Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-16
PETROLEUM V. NASBY.
THE AUTHOR OF THE FAMOUS POLITICAL
sATIRES DEAD.
4 Skseh Of the Life Of David R. Locks--His Early
Career as q Printer, Reporter and Editor
Extent Of His Literary Labors.

TOLEDO, O., February 15.-Dr. Locke,
editor Of the Blade of this city, and widely
known as Petroleum v. Nasby," died at
6:35 this morning. The immediate cause
of his death was consumption of the lungs.
David Ross Locke was born at Vestal,
Broome county, N. Y, September 20, 1855,
and hence was only in his fifty-ffth year.
His father, veteran Of the war Of 1872, Is
still living in this city at the advanced age
of ninety -four. The father was one Of the
original anti-slavery men Of the country,
and young Locke inherited intense hatred
of the peculiar Institution" snd love OF
freedom which made him such power
with his pen during the civil war. In his
eleventh year he was apprenticed to
the printing trade in the Office Of the
Cortland, n. Y, Courier. After serving
his seven years, he travelled through the
United States working at his trade and
acting as reporter. In 1852 he founded
the Plymouth, Ohio, Advertiser, conduct
ing it two Yeas. In 1856 he founded the
Bucyrus Journal, and afterward was sue
cessively connected with the Mansfield
Herald, and Findlay Jegtrsoaida.
he was editing the latter paper when
, the war broke out, and in its columns ap-
pesred the first numbers OF the renowned
Nasty" letters, the first bearing the date
Of April 81, 1861. These political sstires
sprang at once into tremendous
popularity. They were copied
into newspapers every where, quoted
in speeches, read around camp fires Of
Union armies and exercised enormous in
auence in molding public opinion IN the
North, in favor Of vigorous prosecution OF
the war. Secretary boutwell, declared In
q speech at Cooper Union, New York, at
the close of the war, that success Of the
Union armies was due TO three Causes
''The army, the Navy, and the Nasby let
terra"
Charles Sumner declared "unquestion-
ably they were among the influences and
sgencies by which disloyalty in all its
forms were exposed, and public opinion
assured upon the right side! It Is impos-
sible to measure their value against the
devices Of slavery and its supporters. Each
letter was like speech, or one Of those
sopgs which stir the people"
These letters were source Of the great
est delight to President Lincoln, who al.
ways kept them in his table drawer for
perusal at odd times. Mr.. Locke once
raised q company OF volunteers and ap-
piled TO Gov. Brough, Of Ohio, for COM
mission rs captain, which was refused on
the ground that he could do more good for
the Union cause with his pen than in the
field.
The immense popularity Of the Easby
letters led to q demand for Mr.. Locke TO
enter the lecture field, and he appeared in
all the principal cities Of the North, though
as he himself acknowledged not master
of oratory, he always had crowded and de-
lighted audiences. He was offered official
positions By President Lincoln and also by
President Grant, but steadily declined, as
bis only ambition was in the editorial
iield.
In 1865 he assumed charge Of the Toledo
Blade, first on q salary, Afterwards pur
chasing an interest and finally entire con-
troll. It had already been his dream To
found great National Weekly which he
now carried ont. He was one of the foun-
ders of the Republican party Of Ohio and
The Nasby Letters were but part Of the
powerful work he did in the political field.
He also did a vast deal Of purely literary
work, having written two or three success
ful plays, books Of travels and many novels
and sketches for his own paper. he was
also poet Of no mean order and several OF
his devotional poems can be found in vari-
Gus church hymnals.
Some four or five years ago his health be-
gan TO fail after twenty two years Of arduous
labor and he gradually withdrew himself
| from active work. Since then he has written
very little, save the occasional Nasty Let.
tiers tnat have appeared and few special
articles, chiefly on prohibition. BE be-
came convinced that prohibition must be
the final solution Of the liquor question,
aud for six years has strongly advocated II
in his paper, but always through non-parti-
san methods. He remained faithful to his
REPUBLICAN ideas and deprecated any at
tempt to build up separate Prohibition
party.
His consumption was inherited, being ia
his mothers family, and several brothers
and sisters dying Of it Its approach was
very slow and il was not until LAST Novem-
Der thst he was confined TO his house. His
literary labors and newspaper were very
profitable, and in his latter years he was
largely interested in building and msnufac-
turing in Toledo. His fortune is estimA-
ted at a million, exclusive Of the Blade
He was married while at Plymouth to
Martha Bodine who, with their three
sons, all grown to manhood, survive him.
The eldest, Capt Robinson Lock, has been
associated With his father on the Blade for
the last dozen years, except while Consul
at New -Czstle-on-Tyne England, to which
Office he was appointed by Presiden,
Arthur.