Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-05
END OF AN HONORED LIFE.
Sudden Dea'h of Secretary FolgeI at
His Home in Geneva, n. ", Thurs.
day Afternoon at ASS.
GENEVA, Y. Y, Sept. 4

GENEVA, n. Y, Sept. 4.
Secretary Folger died at his home in this
place at 4. 55 P NJ. His death was so sud-
den that there was not time TO summons his
children and neither of them were here. The
only persons present were Mrs. Hart of Au-
burn. his diseased wifes sister. Drs. Knapp
and Law, associates of his family physician,
DIR. A. B. Smith and colored servant James.
DIR. Smith and Capt. ]. L. Lewis had left
only short time before the death. DR..
Henry Foster of Clifton Springs, who had
been here two or three times as consulting
physician, arrived at 4.45 train and was con-
veyed to the Folger mansion by DIR. Smith.
Mrs. Ernest of Buffalo, the secretary's sister,
arrived by the same train. just as they en-
tered the room the secretary breathed his
his last and all was over. Secretary Folger's
two daughters are in the Adirondacks, the
eldest being in feeble health. His son Capt.
Charles w. Folger is at Alexandria, Va. All
had been written to come to Geneva. The
telegraph was not resorted to earlier as so
sudden a termination of their fathers malady
was not apprehended. The secretary returned
here for the last time Wednesday evening the
20th He called his family physician the
next morning. The doctor gave the follow
ing diagnosis of the case: Great feebleness
of the hearts action, congestion of the right
lung and cabillarv congestion of the bronchial
tubes, topper of the liver and disease of the
kidneys.
The secretary had had hemorrhage of the
lungs three times of late before his return
home; the first while out yachting with his
friends at New York, on which occasion he
discharged pint of blood. The secretary
rode out daily until and including the 18th
ult., since which time he kept his room. but
did not wholly abandon his official work. He
continued to answer important letters and
kilograms up to yesterday and seemed reluc
tant to give up, yet he was by no means un-
conscious of his critical condition and en-
trusted to his personal friend Capt. Lewis his
final messages to his children and other di-
rections of confidential nature.
General gloom prevails among the people
of Geneva. Men of both parties and of all
conditions IN life alike joining in expressions
of sorrow. The remains will be inferred
here by the side of his wife, who died seven
years ago. The day of the fineral cannot be
named at present.
Charles James Folger was bora in Nan
tucket, Mass, April 10th, 1918. He removed
to Geneva, N. Y, in 1880, where he has
since resisded. He was admitted to bar at
the age 81; elected county Judge in 1851 and
State senator as republican in 1861; was
appointed assistant United States treasurer at
New York in 1869; elected judge of the
court of appeals, succeeding Chief Justice
Church of that court. In November 1881
he resigned to become secretary of the treas
ury. In 1882 as the republican candidate for
governor of New York. He was defeated by
nearly 100000 majority.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.
The first news of the death of Secretary
Folger received IN this city was conveyed in
the Associated Press dispatch from Geneva
As the news spread it was received with a
general expression of regret. The officials
of the treasury departmest, especially, were
shocked by the suddenness of the event.
The generally expressed opinion of these Off
GERS was that the secretary's death was due
to over-work. He sought to supervise all
the details of the service instead of leaving
merely the routine work to subordinates,
said one prominent official and all who have
spoken on the subject ascrbed the secretary's
illness and death to the same cause. Treas
urer Wyman said that for some time before
Folger left the department he had been COM
planning of pain in the region of the heart
and difficulty in breathing. Assistant Sec
retary Coen presided at meeting of the
heads of bureaus of the treasury department
tonight, and after consultation with them
decided to issue an order informally closing
the department tomorrow. The treasury
department will be draped in mourning,