Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-08
EX-SENATOR HERMAN DEAD.
The Well-known Democratic Politician
Passes Away at His Home i'm Utica.

The Well-known Democratic Politician
Passes Away at His Home I'm Utica.
Francis Herman, the sage of Utica. the only
man VINO defeated Roscoe Conkling at the polls.
breathed his last at his home in Chancellor
square Utica, n. Y, yesterday afternoon He
was unconscious at the time of his death and
was unable to recognize his wife and children,
who were gathered at his bedside.
His funeral will be public affair. and it is
expected to be one of the most imposing ever
held in Utica. He was member of ST. John 8
Roman Catholic Church, and his funeral will be
held from there some time this week II is
likely that all the stores and business houses
will be closed during the funeral
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Since his retirement from the United States
Senate, ten years ago. Mr. Herman has filed a
small space in the public eye, but before that he
YVES one of the foremost. as he Was undoubtedly
one of the ablest and truest leaders of the demo-
cratic party in New York state
He was born in Tyrone, \. ". on January IA,
1916. and was educated at GEORGETOWN College.
District Of Columbia. After graduation he
went to Utica and studied law in the Office of
Joshua Spencer. He was admitted TO the bar
and began to practice.
1t fell to his lot to have singular succession
OF political vicissitudes. He was u democrat all
his life. but his rsings and fallings exceeded the
varying fortunes of his party. Up to 1s4s he
was known, not outside of Utica, as an unus-
ually industrious and clear-headed Young man.
who was apparently headed for place on the
judicial bench. He had stopped BY the way
side to be an alderman and a school commits
slo1er. But In this year he came out a free
soil democrat and took the stump for his cause.
He spoke SO eloquently and wei that in that
one campaign he made state reputation.
After the fight was over and the dissensions
III the democracy were healed. he was made re-
porter OF the court OF appeals. and with that his
pubic career may be said to have begun: lie
held his first place for several years. distinguish
Ing ms work by accuracy and good Judgment.
Then he was made n member of the board of
regents, and for two terms elected to the state
assembly. At the close of his second term
tls62) lie ran for Congress in the Oneida dis
'rict against Roscoe Conkling, and elected
by narrow majority.
In 1864 he again a candidate for Congress
against Roscoe Conkling. and this time he was
defeated. He returned 20 his law practice,
which was one of the largest in the state In
1867 he was member OF the constitutional
convention and afterward of the constitutional
commission.
lie made no further appearance in political
way until 1872 when he was the liberal demo-
cratic candidate for governor against John A.
Dix.
III the pOltlcal revolution OF 1874. In which
the democrats again gained control OF the state
legislature, q United States senatorship was in
VOWED. and, with very little opposition. Mr.
Herman was chosen by the democratic caucus
to succeed Reuben Z. Fenton, republican. The
| choice was largely John Kelly's, but the whole
party of the state approved 1t. 1t was the first
| time a denocra, had been sent to the United
| States Senate from New York since 1S4s and ii
| il singular fact that John A. Dix, who beat
| Mr.. Herman for governor in 1872, was his last
democratic predecessor in the Senate.
When Garfield carried the state in 1880 he
took the Legislature along with him and NJ.
kernan's seat was forfeited to q republican
Thomas C. Platt succeeded him. When Conk-
ling and Platt resigned in the spring OF 1881 the
democrats put forth Mr.. Herman again in the
hope that the republican divisions would give
them a chance to re-elect him, but the republi-
cans got together in time to elect Warner
Miller and Laphsrn and this opportunity passed.
From March (, 1881, Mr.. Kernsns attention
was concentrated on his practice in Utica. His
two SONS. Nicholas and John ID. Herman. he es-
tabiished in the law business in New York city.
Up TO a short time before his death his attend
ance at his own Office was daily. He was among
the mos. industrious Of men.