River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-02-05

medlately ordered his carriage and
went ut once to the house of the Post
mastcr-1cncral. but few blocks away,
where "a Cabinet dinner had been in
progress and from which he had re-
turned but few minutes before. A
reception had followed the dinner, so
the guests had not dispersed.
Mrs. Window and her two daughters
and Mrs. Colgate, of New York, who
is visiting them, were among those
present at the reception As soon as
the President arrived he had a hurried
conversation with Secretaries Blaine
and Procto, and the Postmaster
General and told them of the
grief Tat had befallen them.
They then privately informed Mrs.
Colgate of Mr.. WINDOWS death, and she,
without exciting the suspicious of
Mrs. Window and her daughters, sue
ceeded in getting them to their carriage
and home. The President Secretary
Proctor and Postmaster-General Wanna
maker entered a carriage and followed
directly after. When Mrs. Window
and her daughters reached the house
Mrs. Colgate gently broke the dreadful
news. Mrs. Window was completely
overcome and had to he assisted to
her chamber. The shock was a terrible
one, as when the Secretary left Wash
ington in the morning he seemed in the
best of health and spirits. The Presi-
dent and the members of his Cabinet
who were present extended their
sympathy to the stricken family and
offered their services to them.
Official information of the death came
in a telegram from Secretary Tracy and
Acknowledgement Miller, who were
present at the banquet. IL said:
Secretary Window having concluded his
speech and while the next speaker being
announced, sunk down with an attack of heart
disease and died within ten minutes. His
death occurred at 10 o'clock You viii know
how to convey the intelligence to his family
To this the President Immediately
replied, saying that he was greatly
shocked and asking them to take
charge of the body and bring it to
Washington as early aspossible.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
William Window was born in Belmont Coun-
ty, o., May TO- ls27 He received academic
euuCailOns STUDIED law AT MOUNT VERNON ".
and was admitted to the bar in 1880. In 1879
he became prosecuting attorney for Knox
County, but in 1855 removed to Minnesota, and
was chosen to Congress for the term
beginning March 4, 1859. He was re-
elected thereafter every two years until 1863,
serving with credit to himself and his State
through the period of the civil war and recon-
struction. In the lower House, owing to his
familiarity with the red men, he served two
terms as chairman OF the committee on Indian
affairs, and was also at the head OF the special
committee To visit the Western tribes in 1858
and OF that on the conduct Of the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs in 1867. In
1870 he was appointed to the United States
Senate to fill the unexpired term of Daniel $.
Norton. deceased, and he was subsequently
chosen for the term that ended
in 1874 He was reelected for the
one that closed in 1888 but resigned in 1851
to enter the Cabinet OF President
Garfield as Secretary of the Treasury but re-
tired on the accession Of President Arthur in
the same year The vacancy was filled during
the called session of that year by Alonzo j.
Edgerton, under executive appointment. In
october OF the same year, after MIR. Window $
withdrawal from the Treasury on the death of
President Garfield. he was elected by the Min
nesota Legislature to I'LL the vacancy caused
by his resignation early in the year, and he
served until the close OF the term in 1888
Mr.. Window was a candidate for the Presi-
dency before the Republican convention of 1870.
the Minnesota delegation casting their ten
votes for him until the twenty ninth ballot,
when some of the votes were transferred to Mr..
Blaine. Three delegates voted for him until
the close OF the balloting. After his retire
menu from the Senate in 1888 Mr.. Window
spent his time between Minnesota and New
YORK, practicng law and attending TO business
interests. until called 10 the Treasury portfolio
by President Harrison.