The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-16

TOLEDO, o., Feb. I'D. R. Locke. edi-
tor Of the Blade Of this city, widely known
as Petroleum v Nasby," died at 6:S5
this morning. The immediate cause Of
his death was consumption Of the lungs.
David Ross Locke was born at Vestsl,
Broome county, N. Y, September 20, 1888,
and hence was in his 55th year.
His father, N. P. Locke, veteran Of the
war Of 1879, is still living in tho city ut the
advanced age Of "a. The father was one
Of the original ant.slavory men Of the
country. and Young Locke inherited in
tenss hatred Of the Peculiar Institution"
and love Of freedom which made him
such q power with his pen during the
civil war.
In his eleventh year he was spprentiCed
10 the printing trade in the Office Of the
CORTLAND, N. Y, Courier. After serving
his seyen years, he Travelled through the
United States, working at his trade and
acting "a 8 reporter. In 1852, he founded
the Plymouth, Ohio, AdrSrtiser, conducting
1t two years. In 1856 he founded the
Bucyrus Journal, and aitsrward was sue.
cessfully connected with the Mansfield
Herald and Findlay Je6rsOnian.
He was editing the latter paper when
the war broke out, and in ita columns sp:
psa1ed the 6tst numbers Of the renowned
"NRsby" letters, the first bearing the date
Of April 81, 1861. These political satirss
sprang at once into tremendous popularity.
They were copied into newspapers every
where, quoted In speeches, read around
the campfres Of the Union armies, and
exercised enormous influence in molding
public opinion in the North In favor OF
vigorous prosecution OF the war. Score.
tary Boutwell, declared In q speech at
Cooper Union, New York, at the close Of
the war, that the success OF the Union
armies was due to three cause8-"The
army, the navy, and the Nasty letters"
Charles Sumner declared: "Unquession-
ably they were among thu influences and
agencies by which disloyalty in all its
assured on the right side. Itisimpossible
to measure their value. Against the de-
viCes OF slavery and iLa supporters, each
letter was like speech, or one Of those
Songs which stir the people,"
These letters were source Of the great
eat delight to President Lincoln, who
always kept them in his table drawer for
pe1usal at odd timss. Mr.. Locke ouca
Isised company OF volunteers and ap-
piled to Gov. Brough, OF Chic, for COM
mission as captain, which was refused on
the ground that he could do more good for
the Union cause with his Fen than in the
field.
The immense popularity OF tho NGHby
letters led to demand for Mr.. Locke to
enter the lecture field, and he appeared in
all the principal citiel OF the North,
though, as he himself acknowledged, not
master Of oratory, he always had crowd
ed and delighted audiences. He was Of
fered official positions by President Lin
coin and also by President Grant, but
steadily declined, as his only ambition was
10 the editorial field. In 1865 he assumed
charge OF the Tolsdo Blade, frat on sal:
airy, afterwards purchasing an interest,
and finally the entire control. It had a.
ways been his dream to found q great
National weekly, which he now carried
out. He was one Of the founders
Of the Republican party Of Ohio and the
Nasty lettega were but part Of the power
full work he did in the political field. He
also did q vast deal OF purely literary
work, having written two or three success
full plays, books Of travels and many
novels and sketches for his own paper.
He was q noet Of no mean order and
several Of his deVotions. poems can be
found in various church hyrnnalg. Some
four or fvs years ago his health began to
fail after twenty-five busy years 81 ar
duous labor, and he gradually withdrew
himself from active work. Since then he
has WIT:::!sn very little, save the occasion:
al Nasty letters that nave seTn!neared, and
few special articles, chiefly on Prohi6i-
ton, He became convinced thSt Prohi-
bItion must be the final solution Of the
LIQUOR question and for six years has
strongly advocated 1t in his paper, but al
WAYS through non.pRrtisan methods. He
remained faithful to his Republican ideas
and deprecated any attempt to build
separate Prohibition party.
Consumption YVES inherited, being In
his mothers family and several brothers
and sisters dying Of 1t. It's approach was
very slow and 1t was not till last Novenl'
Der that he was confined TO the house.
His literary labors and newspaper were
very profitable, and in his latter years he
was largely interested in building and
manufacturing In Toledo.
His fortune is estimated ct q million,
exclusive OF the Blade. He was married
while ct Plymouth to Martha Bodine,
who, with their three sons, all grown to
manhood, survive him. The eldest, Gap.
tain Robinson Locke, has been associated
with his father on tho Blade for the last
dozen years, except while Consul at New
Castle on Tyne, England, TO which Office
he was appointed by President Arthur.