The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-07-04
DEATH OF HON. WASHINGTON BUSHNELL

y
as we'll rs grieyed by the death of one OF
It's most distinguished and honored
citizens. As In the case Of William Red
ldick. few months ago, so in the case OF
Washington Bushnell, the stroke falls sud
denly and Unexpectedly. But few hours
Inetore his death Mr.. Bushnell was at his
Iolllrc and on the street cheerful and appar
emily in better than his usual health. Like
Mr.. Reddick, he had just completed ar
ARRANGEMENTS 10 start on a somewhat eN-
tended journey Mr.. Rcddick having plan
ed 10 20 south, while Mr. b. intended To go
north to 81. Paul, Duluth, Sc. About .
o'clock on Tuesday evening he came home
and entering the house lay down on sofa.
When tea WAS announced he at first said he
didn't want any but afterwards came ont
and sat down at the table, eating with ap.
parent heartiness. Presently, however, his
head fell forward upon the table and there
was a checking noise in his throat He
was raised up almost Instantly, but already
it was evident life was extinct. DR.. Nc
Arthur, the family physician was immedi-
ately summoned by telephone, and could
only announce it case of instant death
from paralysis of the heart.
Mr.. Bushnell had been a resident Of OF
tawa since 1853. He was born Sept. 20,
1927, in Madison county, New York. In
1887, his father, Stephen Bushnell, with
his family. moved to Kendall county, ILL.,,
settling in the neighborhood of Lisbon.
Here young Bushnell worked on the farm
in summer, attending in winter the local
schools, which, however, were for the
country exceptionally good. In lS40, having
in this desultory way picked up very fair
education, he decided to adopt the legal
profession, and to that end entered the
National Law School at Poughkeepsie, n.
Y, from which he graduated in 1853, was
admitted to the bar IN New York, and then
lat once came to Ottawa, where he formed
partnership with o. c. Gray, one of the
leading attorneys at the time at the La
Sale county bar. The firm soon grew into
note as one of the ablest in this part of the
state and Mr.. Bushnell, being soon after
appointed city attorney, and then elected
states attorney, the firm was strengthened
by the addition as partner Of Julius
Avery, another brilliant young lawyer. In
| 1860, Mr.. Bushnell was elected to the state
senate, in which he maintained a leading
and influential position until 1864. In 1868,
he was elected attorney general of the state,
an office the duties of which he discharged
with signal ability for four years. In 1880
he was candidate for congress in this dis
trict, but was tricked out of the nomination,
and since then had measurably withdrawn
from politics. though remaining, as he al
ways had been, an adherent OF the Repub
lican party, becoming apparently disguised
with politics, taking no such active part in
the political contests of the day as was ma
turally expected from a man of his wide
influence and great ability. Instead of it.,
he settled down quietly to his law practice,
forming a partnership with Mr.. Bull then
with the late Judge Gilman, then with d..
A. Cook, and at the time of his death had
Capt. II. G. Fullerton for law partner.
His health for the past ten or twelve years,
however, had at no time been robust, and it
was only on special occasions and when
unusually aroused, that he exhibited the
strength and force and fire of his more ro-
bust days.
| While yet young man he had married
Miss Phebe Charles, of Peru, who, with
the six children-a son and five daughters
that were born to them-survive him. He
accumulated considerable property and
leaves his family in comfortable circum
stances.
He was a remarkable man in many ways,
and largely composed of that stuff of which
great men are made. At all times an able
and fluent speaker, when reused he was
brilliant and forcible TO degree. Tall.
and of commanding presence, with voice
full of strength and music, and a counte-
nance radiant with expression, few men
could sway jury or an audience as he
could. Socially he was one of the most
genial and companionable of men. Open
hearted, generous almost to fault, no
movement either In the direction of some
deserving charity or the general good, but
found him ready promoter and liberal
contributor. OF a strong will, noble and
manly In all his impulses, and true and ar
dent In his friendships, there was nothing
he held In such profound contempt as
whatever was sneaking .sniffling or treach-
erous, and II he had an enemy In the world,