The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-20
GREENBURY L. FORT.

The news Of the sad death Of Col Green
bury L. Fort, OF Lacon, was received with
pain by many warm personal friends In
in this CRY The following is the tele-
graph report Of his death sent from Lacon
to the Chicago Tribune:
LAooN, Ill.,, Jan l4.-Col Grecnbury L.
Fort, excongrcssman OF this district, died
at his residence in this city at 1880 last
evening of an embolism OF the brain after
an illness of only seven hours. He was In
his usual health and was driving one of
his young horses when he was seen to fall
from the conveyance and found in an IN
conscious condition, from which he never
recovered. Col Fort was one of the prom.
lnent and able men OF the State, and had
RISEN TO HONOR AND WEALTH
! from poverty and CbsCur,ty singlc.handcd
and uuaiied He Was born in Portsmouth,
o., Oct. II, 1928, and was one of the early
settlers of Marshall county. He held the
offices OF Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, States At.
torney. County Judge, State Senator and
! Congressman. He entered the army in
April, 1881, as First.LleuteDant of Compa-
ny Il, Eleventh Illinois Volunteers, in the
three months service. He afterwards re
cruited Company | of the same regiment
for three years service, which he COM
manded until he was made Assistant Quar-.
termaster, in which station he filled many
important trusts under Grant and McPher.
son. When Logan was given the COM
msnd of the Fifteenth Army Corps he ten
dered Col. Fort the Chief Quartermaster.
ship OF the corps, with the rank Of Lieu
tenant Colonel, which he accepted, particl'
pating In the famous march TO the sea with
Sherman. He remained with Fifteenth
Corps until II was mustered out at Wash
lngton. He afterwards served in his de
partment in Texas, not leaving the army
permanently until 1886, having given full
five years service.
HIS DEATH FALLS LIKE A THUNDERBOLT
upon the whole community. He was uni
vcrssiiy honOred and beloved. lie was a
good friend and was the especial patron Of
the poor and distressed, 10 whom his hand
and purse were ever open. 1t Is estimated
that he leaves an estate worth $4,000
consisting of farms IN Marshall and ad,
joining counties and IN Nebraska. He
was exceeding fond OF blooded stock, his
farm being well stocked with Jersey cattle
and thoroughbred horses. He recently
bought fine animal from Gen Singleton,
and 1t is the opinion tina. he was driving
that animal when he fell from the convey.
ance. He leaves wife and one son,
Robert g., who is IN his 18th year. The
widow is q daughter of DR.. Robert Boal, >. q
veteran Peoria physician.
SERVICE IN CONGRESS.
Mr. Fort was first elected to Congress
from the Eight District IN 1872 as Re.
publican, and served IN the Forty-thlrd,
Forty fourth, FOrty-tifth and Forty-sIxth
Congresses, being elected on every occs-
sion by very large majoritles. He was al.
ways conspicuous figure IN the Illinois
delegation and did much effective work IN
the House of Representatives Mr.. Fort
was candidate for Governor before the
Republican Convention which met IN
Springfield in May, 1880, and received
e. ghty-seven votes on the first ballot and
eighty-two on the second and third, Gull
lom was nominated on the fourth. Mr..
Fort had two votes on the first ballot from
Boone county, one from Coles, eleven from
Cook, four from Ford, one from Grundy,
nine from 1rosuois, two from Kane seven
from Ksnkskee, seven from La Sale, nine
from Livingston, two from Logan, four
from Marshall, four from Mclean, twelve
from Peoria, two from Pike, one from
Washington, two from Will, and four from
Woodford. His old Congressional district
composed of Ford, Iroquols, Kankakee,
Livingston, Marshall and WOodford coun.
ties-was solid for him. Still he was
fourth in the balloting, having fewer votes
than Cullom, Rinaker or Hawley.
tie was married in 1857 to Clara f. Boal
of Lacon, who survives him, and he leaves
one son.