The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-26
Death of Gen. Wickham.

H..
peake aud Chic Railroad, at this place. that
a telegram had just been received amour
cling that Gen. Wickham bad dropped dead
in his Office i'll Richmond on that day.
There were no particulars stated. ten.
Wickham had passtd this place on last
Saturday on his way 10 Richmond from a
| tour of inspection of the road. lie was
reported to have been looking RENAL kahly
| well. and was in his usually cheerful con
diton of mind. The startling news of
| his death, so uneXp, cled, created a PRO
| found feeling of sorrow in this community,
where he was well known. lie had been
prominent in Virginia affairs for more
| than generation and CONNIE ndtd tlt eS-
| TEEN and aft elton OF the people OF IT.
ginia to degree rarely enjoyed by citi-
zen. He WAS of the heroic mould of man.
There was nothing half way in his make
up. OF strong convictions and earnest
purpose, he had no concealments, but
spoke out what he thought. and main
tanned his beliefs with firmness and per.
sistency that evidenced the honesty Of his
motives The writer of these liues had
known him intimately for a number of
wears, and only a few days before his
death had received letter from him. III
which his high character and elevated integ-
rity of purpose were portrayed i'll the SEN
fences and sentiment it conveyed. He was
brave in everything he did. whether in the
coLf1ct of battle or in the peaceful pur-
suits of civil life. He was called to va
rlous positions of high trust and honor,
and in every position he filled he met its
demands as true, courageous citizen
should His death is a public loss-one
that cannot be easily supplied.
In no act of his llie. probably. were The
heroic traits of his character and his moja al
courage more signally eXemplilied than in
his letter to Franklin Stearns in 1868, on
the political situation and the duty OF
Virginia in the grave and anomalous
emergency that confronted the South i'm
mediately after the close Of hostilities be-
tween the States. Although d Union man
and deprecating secession as monstrous
crime, lie recognized his duty to- his native
State, when the crucial hour arrived. lie
was gallant soldier in the Confederate
service, but no sooner was the banner OF
i, the COnfederacy furled than he proceeded to
outline his views and the policy he deemed
d il patriotic TIC recommend. That letter
was prophesy, although for it he was per-
, secuted and ostracised and his action de-
4 nounced by many who shrank from the
O ordeal of battle and the blood through
which he had passed. His convictions
thus announced. were maintained with
9 stubborn tenacity until the wisdom of Ills
:, counsel is now univei sally acknowledged
i That letter WIS the utterance OF a states
| man.
a Gen. Wickham became identified with
a the Republican party when it was organ
Il lied in 1869. He was prominent III its
f councils and influential in its deliberat lolIs
n up TO 1881, when he refused to join The
# coalition that was effected that year. He
l. was offered the Republican nomination fol
|. Governor in that year. but declined. He
q was rendered the position of Secretary OF
q the Navy, at the close of Hayes, tdu inis
t. tration, but this he refused, when Gen
h Nathan Golf. of w. Va, was invited t(
lhe otljce and accepted. In 1888 he was
# elected 10 the State Senate as an iDdepen
q dent Republican, and reelected four years
3 afterwards. holding that position at thf
: time of his death. lie was also Vice Pres
# ident of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
!. way. in which capacity he manifested bis
d usual energy, sagacity and usiness grasp
!. Referring to his last and fatal illness
O the Richmond State Of the 23d says:
sThis city was startled to day about l:3(
v clock by the announcement OF the sud
a den death of Gen. Williams G. Wickham
q The sad event occurred in his office in tht
q Chesapeake and Ohio building Oh Main ant
!. Eighth streets.
q Gen. " ickham came down OF the Ches
= apeahe and Ohio train this morning ii
f company with his two sons. He at once
4 repaired to his office aud attended to bis
:. duties as usual
n Soon after IL O. clock he complained of
k feeling unwell. He appeared to suffer from
, nausea and cramp. His son and some OF
G physician be sent For but Gen Wickham
y declined to have medical service.
After awhile the feeling seemed to pass
away. and he appeared to lie better an(
o but short time before his death he was
: in conversation with Messrs. Henry Wick
If ham, M urray Hotchkiss, WeIlford and 9th
!. ers. About clock he laid down On {
d lounge in his Office, and at ! 20 expired very
, suddenly.
n The news was at once spread all over tht
C city, and created universal surprise an(
!. sorrow. No physician arrived before
v death. Soon after Drs, McCaW, Ross
/, Wheat and others were summoned. but
IS of course, nothing could be done.
r Policemen were stationed at the door tx
;. keep back the crowd, so great was the in
! terest by the public, and so great de
p sire on their part to view the remains and
d hear the full particulars.
v The general impression was that dealt
p was caused by heart disease or rush OF
r blood to the head.
O The State continues
d "Gen wickham was native OF Richmont
O. and was born in 1890, and was sixty-eight year,
. of age His grandfather John Wlckham
who vas one of the greatest lawyers of his day
j and one of the counsel for Aaron Barr. and
h was one of the leading gentleman of that
period. The poet rom Moore says OF him, than
he was the only gentleman he found in Amer
l. lea and would have graced any court in Eu-
n rope.
+ "General Wickhams father William
. Tanning Wckham also an eminent lawyer
= The subject of this sketch was educated at the
l. University of Virginia and was trained for the
Il \ law.
a | "He was a member of the Virginia Senate
q | from Henrico and Hanover before the ano
was one of the most prominent Wings in Wiz
&c ginia At the outbreak of the he entered
IS as CAPTAIN, commanding the Hanover Troop
2. He was promoted to Colonel and then to Briga
IN der General under Major General Fitzhugt
= Lee. He was most gallant soldier and wai
- severely YOU nded.
u "he was q member of the Confederate Con
r. gress for one term.
)t zone who knew him we'll says: His military
II | record during the is summed up in the
r. | statement that he entered it as captain of the
Hanover Troop and was by quick and success
II sve gradatons to be Colonel of the FourtI
-oA irpin ia I4a