZATION TO Commissioner,Hayt.
That done he found himself completely
IN Hayt's power and in no condition To
to take very lofty moral grounds in ep-
position to Hayt or dishonest agents.
II is not believed that any wrong doing
III which they participated has enrich
cd him ut all, but having taken one
wrong step to oblige Hayt, he after
ward took others 10 protect himself.
Hia tragic romorso after tho perjury
which he confessos to have committed,
suggests that he had not hardened him
self by u succession OF downward steps,
and his agony Of shame will enlist fer
him the sympathy Of many.
A few weeks ago he happened TO be
II tho Merchants National bank and ex.
pressed himself quite freely TO tho as-
slslant cashier, Mr.. Nicely, m old com
rade OF his on Gen. Shermans staff, ro-
garding Gen. Fisk's charges which he
denounced az basoless, and spoke with
some bitterness Of the detractions to
which all persons in official stations
are exposed. lilo had Just resigned, and
congratulated himself that no was
no longer tho target for carping critics
and busy'bodies.