Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-10
DEATH OF GIN. J. W. DENVER.
Loss of n Man Who Had Had q Brilliant
Military and Civil Career.


Yesterday afternoon Gen. ]. W. Denver died
at his apart ments at the Globe building after q
very short illness. During his last moments
Gen. Denver was surrounded by Mrs Denver,
HIS eldest son. VIM. Denver, and many Of his
intimate friends. The remains will be taken to
the family home at Wilmington, Ohio, where
the funeral services will be held. At 40 this
afternoon the members of the National Associa-
ton of Mexican Veterans will meet at 507 F
street northwest and from there proceed to the
undertaker's establishment to take last look
at their dead connhde.
Gen. Denver WAS exceedingly well known in
TINS city. he was a man Of herculean size.
Born IN Virginia in 1917, he removed to Ohio
in 1880. where he graduated from the Cincin-
natl law school, In Ohio he Taught school and
edited paper, but later he removed to Platte
City, Mo.
HIS SERVICE IN MEXICO.
When war with Mexico broke out he raised a
company and served with distinction at Con-
tereras, Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapulte-
pee and Las Garitas, handling his commands
with skill and judgment, notwithstanding the
fact that he was suffering during the whole time
from the terrible after effects Of yellow fever
contracted at Vera Cruz.
After the war he started west in command Of
one Of the earliest emigrant trains that pene-
trated the new country, and reached California
BY the till then unknown route through Wyo-
ming and the region of the Snake river. He
was elected state senator in California and
sfterward secretary of state. While in Cali
fornia he had controversy with Edward Gil
bert, an ex-msmber of Congress, which re-
suited in duel, and in which Gilbert was
killed. Rifles were the weapons, and Gilbert
fell at the second shot.
HIS SERVICE IN CIVIL LIFE.
He was elected to Congress and afterward
was appointed by Buchanan commissioner Of
Indian affairs. While serving in this position
and at the time before Kansas had even a tern
torial form Of government, and the hordes Of
immigrants pouring into the lands from all
sides stopped at nothing to gain the end of
theft party. whatever that might be-for slavery
or against-he found himself Unexpectedly APP
pointed governor Of the territory in place Of
Mr.. Frederick Stanton, who had been sum-
marily removed for offending President
Buchanan Ia some administration of the affairs
Of the much-yexed state.
AS GOVERNOR OF KANSAS
At this time bands of armed guerrillas ira
versed the country, making indiscriminate war
on all they met, robbing and, if need be, muir
dering, always in the name of a cause and al
ways espousing the opposite cause to that Of
their victims. Denver owed a large measure Of
his success to his idea that the people could
best manage their own affairs untrammeled by
the military arm of the government, 80 long at
least as they stopped short of instruction. and,
finding the troops scattered all over the terri
tory, he proceeded to recall them as fast as could
be done without causing uneasiness and excite
ment among the people.
Although laboriAg against tremendous disad-
vantages he succeeded in bringing the affairs
Of the territory 10 satisfactory state.
IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
At the breaking out of the civil war he en-
tered the Union service in 1861 with the rank Of
brigadier general from President Lincoln. He
was for a time in charge OF the military district
Of Kansas. because Of his knowledge Of the peo-
pie and country. but was later transferred east,
and joined Gen. Halleck in time to take part in
the advance on Corinth. He atterward relieved
Cen Logan at Lagrange, when he assumed
control and command of all the railroads in
that part of Mississippi and Tennessee, having
had his command increased at various times by
the addition Of other regiments until it num-
bered over &c, 600 men. This was the most
difficult and most important part Of his military
service. and, being in the enemy's country was
most eSacting and trying but such was his
executive ability that all moved without jar
or break.
After the war Gen. Denver devoted him
self to the practice of law. He was promi-
nently mentioned for the presidential nominal
tion at the Cincinnati democratic convention
of 1876, when Mr.. 1ilden was nominated.
In 1878 Gen. Denver took an active part in
organizing the Veterans of the Mexican War, OF
which society he has been president up to the
hour Of his death.