New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-20
OBITUARY.
JOHN D. DEGREES.


INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. ia dispatch to The
Ne,rs announces the death OF John d. Defrees the late
Public Printer at Berkeley Springs, W. Va this morning
WASHINGTON. Oct. 19.-Assistant Secretary New OF
the Treasury Department who intimate person.
al friend OF Mr. Defrees for thirty years, said to IRB
UNE correspondent tonight: " Mr. Defrees was man
the purest character and Of the highest personal ana
moral courage He was the ahlest political manager
ever knew, and for years lac the magnate OF the
Wing party Indiana, which owed much Of It's success
10 him. He Was the intimate friend and adviser not
only OF Caleb b. Smith. Joseph White and other WING
leaders in Indiana, but of Clay, Webster ana other
National leaders OF the party. After the dissolution "a
the Wing party in Indiana Mr.. Defrees, as proprietor "
The Journal the newspaper which now OWL organ,
lied and built up the Peoples party, which maintained
itself until through the exertiOns OF himself ana otheI
the Kepublican party was organized in the state III
1872 Mr. Defrees joined the Liberal moNemen' NJ
supported Mr. Greeley. / think ths WIS N"0
.auses In the first place he had warm personal '
ton for Mr. Greeley, and regarded MN IN tne e"
natron saint of the Republican party and III tne
loa ba was very bitterly hostile to General Grah''
R,, nobody could ever doubt the sincerity OF MS con-
ctons or fail to respect although they might not asFee
with, him"
John D. Defrees was born at Sparta, Tenn. November
10 1910. He was able to attend school for only one
wear and that at a log schoohouse in the backwoods'
W
P,oua Ohio At the age Of thirteen he began learning
the printers trade ana afterward read law with
Thomas Corwin Being admitted TO the bar on attaining
his majority, he settled, in 1881, at south
Bend, Ind, and for eight years ne served
in both houses Of the state Legislature
He conducted newspaper at South Bend for two years.
in company with Ills bretner Joseph H. Defrees AFTER
ward member OF the XXXIXth Congress. MI De
frees did begin to practise law until 1886 but he was
successful lawyer well as successful puOlsher ana
editor In Deees removed 10 Indianapolis ana III
March of that year he became the Editor OF me H"ou
Journal which established March,, 1s23' by Harvey
Gregg ana Douglass Mcguire under the name OF me
western Censor and Entrants GUIDE. In February,
1916 MI Defrees purchased The Journal aud retained
sole control OF the fall of 1854 when he sold OUT
to the Company Here he at one time had tue AS
sstance of a boy named schuyler Coax' VINO ateI"aru
came to great prominence In July 1888 he estaDsneu
daily newspaper called The Alas the presses oil whcn
were run by an Ericsson hot ar engine He maintained
This iourpal until after the election OF 1850, ana III
March. 1861 he sold it to the Journal Company.
In 1861 MI Defrees was appointed superintendent OF
Publc Printing by President Lincoln position winch
he filed with marked ab lily for the eight years ioow
inc During Mr.. JolnsOn's Administration ConstySS
sought deprive the President 81 the power Oh
Pnic Printer was made elective by the Senate Under
this law \. NJ. Ciapp, OF BuIIio, wa
however, the old law restored and in ls1l
Mr. Defrees was appointed 10 MS 0ld postum
nv
,, t Affairs i'm The most actOry manner until tins
wear when he rendered his resgnatiOh 'AIus eA'0' III
In Indiana Mr. Defrees for many years one OF the
, nrornent and influential leaders Of The Republican
party lie was o. the most einclent nianaseIs ~ q
canvass as wei one o. the most trusted eouAseAoIS u
In $50 Mr.. Defrecs supported Mr. Greeley, and
vas secretary of the National Executive Liberal Re
pnbhcan Committee, which lad Its headquaIers az
Washington. In tle Government lIllIHS OuOc ~
1911 bin,sclf n pract cal and capable printer and
bered mont himself a staff or assis ants so able ana
fl IA "a
80, J.@res of efficiency Mr. Detrres was politician
ot tine old WING school devoted 10 CoTWlh WOIshpPIls
me memory OF Clay; and when the Republican party
c'n h,n 10 the more aggressive conse- OF chase ana
sumner lie was OF absolute hdehty OF character
and great sagacty IN es,l1aIius 'ns sort 10 Of
and direction OF popular curreh'H-a sOTV ~, Ul
Tnurlow Weed for INDIANA tie maintained lne
Tormest relations with many o. the more
AGGRESSIVE wing-amOng others Win heuIy NSIu
uasecbeT whose friend he was when the great pu pc
orator was struggling beginner IN -
Plymouth Church mad been heard o. anu MN VIII
tho friendship survived the changes OF JhIu OF "a cen
inv Mr. Deirecs leaves only u moderate competence
10 Family, - -,,-.. ia ,,oto bfs srp,r,er
home az Berkeley Springs West a. duG 70 uat P4tCe
bo retr4d on leaving Office. When lie began Ills
iourney last spring he thought he wound not
nn the train he remarked to his wife that ne
yyopld probabv die about time Harpers Ferry was
reached the train mad passed Harper feIIy soilo
tnrl, became cheerful ana hopeIul tIOh InS tH
yyay station to Berkeley Springs The lnvald was DOrue
to gan new life and strength with every sep. &
vas after reaching his mountain nome ne ralieu Dut
he Was conscious all The time That ne cOud MOI
he remained and brave, ana uu Ihs very last NC
retained his interest IN current events ,,. ~,
Mr. Detrees Vas twice married Ills second Wlle VINO
survives MIN was daughter of General Thomas Motifs
80 trs commander of the Union forces in West virgin
10 MIR Delrees leaves several children. ono " Ills SOUS
Is an officer in the Regular Army