Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-01
Sen. STANFORD DEAD.
A Self Made Man v 10 Became a
fhilanthropist.
Apoplexy the Trouble That Led to
His Death,

United Stae Senator Leland Stanford,
died Wednesday night at his residence in
Palo Alto, Cal.
Senator Stanford was in be best of spirits
the day before. He took a drive around his
stockfarm, and seem as well as ever. He
went to bed soon alter 10 0 clock, and about
midni hit his valet, going into the Senator
bedroom, discovered that he was dead.
1t has been long evident that Senator STAN
ford's death was question OF but short
time. HIS symptoms wers apcpieetic, an.
bis weight WIS increasing alarmingly. There
was stiffness about his legs that made walk
ing an exceedingly difficult task. lie could
take only the slightest exercise.
Six months ago he sent for DIR. Curtis, of
San Francisco. The doctor prescribed a
heroic treatment but the Senator was not
ready to undergo such methods for the re-
duction of f. sh and the restoration of his
waning strength. His apoplectic symptoms
increased and his situation became such as
to create serious alarm. About six weeks
ago it was found necessary to impose Sc
verey plain diet upon HIM. and since that
time his sole food has consisted of fried
hashed meat, with hot water as the only
liquid accompaniment.
The Senator rigidly adhered to the severe
requirements of the physician, and it seemed
for time that its rysuits were most bene-
fetal, and might possibly effect permanent
cure. He express ed himself as much encour-
aged, and looked forward hopefully to the
time when he could devote hin self with re-
newed energy to public affairs aud to the
completion of certain cherished educational
and benevolent enterprises. But his strength
was not sufficiently great to respond to the
demands upon it. His fundamental weak
ness suddenly manifested itself, and he passed
quietly away.
SENATOR sTASFoRD's CAREER.
Leland Stanford was born in Waterville, N.
Y, on the 9th of March, 1924, and was
brought up on farm until he was 20 years
OF age, when he began to study law.
In 1S49 he was admitted to the bar, and
went to Port Washington, Wis, where he be-
gan to practice. A fire destroyed his law i.
brary and other property in 1852, and he
started for California, where he soon tecamt
interested in gold mining with his three
brothers. He settled in San Francisco in 1856
and engaged in mercantile business, soon
amassing a large fortune.
In 1860 he was delegate to the Chicago
convention that nom mated Abraham Lincoln
and attracted public notice by his earnest adj
yocacy of Pacific railroad. When the Cen
trail Pacific Company was organized in 1861
he was chosen president, and in the same
year he was elected Governor of California,
serving through 1852 and 1868. He superi1-
tended the construction of the Pacafic road
the engeering difficulties of which were
much more formidable than they would be
now and succeeded in completing $50 miles
in 1913 days, driving the las, spike at Promon-
tory Point, Utah, on the 10th OF May, | &c.
Later on he became interested in other rail-
roads on the Pacific Slope, and displayed
much energy in the development OF the agri-
cultural and manufactur .ng resourc OF
California. constantly adding new millions 10
those which he had already accumulated. In
1885 he was elected to the United States
Senate. His name is best known to the pub
lie in con ection with the university which
he founded at Palo Alto as a memorial OF his
son. He set aside $40 100000 for this insti-
tuition, ard provided that all practical
branches of education, such as bookkeeping,
farming, civil engineering and telegraphy,
should be taught there as well as the regular
collegiate course.
Included in the trust fund for the mainten-
ance of the univers ty is an estate OF 1000
acres at Vina ala. which is said to be the
largest vineyard in the world. Mr.. Stanford
was well-known also among sportsmen as a
successful breeder of horses upon large
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