Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-03
DEATH OF Mr.. BLAINE.

II
his home in Washington City last
| Friday morning at II o'clock. An at
tack of heart failure came on in the
morning early, and the doctors an
| nounced that they could do no more
to prolong his life. He was surround
ed by the members Of his family when
he breathed his last.
President Harrison Immediately is
sued a proclamation announcing Mr..
Blaine's death, deploring the sad
event and ordering all tho depart
ments to be closed on the day OF the
funeral and flags placed at half mast.
The funeral services were held on
Monday, and were attended by the
President, his cabinet and many dis
tinguished persons. The service was
held in the Presbyterian Church OF
the Covenant, and the body was in
TERED in Oak Hill Cemetery.
James Gillespie Blaine was born
January 81, 1880, at West Brownsville,
Pa, in a house built by his great
grandfather before the war of the
revolution, and which still stands.
His boyhood was passed comparative
" uneventful. After leaving college
he taught school at Blue Lick Springs,
KY. 1t was as a professor in the mil
itary school there that he made the
acquaintance Of the lady who after
ward became his wife. Later he
went to Philadelphia, where he
taught school and studied law. Al
ter prosecuting his studies Of law for
two years he abandoned that profess
sion and in 1853 moved to Maine, To-
eating ut Augusta. He bought the
Kennebsc Journal and began his
career rs journalist, which finally
led him into politics, where his great
fame was won. After disseminating
his associations with the Kenebec
Journal he became editor OF the Port
land Adpertiser. In 1858 he was elected
to the State legislature and was af-
terward speaker Of the lower House.
The reputation he gained there sent
him to Congress in 1852, when began
his congressional career Of twenty
years. During the Forty-first, Forty
second and Forty-third Congresses
he was Speaker of the House.
In 1875 Mr.. Blaine was appointed
to the Senate to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Senator
Morrill,, and the next winter was
elected by the legislature to the sue
ceeding term. He was called from
the Senate to enter President Gar
fields cabinet as Secretary Of State.
The death OF Mr.. Garfield led to Mr..
Blaine's retirement from the cabinet
in December, 1882. From that date
until he entered Mr.. Harrison's cabi-
net as Secretary of State he was in
private life, except during his cam
paign for the Presidency in 1884.
Whether in public position or in
private life, he always remained a
central figure in national affsirs.
During his retirement he wrote his
Twenty Years Of Congress, work
OF great historical value. The Pres
idency had several times seemed to be
within the grasp Of Mr. Blaine, yet
he never received that high prefer
ment from the people. In 1875 he had
an enthusiastic following in the con-
vention of his party and all but got
the nomination. He was nominated
in 1884, but was defeated by Mr..
Cleveland. He refused to be can
didate in 1883 and declined to enter
the convention for nomination. His
history during the last year and his
memorable fight for the nomination
at Minneapolis is too fresh to need
repetition now.
Mr.. Blaine leaves fortune estima
ted at about 100000. His wealth is
invested in real estate in Washington
City and in Maine, coal lands in West
Virginia, and personal property.