The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14
FEELING IN INDIANAPOLIS.


Here-His Last Visit to the City.
The news of the death of Mr. Colfax was re-
ceived with profound regret by his numerous
political and personal friends in this city. He
had not been especially identified with State
politics, and his acquaintance in the city was,
therefore, somewhat more limited than that of
others whose business kept them at the capital
almost constantly. However, for several years
he has been prominent member of the order of
Oddfellows, a grand officer, aud participant
in the proceedings OF the Grand Lodge. About
three weeks ago Mr.. Colfax spent several days
il the city, and while here purchased $50, 900
worth of stock in the Indianapolis National
Bank, and it is rather melancholy coincidence
that when the news of his death came here yes
terday, the annual meeting of the bank directors
was being held and he had just been elected
one of their number for the ensuing year BIr.
Theodore T. Haughey, president of the bank
had been Mr.. Colfax's most intimate friend and.
confidential adviser and during the latters last
visit here he made his will, providing for the
disposition of his property, and asked Mr.
Haughey to become the guardian for his son, who
is now at school in the East, should there come a
necessity for such trust. Mr. Colfax's estate,
1t is thought, will amount to about $50 000 the
greater part of which he has earned by lecturing
since he left political life
When the announcement was made to the
Legislature that Mr.. Colfax was dead both
houses. the Senate on motion of Senator Camp
bell, of South Bend, and the House on motion
OF Mr.. Adams, of Morgan, out of respect for
his memory adjourned until to- morrow morning.
Ex-Governor Porter, the State and federal Of
hcers, and numerous pers )nal friends from this
city, will probably attend the funeral at South
Bend whenever it occurs
Il was in Congress four years with Mr.
Colfax" said Governor Porter last night, "and
have known him we'll for many years. He was
remarkable man in many respects, and [ have
never known a person who was so uniformly
kind and obliging to his friends as he was He
seemed to live for others. No man asked a
favor of him that he did not dohis best TO grant
it, If 1t was proper favor to be granted He
was exceedingly magnanimous and forgiying in
his disposition, more so than almost any other
man ever knew j remember an instance of
this: Many years ago prominent editor of
Democratic paper conceived q violent dislike for
Mr.. Colfax, and let no opportunity escape to
abuse and villify him. One article in particular
IN reference to Mr.. Colfaxs domestic relations,
was particularly cruel and unproyoked, and it
cut Mr.. ColfaX deeply. He said to me that he
had never before been so hurt by a newspaper
publication. Shortly afterwards the war broke
out and the editor took the loyal side When
the new administrator came in he wanted to be
collector OF the port ana wrote. letter to his
representative in Congress on the subject. The
congressman took the letter to ColfaX. and the
latter went directly to the President with it. and
came back with the commission. When the
man heard how it obtained, he was very
contrte and repentant for what he had said
about his benefactor
II suppose Mr. Cofax wrote more letters than
any other public man in the history of s4is coun-
try. Ills capacity for work was marvellous Tt
was his habit to sit up until o'clock every
morning to attend to his correspondence He
personally answered every letter that was writ
ten to him by his constituents and on account Of
his well known obiging disposition he was fre
quently imposed upon. They gave him all kinds
of queer commissions to attend to- | remember
when one man sent to him, at Washington, by
express. box of prairie chickens, which he had
killed, asking Mr.. Colfax TO sell them at the
highest possible price and account to him for the
proceeds Colfax was much perpIexed at first
what to do with them. but finally he succeeded
i'll disposing of them to observation-disclosures, at
good price, and sent the money back to mis- con-
MIR. Colfax wasmore intimate and had greater
influence with President Lincoln than any other
man in Washington with the possible exception
of Hon. Joshua Speed. He was welcome at the
White House at all hours and the doors were
never closed to him. He had great influence
with the great President | was exceedingly
sorry to hear of his death--for he was one Of the
best and noblest men that Indiana has produced"