Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-31
EVENTS OF THE WEEK.
Death of Senator Logan.

I, ~
The death of senator John A. Logan, at
minutes before three Sunday afternoon,
Dec. 26, startled the country and produced
emotions. Of regret and sorrow that the
death of but few men, in public or private
station ever call out, removing as it does a
very important figure in American history
and politics. It had been known for two
weeks that he was suffering from an acute
rheumatic attack, but its seriousness did not
fully transpire until a few hours before his
death, when the lurking brain complications
became manifest and he was so exhausted
from the force of the malady that there was
not the strength remaining sufficient to sur
mount that stage of the case.
Gen. Logan's system was very sensitive
to weather changes Of particular kind and
he has often been heard to remark in half
jocular way that he believed he could &C
storm. The seeds of his disorder were sown
during the war; his first attack of rheuma-
tism having followed Immediately the end
of "a hours march through binding
snow snow. His last attack too result
ed from a brief exposure to the snow storm
of a fortnight ago, and his death preceded
by but few minutes the beginning of a
hoo A1,r,~x, xxhiob fbnr,oh hr;of
the earth with thick carpet of white.
After midnight Sunday morning it was
apparent to his medical attendants that the
end was near, and the fever that had seized
upon ceased not its violence until death fin
ished ALL At two in the afternoon he ex-
hibited the first sign of consciousness and
as his devoted wife spoke to him in endear-
ing accents he responded with look of re-
cognition, that though but momentary, was
inexpressibly precious to her, and deeply
touching to those that witnessed it., and
again he lapsed into unconsciousness from
which he did not again arouse.
At the head of the bed of the strick-
en- Senator knelt Mrs. Logan, one arm en-
Grcling her dying husbands neck, the hand
of the other stroking his forehead. At her
side were John A. Logan. Jr., and the Rev.
DR.. Newman. Opposite these were the
daughter, Mrs. Tucker and her husband,
and George Logan, the generals
nephew.
Among those at the bedside of the dying
man were Senator and Mrs. Cullom and
daughter, Gen. Sheridan, Senator and Mrs.
Cockrell, Gen. Raum, congressman Hender-
son and Thomas of Illinois, and Mrs.
Thomas, Senator Miller and wife, Congress-
man Symes of Colorado, Dr. Baxter, Gen.
Henry Strong and Daniel Shepard and wife
of Chicago, and the Generals private secre-
taries, W. B. Taylor and Albert Hall.
''The scene," said DR.. Baxter, twas one
of the saddest that ever witnessed. All
present were deeply affected The grief of
Mrs. Logan and her children was pitiful in
the extreme
Gen. Logan was born in Jackson Co., Ills.
Feb. 8, 1926 His father, Dr.. John Logan
came to Illinois from Ireland in 1929 His
mother was Elizabeth Jenkins, Tennessee
lady. His early education was mostly de-
rived from his father After serving in the
Mexican war be studied law with bis uncle
A. NJ. Jenkins. In 1S49 he was elected clerk
of Jackson County; in 1852 graduated at the
Louisville university, and was admitted to
the bar. From 1853 to 1857 he was a men,
ber of the state legislature, during part OF
the time being county attorney. In 1853 he
was elected to the 36th congress and re-elect-
ed to the 37th. In 1856 he was presidential
elector on the Buchanan and Breckenridge
ticket and in 1860 advocated the election Of
S. A. Douglas, but then declared that in the
event of the election of Lincoln he ''would
shoulder his musket to have him inaugur-
ated.''
In August 1851, he resigned from Con-
gress and organized the 31st Illinois infant
ry and lwas appointed Colonel. He was
severely wounded in the attack upon Fort
Donelson and Fort Henry. In March 1862
he was promoted to Brigadier General and
joined Grant at Pittsburg Landing, COM
manding the 3rd div. of the 18th army corps
under Mcpherson, and for skill and bravery
was made a Major General in Nov. 1862. A
year later he succeeded Gen. Sherman in
command of the 18th Army Corps, and in
1854, after the death Of Mcpherson COM
manded the Army of the Tennessee. He
remained in active service until April 26,
1865. He was then offered the Mexican
mission by President johnson, but declined
it.
In 1896 he was elected to the 10th Con-
gress and to the 41st and 42nd Congresses,
and chosen to the United States Senate for
the term beginning March L. 1871 and WAS
twice afterwards returned to that body.
In 1854 he was candidate for Vice-President
ON the National Republican ticket.
In 1855 Gen. Logan married Miss Mary 3.
Cunningham, a daughter Of Capt. Cunning
ham of Shawneetown, Ill. To her associa-
ton, genius and devotion he owed much Of
the greatness of his after illustrious career.
The death of Gen. Logan has called out
tributes from public men of all shades of
political position that are wonderful and
just tributes to his fearless, honest charact-
er and the high and pure characteristics of
all his aims. President Cleveland and all
his cabinet, though inexpressibly shocked
at his sudden death are as free and gener-
Gus in their expressions as are members of
the party with which the distinguished
leader acted.
In the tribute paid to Gen. Logan by Mr..
Blaine, that gentleman said: ''Gen. Lo-
gan's loss to the Republican party is be-
yond computation. His personal following
in the party was very great, and among the
veterans he had almost the solid body. AS
a marty leader Gen Logan WAS sinonlarly