The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-10
GEN. w. r. ROWLEY.
Death of the Last Member of the Staff Of
General Grant.

Death of the Last Member of the Staff OF
General Grant.
CHICAGO, Feb. 9-After quite a long illness,
Gen. W. r. Rowley died this afternoon at 4
o'clock, at the residence of his daughter.
Mrs. J.. G.. Glenat, in this city. Gen
eral Rowley became widely known on &C.
count of his position as secretary toGeneral
Grant, with the rank of brigadier general, dur
turned to his home at Galena, ILL.,. where he has
since resided until his health failed him, and he
came to Chicago. For a number of years he
served as judge of the county court at Galena.
General Rowley was born in st. Lawrence
county, New York, Feb. "a, 1924, and in 1S43
started for the West. After stopping for short
periods of time in several places he finally set
tied in 10 Daviess county, Illinois. In 1854 he
was elected sheriff of that county, and held the
Office two years. Early in the summer OF 1861
he went to the war as fret lieutenant of company
d, Forty fifth Illinois Volunteers. During his
residence in Galena he formed the acquaintance
of General Grant. who was then as
ISOLATED with his father, Jesse Grant,
in running a tannery in that city. AT
ter the battle of Fort Donelson he was pro-
NOTED to the rank of captain. his commission
bearing date February 26, 1862. Grant then
made him an aid-de-camp on his own staff. On
November /, of the same year, he was raised to
the rank Of major, and ON August 80. 1864, he
was made a colonel and brevet brigadier- general.
In the winter of the latter year he was compelled
to resign, owing to acute rheumatism. which he
had contracted IN front of Petersburg and
around Richmond. From the time he became
a member of Grants staff he accompanied that
general through his campaigns as private secre-
tary. He was in all the battles in which
Grant commanded. from Fort Donelson
until the army arrived at City Point,
where he severed his connection with
it. Just before going to the front he was elected
circuit clerk of 10 Daviess county, a position he
held until 1876. While absent in the field the
citizens Of the county permitted him to draw the
salary of the Office, and allowed his deputy to
attend to the duties of the same. In 1876 he
was elected county judge, and has filled that
position continuously ever since. Shortly after
his arrival in Galena, in 1S43, he studied
law and was admitted to the bar, but he
chose rather to devote himself to business
than in seeking to win fame and fortune in the
courts. Nevertheless. he was during the earlier
years of his residence in Galena counsel in sew
eral cases. After his return to his home he
formed a partnership with his son, L.. A. Rowley,
and they engaged in the real estate and loan
BUSINESS. General Rowley was a man possessed
of many admirable qualities of head and heart.
In Galena and other places where known
he had hosts of friends who will re-
gret TO hear of his death. He was
one of General Grants few chosen friends, and
while the latter was chief in M of the
army and President of the United States, and
during the years that elapsed after he returned
to private citizenship until the sickness which
terminated his life at Mount McGragor. last
Grant visited Galena. General Rowley was
among the FIRST OF the citizens of that city who
welcomed him, and they visited each other fire.
quently during his stay.