The Van Buren press., 1893-01-14
BENJAMIN r. BUTLER.

sudden Death, at Ills Residence In WASH
lngton, Of Hon. benjamin. =. Butler, the
Well-knOwn Millionaire. soldier, Law
yer aud Statesman--A Brief Sketch OF
His Civil and Military Career.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Benjamin r.
Butler, the lawyer, statesman, politi-
clan and millionaire manufacturer,
died at his Washington residence. No.
aa0 New Jersey avenue, southeast. at
1870 o'clock this morning. The general
mas always, to more or less
extent. made his residence in Wash
ington, although many of the scenes
of his successful ventures have been
located elsewhere. During the present
winter case which had been decided
against him in the highest courts OF the
state OF Massachusetts, and In which
he took an appeal To the United States
supreme court, has demanded his al
most constant residence in this city.
Every Monday he was familiar figure
at the sessions of that body when
the decisions were handed down.
Hisage, as well asa general impairment
of his health while listening to the oral
decisions, looking for lis own, was u
matter of remark time and time again.
Finally a few weeks ago, the case was
decided against him. Whether or not
the loss of this case. to which he had
paid such close attention, brought any
thing more than-the- sereoMs-af-a-
casual defeat, will not be known. His
death created an immense surprise, as
it was not even known that he was
ailing, any more than any man who
had lived and labored SO long would.
The announcement this morning that
he had died at l:.;0 o'clock from failure
of the heart created moro than little
surprise, and at that hour of the
night details of his taking off were
meager.
benjamin Franklin Butler was born in Deer
fell, n. H. November 8. 1878. lie was the son
OF Capt John Butler, vino served under jack
son at New Orleans. He graduated at Water
vile tnow Colby university, Maine, in 1873;
was admitted to the bar in 1910 He was
member of the state Legislature and delegate
to the democratic national convention that
met at Charleston In 1880 At thu tins OF
President Lincoln's call for troops he WAS
brigadier general OF the state militia OF Mas.
sachusstts. He took command OF the Eighth
Massachusetts regiment, and was soon after
ward placed in command OF the department OF
Eastern Virginia. 1t was then he made his Ia.
nous decision that negross were contrabRnds
of war" He captured Forts Hatteras and
Clark In North Carolina.
In 1882 after Farragut bad virtually CAPTURED
New Orleans, Butler took possession OF tho
city. His administration OF affairs was
marked by great vigor and In tho ensuing Do
,1a,.l, lar ttavv In yuFa
son Davis. Gen. Butler was then recalled, anil
near tho close of 1868 he was placed in com
mand of the department OF Virginia and North
Carolina. He WIS afterwards called to the
army OF thu James. III 1851 he was sent to
New York to insure quiet during the election.
In December of that year he conducted an in
effectual expedition against Fort Fisher and
| was afterwards removed from command BY
| Gen. Grant
! In 1865 be was elected to congress as rapub-
lican, where he remained until 1873, with the
exception Of the years ls7577. He was tao
most active OF the managers pointed in 1865
by the house OF representatives 10 conduct tho
impeachment OF President Andrew johnson.
He was the unsuccessful candidate for gov
ernor Of Massachusetts in 1875; was candidate
Of the independent greenbacksrs and demo-
Gratis for the same Office and was again de-
featsd In 1852 he was elected by the demo-
Gratis, WAS renominate1 In 1888. but was de-
feated. In 1924 he was the candidate OF the
gresnbackers and anti monopolists for presi-
dent aud received 1855 votes. He was at the
time Of his death Is years of age
Gen Butler WAS in the supreme court In
general term yesterday. The old contest over
the will OF Samuel Strong, heard by the gen
eral term on appeal from the circuit court, was
to have been tried thi, term. Judge O. D. Bar
rett nsked the court to put the case down for
hearing this week to accommodate Gen. But
| ler as 1t might not be convenient for the latter
to attend later In the term. The court was
obliged to refuse the request as other impor-
tant cases had the precedence, and the bench
was shorthanded until Judge Cole takes his
seat