West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-02-02
1AxEs GILLESPIE BLAINE.
Death Of tho Greatest Leader Of the
Republican Party.
a Short sketch OF His Life and Pub
lie Services.


to lead the way to the promised
land bat failed, and died without
accomplishing the greatest ambition
of his life. lie allied the highest
positions in the land except that of
President, and tried for years to
attain this high Office, and although
recognized on all hands as the
greatest statesman Of his party,
died without realizing his fondest
hopes, like Daniel Webster and
Henry Clay.
After long illness and weeks Of
suffering, death came as n relief,
and the great leader passed peace
fully away at his home in Washing
ton City, Friday, January 81, 1893,
at IL O'Clock A. NJ. His health
had been seriously impaired from
over-work and so mnch domestic
affection Of late years, completely
shattered his broken system and
he died from sheer exhaustion. The
family were all at his bedside, Mrs.
Blaine, the devoted wife, Miss Hat.
tie Blaine, the unmarried daughter,
Mrs. Walter Damrosch, the mar
ried daughter, and James G.. Blaine,
Jr., the only surviving son. In
addition to the family, Miss Dodge,
(Gail Hamilton) his cousin, Mrs.
Price, the trained nurse, and the
two physicians, Drs. Hyatt and
johnson, were present when the end
came.
The news of Mr.. Blaine's death
caused sorrow all over the land, and
all parties unite in paying tribute
to his worth and the greatest re-
spect to his memory. Both Houses
OF Congress adjourned, and the
Legislatures of many of the States
His family is left in very comforta-
BILE circumstances, as his wealth is
estimated at 81 900, 900, invested in
real estate in Washington City and
West Virginia coal lands. lie has
been associated for several years
with Stephen Il. Elkins and Henry
G. Davis in developing coal lands
along the West Virginia Central
Railroad. His wife, who survives
him, was Miss Harriet Stanwood,
teacher in the public schools at
Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky.
James Gillespie Blame was born
on the 3lst of January, 1880, at
West Brownsville, Pa, in a house
built by his great grandfather be-
fore the war of the Revolution,
which still stands.
The Gillespios and the Blaines
were people of standing before the
Revolution. Colonel Blame, who
was Commissary General of the
northern department of Washing
ington's army during the Revolu-
ton was James G.. Blaine's great
grandfather.
When eleven years old he went to
live with his uucle, Thomas Ewing,
in Ohio, where his mothers father,
Neal Gillespie, an accomplished
scholar, directed bic studies. Later
he attended Washington College at
Washington, Pa. graduating at the
age Of IL.
After leaving college he taught
school at BIne Lick Springs, Ky.
II was as a professor in the military
school there that he made the ac-
quaintance of the lady who became
his wife. Later lie went to Phila-
dclphia, where he taught school and
studied law. But after two years
he abandoned his law studies, went
TO Maine and became proprietor and
editor Of the Kennobec Journal.
lie was in ut the birth OF the Re-
publican party and was "a delegate
to tho Philadelphia Convention Of
1853, which nominated Fremont.
After serving as Speaker Of the
Name Legislature he was sent to
Congress, and began bis national
career in 1862, with the outbreak
Of the var. During tho l2nd and
43rd Congresses be was Speaker Of
the House. Mr.. Blaino's admins
tration Of tho Speakership is re-.
/ garded as ono Of the most brilliant
and successful in the annals OF tho
House. lie had rare aptitude and
equipment for the duties Of presid-
ing officer, and his complete mas