The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-24
CRESWELL's DEATH.
The Distinguished Marylander a
Victim of Heart Trouble.
GRANTS POSTMASTER GENERAL

Life Sketch OF the Man who suc.
cecded Senator Hicks in the Higher
Branch of the National Legisla.
ture = The Father of the Postal
Card. ..p..
ELKToN. Nd. Dec 24.-Hon. John A.
j Creswell postmaster general under
President Grant, and for years member
OF congress, serving both as senator and
representative from Maryland. died
rather suddenly at his residence. one
mile from Elkton. yesterday. de had
been in failing health for several months.
but was able to be about week ago
Heart trouble is ascribed as the imme
diate cause of his death. although he
had been suffering with pneumonia Of
the right lung for several days. His wife
was at his bedside at the time Of deaths
VISIT ms well as Professor Osler, of John
Hopkins hospital, Baltimore, and Drs.
Charles M. Ellis and j. Fl. lamar, the
attending physicians. Mr.. Cresweli was
in the Gath year of his age, having been
born at Port Deposit Cecil county, Mary.
| land, NOV. IL, 1928.
\ Sketch of His Career.
MIR. Creswell was graduated ut Dickinson
!. college, Pennsylvania, In 1873; was admitted
TO the bar of Maryland in 1850 Not until 1850
] did he raise bis head above the surface In polit
1 teal affairs. In 1861 and 1859 he was n mem Der
OF the Maryland house of delegates, and In the
latter year he served for a time as IN assistant
! adiutant general of tho state Meanwhile
Henry Winter Davis, hingng himself into
t, the torlorn hope of the Union party In Mary.
I land, was revoutionizng the state. The mans
/ temper was magnetic, and his unsurpassed
qualities as an orator of classical coquencr
and fiery popular orator soon drew CreswelI
I into his circle. Before the end of the year lsti
Davis had no more faithful or ardent follower,
J and from that time till his death he reckuneh
4 Creswell among his trustiest and most valued
Z friends. In 1862 Creswell was elected 10 con.
gres5 from the Cecil district, and took his sea;
! beside the great Baltimore orator at the be
ginning of the Thirty eighth congress-
A bill for tho employment Of negroes as
soldiers first drew him out. His fine presence
and impressive style soon gained him the en-;
OF the house, and when he came to eulOgize
the proclamation OF emancipation, and to tel
how 1t was received by the poor negroes who
at midnight prayer meetings in tho cabins Oi
the eastern shore spent the hours snatchet
from toll in praying God.to make them worth,
of the great gift bestowed upon them, he rCgt
| W pltcn ol genuine eloqucnce That secured.
undivided attention and unbroken silence.
He was most warmly congr atulntcd as he tool
his seat, and the effort was on ali hands pro.
nounced one of the most successful over made
in that hall by a new member. From that
day he rapidly rose to a commanding position
in state and national politics.
The death of Governor Hicks SOON made i,
4 vacancy In the senate and he was put up to
United States senator. At the outset Crgswcll
seemed 10 have no show. But the other rnn-
didatos were dextrously killed OF or got out
OF the way, and tho legislature was fairly cor
nered into his election. In the senate he soon
took high rank, and won IT without incurrin,.
the hostility apt to be exhibited by that gray,
body toward young uieu who try iu get on tn,
fast.
In 1865 Mr.. Crcswell was delegate 10 tb,.
convention in Baltimore which reuuminttrt
I MI. Lincoln. In 1861 he was cuuspiruou,
delegate to the southern l0yl.lists' convention
in Philadelphia, where he led the border state
opposition to the demand for negro suffrage,
j not because he was opposed tu tic prInCiul,,
but because he doubted tho political wisdom,
of going before the people In that Gampairi.
with negro suffrage as an issue. He soon nj.
iterwRrd came over, and after that time was
ono OF the most ardent defenders Of the ius
ticc and expediency Of Impartial suffrage. In
ISIS Creswell was chairman Of the McrylanL
delegation TO the convention at Chicago Mhicit
nominated Grant for the presidency. He wat
!. himself named for the vice presidency, but dc
/ rined the nomination.
4 When Colonel Forney resigned the score
4 taryshlp Of the senate Mr. Crcswcll wne urged
TO be candidate, and it was conceded on II
hands that he could have the Office for ia,
taking but he declined.
i On March 5, 1869, he was appointed by Presi.
! dent Grant postmaster general. which Office
; lie held until July 3, 1874 Ii was during hi,
!, administration the postal cards were first in.
{ gtI fI,,r In a.I8 81. e
master general Mr. Grcswell retired to his
. handsome country seat at Eikton, where h,.
/; lived retired life up 10 the time of his death