Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-22

softening of the brain. General Thomas 8.
Free. of Sioux salls, Dakota.
At fifteen minutes after ten o'clock
last evening General Thomas 8. Free
breathed his last at the insane asylum
at Yankton. He was taken yesterday
morning with paralysis, the last stage OF
q disease which the best medical
authority asserted could never be re-
iieved by treatment. The remote cause
OF his death was a Runshot wound re-
ceived at Millikon's Bend, Louisiana, in
the summer OF 1868, while he was a
soldier in the army of the union. He
was struck by a bullet in the reglon of
the spine and the effect of the wound
has since been upon him. A couple OF
years ago symptoms of ~softening of the
brain were manifested aud the cause
was readily traced to the cid wound.
He became steadily worse and last fall
he was brought from Sioux Falls to
Yankton and placed in the insane asylum
for the advantages Of the special treat
ment there afforded cases of this nature.
His mslady was lncurable and under
the best medical care he steadily de-
clined until yesterday morning it be-
came evident that his end was near.
Mrs. Free was telegraphed for and she
started on the first train. bat reached
here too late to see her husband alive.
The delayed train arrived at 1910 last
evening and he had expired twenty-five
minutes earlier.
General Free was born at Columbus,
Ohio, in 1910. At the beginning of the
wal he entered the service as o private
soldier, soon rose to the rank of major
and was afterwards commissioned colonel
and given q position on General
Thomas staff. He participated IN all
the battles about Vicksburg and in the
siege and after the surrender of that city
was made inspector general and judge
advocate of the district of Vicksburg.
At the battle Of Milliken's Bend, near
Vicksburg, he received the wound which
has finally caused lis death. Recover
ing sufficiently to resume duty he again
began service with the veteran reserves
under General Howard. The dawn of
peace relieved him from the fatigues of
the field and be returned 20 Ohio and
was married to Miss Emma Hoffman
He embarked in the practice of law in
Toledo and was there elected probate
Judge and auditor of his county.
In 1880 he came to Dakota with his
family and settled at Sioux Falls, where
he enjoyed q lucrative law practice. &c
became in time the organizer of the
Grand Army of the Republic for Da-
kota and was it's first department,
commander. Ia 1888 he was com
m:ssioned the first adiutart
general of the Dakota militia, which
position he filled with honor until dis.
ahisd by sickness. In this work liz
evinced great interest and pride and
made himself a most faithful and com,
petent officer. 1t was in the midst Of
the labors of this position that his men
tai faculties became impaired and hil
LIES work was there ended, for he neve,
recovered from the cruel blow.
We can say of him as q soldier thai
there were none more brave and none
more faithful. In the ats of the wal
he made for himself q ei,r;,ns record
and gained high honors III tie expense
of severe physical suffering. As g citi-
Zen he earned and enjoyed the highes,
respect of his fellow men and as a citizer
soldier he devoted his brilliant qualities
to the success OF his work. Within the
Grand Army of the Republic there are
for General Free many tender memories
During life he was always the ex-soldler't
friend and the most earnest affection Of
his hesrt went out to his comrades IL
arms. His private memoranda, found
by his wife since his death, contains an
astonishing list of benefactions bestowed
upon needy soldiers and their families
His expenditures In this direction
seriously impaired his means. As {
soldier, ex-soldier, citizen and citizen.
soldier he has fulfilled every expectation
and in the years of physical prime lay.
down his life. another victim of thu
deadly struggle OF q generation ago.
1t is within a month that the pension
department ordered ON increase OF the
! pension Of General Free from SIT to S5t
per month, his case being made a specia
one by General Black.
The deceased leaves q widow and (
son and two daughters, the younges
seven years of age.
The remains OF General Free viii
leave Yankton Friday morning To-
Toledo, Ohio, where the funeral viii
take place. They will be accompanied
by his family and q guard of honor o
four from Phil Kearney post of the
Grand Army, the Yankton post, and ONT
member of company E (the Yanktor
company of the Dakota n~ationa
guard.
The largest assortment of dress goodt
az JACOB MAYS.
A good supply of last years pop corr
at Carney's
Emsncipate yourself from h~igh-pricee
/ oinfhynru .# (la1l oIAkL,.- - -