Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-03-29
AN OLD OHIOAN DEAD.
General Robert O. Schenck Dief
of Pneumonia at Washington.
One of Ohio's Bravest Soldiers and Bright
Aat Statesmen Passes Away Full OF
Years and Honors-His Career as
Congressman, Soldier and
Diplomat.

WASHINGTON, March "a. - GenoraI
Robert Cumming Schenck. Congress-
man, soldier and diplomat, and leader
in public affairs generation or more
ago, died at five o'clock last evening, OF
pneumonia, at his residence on Massa-
chusetts avenue, just off Thomas Circle.
1t was not until yesterday that it was
known that he was seriously i'll, but,
when his friends heard of it, they were
prepared for the worst, because of his
advanced age. He had been ailing for
about two weeks but attached little i'm
portance to his complaint. On Sunday
last he was out calling with Mr.. B. I'll.
Warder, formerly of Ohio, but for sew
eral years we'll known resident of this
city, and SCENE ed in his usual health,
save for slight bronchial cough. 1t
was not until last Tuesday that
it was thought necessary to call
in physician. DR.. III. G. Var
row was sent for and found General
Schenck suffering from capillary bron-
chitis. Within twentyfour hours lin
tied pneumonia of the right lung set in,
and, later, tho left lung also became
involved DIR. Yarrow called DR.. OReil-
ly in consu ltation, and Dr. Lorini was
engaged to be in constant attendance
so that any sudden danger which might
arise mi ght be averted. When Dr.
Yarrow visited General Schenck this
morning he found him much worse, and
1T was discovered that diptheretic ex-
udation was commencing on the right
side of the throat. He became brighter
about noon, but from that time grew
rapidly weaker until the end came. His
mind was clear and bright to the very
/ last. His three daugh ters, Mrs. Bates,
an old friend, and Miss Sedgwick were
with him at the time of his death.
The funeral arrangements will be
in charge of Mr. Warner. The inter
ment will take place at Dayton, o. In
view of the diphtheretic complications
in the case the funeral will be strictly
private.
General Schenck was in his eighty
first year, having been born in Franklin,
o., October 4, 1909. He was graduated
from Miami University in 1927, and,
after spending three additional years at
the college, studied law with Thomas
Corwin. He served two years in the
State Legislature and acquitted himself
so we'll that he was elected to Congress
as Whig, serving from 1S4S till 1851.
President Fillmore then sent him to
Brazil as Minister Plenipotentiary.
While serving in this capacity he
distinguished hims elf as a diplomat
by taking conspicuous part in
the negotiation of trea ties with Par
aguay, Uruguay and the Argentine
Republic. After two years in Brazil he
returned to Ohio, his native State, but
took no part in politics. When the
civil war broke out he at once offered
his services to the Government and was
commissioned as Brigadier General by
President Lincoln May II, 1861. He
served with his brigade in the first bat
tie of Bull Run, IN which the Union
army was defeated. He next served in
West Virginia under General Rosecrans
and did some brilliant fighting at Nc
Dowell and Cross Keys. General Fre-
mont then entrusted him with the COM
mand of division, and, while leading
the first division of Franz Sigels corps
at the second battle of Bull Run, his
right arm was shattered by musket
ball, incapa citating him for service for
some time. In September, 1852, he was
promoted to be Major General and in
December of that year, he took COM
mand of the mid die department and
Eighth corps at Baltimore. H9 rendered
effective service in the Gettysburg cam
paign. He was nominated &or Congress
against the noted Anti-War Democrat
Vallandigham, and, though the district
was Democratic. he CARRIED the election,
and, resigning his post I'm the army, took
his seat in the House of Representa-
tives December 3, fS63. He was im-
mediately made chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, and, dur
ing this and the following Congress-,
his position enabled him to do good
service for the Union cause. He was
reelected to the two succeeding Con-
crosses, and throughout these exciting
times during the war he took leading
part in proceedings in the House.
During his last term he was chair
man of tho Ways and Means Commit
tee and leader of the House. succeed
ing Thad Stevens in command of the
Republican, party. He was Minister to
England in 1870. and in 1871 one of the
Alabama Claims Commissioners, retain
ing this hast Office for five years, when
he resigned. Since that time he has
made his home in this city, where he
was warm favorite. He was familiar
figure at Republican gatherings here,
but took no active part in politics.
Secretary Blaine was much attached to
him and sent an aifectionate note to him
yesterday when he heard of his illness.
IL .s.1 al. 4
witty. In his book, Mr.. Blaine pays the
dead man warm compliment. No
man in Congress during the present
generation, he says, has rivalled
General Schenck as tive-minute de-
batter. SIN tho fve-minute discussion
in committee of the whole, he was an
intellectual marvel. The compactness
and clearness of his statement, the facts
and arguments which he could marshal
in that brief time, were constant sur
prise anddelight to his hearers"