The National tribune., 1884-09-11
SECRETARY FoLGER DEAD.
His Death Due to Overwork - Last Days ut
Geneva.


Hon. Chas. J. Folger. Secretary of the Treas
ury, died at his home at Geneva, N. Y, at 4:55
on the afternoon of the 4th inst Although he
had been i'll for some time, having come from
Washington to his home to recuperate, his
death occurred very suddenly and was not ex-
pected at that time.
News of the sad event went like wildfire
through Geneva, and before p m. great num-
bers of buildings were draped in mourning
and the flags about the village were at half
mast. Hundreds of kilograms poured into the
bereaved relatives from all parts of the country.
Among the first to telegraph was President
Arthur. Every member of the Cabinet has
also sent words of coincidence.
AT the time of Judge Foiger's death there
were present with him Capt. Joseph Lewis, DR..
H. l.. Knapp, Dr. A. d. Smith, DR.. NJ Foster,
Mrs. A. Hart aud his servant James. He had
persistently refused to have his children sent
for during the three days he was confined to
his room prior to his decease, and none of his
immediate family were at his deathbed.
THE DEAD sEcRETARY's CAREER.
Chas. J. Folger was born on the Island of
Nantucket on April 16, 1918. His father was
a native of the same island, his ancestors hav-
ing settled there nearly 200 years before. His
mother was an English woman. When he was
II years old his parents moved to Geneva, On
tario Co., Ny, since which time Mr.. Folger
has made it his home His preparatory educa-
tion was obtained in the schools of Nantucket
at the Plainfeld Comm Academy and at Ho-
bart College, Geneva. He was graduated from
Hobart in 1886, being the only one left in his
class. In addition to the usual degrees of the
college course, Mr.. Folger has received the
honorary degree of LID from Hobart and
Rutgers Colleges. After leaving college he read
law with Mark III. Sibley, of Cauandaigua, N.
rxha ao+ hat, ,,,..ar of%
lawyers of Western New York. He also read
law for time with Beven Whiting. of Geneva,
and John NJ. Holly, of Lyons In 1889 he was
admitted to the bar, and Immediately began to
practice law in Geneva Owing to his strict
integrity and well-known fidelity and close
attention to his ctfice work he made rapid
strides in his profession. In 1874, under the
old Constitution, he was appointed by Gov.
Bouck as Judge of the Ontario County Court of
Common Pleas, and later was appointed to be
Master and Examiner in Chancery. In 1851,
the Constitution having been changed and the
choice of Judge becoming vested in the people,
he was elected County Judgeof Ontario County,
and held the Office for four years. About this
time he identified himself with the Republican
party, and at the close of his term as Judge he
began an active career in State politics.
He served eight successive years in the State
Senate, being elected in 1861, 1868, 1866 and
1867. For four years he was president pro team
of the Senate and was Chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee Of that body during his whole
term of service. His legislative career was
marked during the rebellion by stern, un-
compromising loyalty to the Union, and
throughout by his determined opposition to
everything that savored OF Job" He was
the man above all Others who was feared by
lobbyists and legislative jobbers.
At the close of his Senatorial career Mr.. Fol-
ger was appointed United States Sub Treasurer
in New York City, and subsequently, became
Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals of
New York.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
On Oct 81, 1851, he accepted seat in the
Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. In the
Fall of 1892 he was a candidate for Governor of
his State, and although defeated, nothing was
ever said rejecting upon his character or per-
sonal worth.
Mr.. Folger was most careful man of busi-
atf W IN +hn ;,,.1fe