The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-12
Death Of Secretary Folger.

Secretary Folger died at his home in
Geneva, N. Y, at 455 Thursday after
noon. IL was so sudden that time was
not offered TO summon his children to
bis bedside, and neither of them was
there The only persons present were
Mrs. Hart, of Auburn, his deceased
wife's sister Drs. Knapp and Law, as
sociates of his family physician, DR.. A.
Il Smith, and his colored servant,
james. DIR. Smith, Captain J. S. Lew
is had left him only short time be-
fore his death DIR Henry Foster, of
the Clifton Springs Sanitarium, who
had been there two or three times as
consulting physician, arrived on the
4.45 train and was conveyed TO the
Folger mansion by DIR. Smith, Mrs.
Ernst. of Buffalo, the Secretary's sister,
arrived by the same train. just as the
three entered the room the Secretary
breathed his last and all was over. Sc
cretary Folger's two daughters were in
the Adirondacks, the older being in
very feeble health. His son, Captain
Charles w. Folger, was at Alexandria
Va All had been written to come to
Geneva. The telegraph was not re-
sorted to earlier, as so sudden termi.
nation of the fathers malady was not
apprehended
The Secretary returned to Geneva
for the last time on Wednesday even
ing, the 20th ultno He called his
family physician next morning. The
doctor gives the following diagnosis of
the case Of his distinguished patient
Great feebleness Of the hearts action
congestion of the middle lobe of the
night lung and capillary congestion of
the bronchial tubes torpor of the
liver; albuminous discharge of urine,
showing disease of the kidneys.
Tho doctor was informed that the
Secretary had had hemorrhage of the
lungs three times of late before his re-
turn home-the first while out yacht
ing With friends in New York, on
which occasion he discharged about a
pint Of blood. Secretary Folger rode
out daily up to and including the Goth
ult., after which he kept his room, but
did not wholly abandon Office work.
He continued to answer important let
ters and kilograms up to Wednesday
and seemed reluctant to give up. Yet
he was by no means unconscious of his
critical condition and trusted to his
friend, Captain Lewis, final messages
to his children and other directions of
a confidential nature Within few
moments after the Secretary expired
kilograms announcing the sad event
were dispatched to President Arthur
at Newport, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Coon, Frank Sperry, his pri-
vate secretary, Hon. Thomas G. Ac-
ton, Assistant Treasurer at New York,
and Judge Andrews, Of Syracuse.
Charles J. Folger was native of
Massachusetts and was born April 16,
1918, having passed his sixty.sixth
year at the time Of his death He re-
moved to Geneva, N. Y. at the age of
twelve years and was graduated from
the Geneva College with the honors of
his class in 1886, being then but eigh-
teen years of age. He at once began
the study of law in the Office of Mark
II. Sibley, at Canandaigua. Young
Folger was admitted to the bar in 1889
and soon achieved prominence in his
profession. lie was appointed Judge
OF the Ontario Court of Common Pleas
in 1914, remaining on the bench one
year. lie was also master and exami-
ner in chAncery until the Chancery
Court was abolished by the Constitu
ton of 1916. In 1851 he was elected
County Judge of Ontario county, hold
ing that office four years Having po-
litical as well as judicial aspirationss
he was elected TO the State Senate in
1901 and continued in that body for
eight years He served az chairman
OF the Judiciary committee and was
President pro TEN. of the Senate dur
ing the last four years of his service
in that body, being the recognized
leader of his party He acted with
the Republican party from its first Or
ganization in May, 1870, received the
party nomination for one of the Assis-
tant Judgeships of the Court of Ap-
peals, A new Court of Appeals had
been created, consisting of Chief JUS
tice and six Associates, and by the
terms of the Constitution each voter
was restricted to voting for the Chief
Justice and four of the Associates. The
| Democrats being in the majority at the
time elected Chief Justice and -four
Associates, Judge Folger and Andrews
being chosen by the Republicans The
term was fourteen years, but after hav
ing serving ten years he was elected
Chief Justice in 1850 for a term Of
fourteen years He would have retired
however, on full pay after eight years
as he would then have reached seventy
lyears, the constitutional limit of ser
vice on the bench in New York State
| On the accession of President Arthur
| he was made Secretary of the Treasu
| lry, an office which he filled till the time
OF his death with honest and pains tax.
ing fidelity He was nominated foi
Governor of the State of New York in
1882, but owing to the factional fights
in the Republican party at that time
he was overwhelmingly defeated, his
opponent, Grover Cleveland receiving
inaJorlty OF l5z,UUU votes.
Friends of Secretary Folger say tha,
his death was undoubtedly the result
of the worry, humiliation and shame
that he felt in consequence of his de
feat for Governor by Grover CLEVELAND
two years ago. He was person o.
great political ambition and he regard
ed the Governorship of New York as
stepping stone to the Presidency
When he received the nomination hi,
joy knew no bounds. The State had
been giving Republican majority
and he thought surely that he would
be elected. He never got that notion
out of his head either aud was aston,
ished when first his own town and
then the State gave such overwhelming
majorties against him. He almosl
went insane at the time The position
in the Cabinet instead of proving {
benefit only helped to make him more
discontented and hurt his health. III,
devoted weary hours TO routine work