New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-13
OBITUARY..
HIRAM SHELLEY.


Rochester, July II (speclaI.-Hiram sbley,
Rochesters wealthe5t townsman, died this forenoon
shortly before o'clock He had been in poor health
for several months and had been unable TO attend TO
his business to any extent whatever. Last Sunday
he felt considerably beuer and went out riding In
the afternoon. In the evening he was seized with
severe pains in the spine and medical aid was sum-
moned His physician, Dr.. T. c. White remained
with him all night. In tho morning Mr.. sbley was
somewhat more comfortable When Dr. White re-
turned shortly after noon, having been absent only
few hours, he found his patient in coratose con
dton Mr.. Slbley remained UNCONSCIOUS until MS
death with the exception of short time yesterday
when he rallied sufficiently to recognize his physician
and Mrs sbley. He kept alive during the night
nv the use of medicines He had been unable 10
take any nourishment since Sunday night lie leaves
an aged widow, a Henry ". Slbley ana
daughter Mrs. Emma Avcrill. Two children, Ms;
Hobart Z. Atkinson and Giles H. SiDe!' Ucu '0'0i"'
years ago.
Mr.. slbley was born in North Adams, Mass, IN
1907 and when young man removed to Ne"-iorA'
He was connected with tho electrical telegraph during
most Of his lifetime, having been the prime mover Id
the construction OF many noted lines. For sixteen
wears he was president Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company but In 1866 ll-health forced him to resign
the Office and he to Europe seeking rest HAVING
severed his connection with the company, ne sold
out all of his telegraph interests and engaged IN inc
scale Mr. SIbley was sheriff OF Monroe County al the
beginning Of bis connection with the electric telegraph
He was approached by Judge Henry 4. seden with
project to organize telegraph company uhuer inc
House patents The plan seemed 1easioe anu NC
bought out the of the patents ana win some
other Rochester capitalists organized the orA ana
Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company on
April l. 1851. The first hundred miles were hnished
that year Three years later the company leased the
lines OF the Lake Erie Telegraph Company. At this
time Ezra Cornell possession OF valuable grants
under the Morse patent and controlled the Erie ana
Michigan Telegraph Company Mr. sibley opened
negotiations with Mr. Cornell, and in 1886 the com
panes controlled by them were united BY acts OF the
Wisconsin and New.York Legislatures under the name
OF the Western Union Telegraph Company. MI
sIbley was one of the board Of directors
He laid proposition before the board to construct
a line TO the Pacific. but they unwilling to under
take It as company. Mr. sb!ey said he would go
it alone In August, 1857, he laid his plans before
the North American Telegraph Association, with prac-
tically no result In 1860 he applied to Congress and
was heartily supported b Secctlly Of the Treasury
Howell Cobb and on June IS OF that year act was
passed granting an annual subsidy Of 100000 for ten
wears On September D. Mr.. Sbley's offer to con-
strllct the lines officially accepted y year later
a contract executed with Mr. cibley ny salmon /.
Chase who had succeeded Mt Cobb in the Treasury
Department. The Overland telegraph Company was
organized in San Francisco abOIt the same time and,
the two companies uniting their interests, the Paclnc
Telegraph Company formed About five months
later 1t was announced that the line was open from
ocean 70 ocean II was profitable investment from
the start, and on Mach l., 81. was merged into
the Western Union Company. Mr sioley next devoted
a great deal time and energy 70 his scheme Tor the
construction OF the owe land line 20 Russia The
LAYING Of the Atlantic cable put an emf to the enter
prise after the line had been built a. far as skeena
River In Alaska Mr.. oibey was generous donor to
the Rochester University, sbley Ian having oeen
built by him at cost Of more than SlOOOOO. lie
also gave a library and other useful things. A monu-
ment 10 the strong friendship which existed between
him and Ezra Cornell the carly days of biography
IS the sbley College OF Mechanical Arts Of Cornell
I-nIrerelIN