Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-24
GEN. W. G. WICKHAM.
TAKEN SUDDENLY I'LL AND DIES IN A
SHORT WHILE.
Failure Of the Heart the frouble-skstch OF
the Life and Public Services Of
the Deceased.

General Williams c. wickham died sud-
denly yesterday at his Office In the Chesa-
peake and Ohio building, PAGES Block, cor
ner OF Eighth and Main streets.
Ali O'Clock he was seemingly well man
and active in the discharge Of his duties; at
1870 be was corpse, his soul having been
gathered to his fathers.
General Wickham came down on the
Chesapeake aud Ohio early train yesterday
morning from bis home, Hickory Grove, In
Hanover, In company with his two sons,
Messrs. Henry Il. and William Wickham.
The latter, who conducts bis fathers farm,
went back home on the 1l:10 O'Clock train,
and therefore was not here hen his father
brcathed his last. Immediately upon bis ar
rival IN the city General Wickham repaired
10 his Office and attended 30 his duties as
usual, keeping himself and all about him
busy.
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
Shortly after IL O'Clock the General COM
planned Of feeling unweI and appeared TO
suffer from Nausea and cramp. HIS son and
some OF the attaches OF the Office suggested
that physician be sent for, but he declined
10 have medical aid. As the sufferer grew
no better his son sent out for DIR. McCaw,
fast friend Of the deceased, but be could not
be found, and DR.. Lewis Wheat was
called in. arriving about 1870. He found
General Wickham vomiting and purging and
gave him some stImuant, which seemed 10
have a soothing effect, and the Datient laid
down on setiee in the Office and was soon
asleep, or appeared to be so. This was at l
o'clock. and twenty minutes later Mr.. Henry
Wickham noticed that his father was
looking very strange aud called the atten-
ton OF DR.. Wheat, who at the mo
ment was looking out Of the window, TO the
fact, and the latter upon turning and looking
said. "He is dying" aud be was, for he never
knew anything more, and in less than hVe MIN
utes more his soul aud body had separated.
All efforts were made 10 resuscitate the dying
man, but 10 no avail. BY this time DIS.
NcCaw aud Ross had arrived, but death had
claimed this grand old man for its victim,
and human efforts we're irultless.
Death was OF course most unexpected; Tor
although IT was evident that the General was
an Ill man there were no apprehensiohs OF
his approaching end, and just few minutes
before his demise be was engaged in conyer-
sation with several gentlemen who had en-
tered his room.
Coroner TAYLOR was summoned, but he
deemed It unnecessary 10 take any steps
whatever. The physicians were OF the opin-
ion that death resulted from what Is known
among the medical fraternity as "failure OF
the heart" which is, in other words, ;he
failure of the heart toDerform its functions.
PREPARED FOR BURIAL.
Shortly after 2 O'Clock the remains were
conveyed 10 the undertaking establishment
Of T.. r. Christian, on Broad street, and en-
balmed. About @ o'clock they were taken TO
the Chesapcake and Ohio depot and borne
home on the tr9in which leaves nj G:20.
Many people were at 'he depot, and quite
a number went with the b91y up to Wick
bam's station, which Is only hall mile from
the Generals home. At the station there
was large crowd in waiting. and con-
Spicuous feature OF the assembage was the
number OF cOOrcd persons present.
Among those who accompanied the re.
mains from Richmond were Hon. K. III.
Cardwell, a near neighbor and intimate
friend OF deceased; DR.. Thomas Nelson Page,
A. l.. Boulware, Esq, and Mr.. Barksdale.
WIDESPREAD SORROW.
The sad news spread over the city Ike an
electric fash and created surprise aud pro-
found sorrow in every quarter. People soon
began TO flock TO the building TO hear what
they could and to see the deceased. and
policemen were stationed at the door to keep
them back.
A gentleman who was out on the road yes-
ter1ay and returned TO the city last night IN
conversation with a DisDdfch reporter, said 4;
" 1t was indeed sad TO witness how the CON-
pany's employees up the road received The
sorrowiul intelligence. When one would bear
il be would just drop what be was doing,
and many Of them. trainmen and station
men alike, wept as though they had lost some
member Of their immediate family. No man
was ever more beloved by the men under
bin, either in war or peace, than General
Wickham."
The business community here was greatly
shocked, and expressions OF sorrow and
sympathy for the bereaved family were uni
versal.
sKETCH OF DECEASED.
Williams Carter WIckham was born in
1919 in one OF the small houses on Broad
street above the Monumental church.. His
grandfather was John Wickham, who wa:
one OF The greatest lawyers Of his day, anc
one of the counsel for Aaron Burr, and wa,
one OF the leading gentlemen OF thai
period. The poet Tom Moore SAYS OF hin
That he was the only gentleman he
found in America. and would have graced
any court in Europe. lie Qhe GeneraD was
the Youngest OF two sons OF William Fan
ming Wickhani, who was an eminent lawyer
and a gentleman of unusual executive ability
and OF decidedly literary taste. The elder
son, John, died in Washington some year'
ago. The father died a few years age al
General Wickham's residence at The
advanced age OF eighty-odd years
and retained his mental mowers W
TO the time OF his death. He directed
where he should be buried, OF what kind o.
timber his coffin should be made, &c., anC
died Of old age and without disease IN anl
form. General Wickham's mother was Mis-
Anne Carter, sister OF Iliil Carter. OF Shirley
and granddaughter Of General Nelson. ont
OF the signe-s Of the Declaration OF lnde
pendence.
He was educated at the University o
Virginia. graduated in law there
and entered the Hanover bar on th'
same day with Major John Page anC
the late Chastain White. His fondness fol
agriculture exceeded his love for law and he
soon abandoned his chosen profession ant
devoted bis time to farming on his presen
plantation, which has been the family home
Stead since 1t was taken from the Indians.
lie married Miss Lucy TAYLOR, daughter
OF John TAYLOR. Esq, OF Caroline, who was
writer and lawyer OF much note. His wife
who was a beautiful woman when youn!
and Is vet handsome, survives him. as d.
three chidren-Henry T. and William f
Wickham and Mrs. Annie Wlckham Ren
shaw.
General Wickham was an ardent Whig-
in fact, one OF the most prominent member
OF that party in the State-and represented
Hanover and Henrico counties In the Nir
ginia Senate before the war. He ran as al
anti-SeceSsi0nist delegate 10 the Constitu
tioIal Convention in 1861, and was beaIel
by General G. W. Richardson, Democrat.
The General was then elected By th'
county of Henrico. which he represented il
the convention. He spoke and worked inde
faiigably against secession. large numDe
OF signatures were obtained to instruct hin
TO vote for secession, but he simply presented
the petition 10 the convention and declared
that he would not vote for the measure eyel
though every man in Henrico county in
structed him 10 do so.
WAR RECORD.
After V;rrinia's seeding from the Uniol
General Wickham declared that his tirst dut
was 10 hls mother State and he raised th
Hanover Troop, entering service as thei
CAPTAIN in Nav, 1861. He remained IN III
camp OF instruction at Ashland for shof
a.. "A -. mani into eaDan af EatFfs,