The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-09
WARD II. LANIoN DEAD,


Lincom's Trusted Friend Dies ut Martins
burg-His Death Not UneXpected-A
brilliant Career-IIis Part During the
Civil War-LlnColn's Confidence In Hin.
Special DispGieh 10 he Aasligsaesr,
MARTlNsBuRG, W, Va, May S.-Col.
Ward Hill Lamon died here at midnight
last night. His death was not unex-
pected, as he had been in failing health
for some time,
Colonel Lamon was one OF the best
known men in the country and his
death removes one Of the last OF those
survivors Of tho war period who on.
joyed intimate relations with President
Lincoln. No man in the country was
on more confidential terms with the
martyr President It was this fact that
peculiarly equipped him for the work
OF writing the Liie OF Lincoln, which ia
regarded as the most authentic blog-
raphy OF hegreat emancipation which
has yet been published. He was man
of brilliant attainments, and his promi-
nenCe in politics in the stirring days OF
civil war gave him national reputa-
ton.
Ills CAREER.
Colonel Lamon was born in Winches-
ter in 1928. He had common school
education, and at one time taught school
himself. At the age OF seventeen he
began the study OF medicine, but soon
abandoned that study for law. At nine
teen he went to Illinois and settled in
the town OF Danville. He attended lee
lures at the Louisville, KY, law school
in the same class with John A. Logan,
Milton Darham and others who after.
ward became prominent in national
affairs. Upon ths completion oil his
studies he returned to DanVille and
practiced law in the courts OF that the
Eighth judicial court OF Illinois, in
which Lincoln had large practice. A
friendship sprang up between these two
men which lasted as long as Lincoln
lived and which resulted in partner
ship for the practice OF law. subse'
duently Lamon was elected state'a at
torney for that district and continued
to hold that office until called by Mr..
Lincoln TO accompany him to Washing
ton. 1t was Colonel Lamon upon
whom Mr.. Lincoln and his friends
chiefly relied to see the President.elect
safe through to the national capital,
and as marshal of the District OF Col
umbia to guard him afterwards. II Is
believed by many who are familiar
with Washington affairs at that time,
that had Mr.. Lamon been in the city
on the l4th OF April. 1865, that appal.
ling tragedy at Ford's theatre would
have been averted.
IMPORTANT TRUSTS.
In addition to his duties as marshal
OF the District Of Columbia and Of the
supreme court OF the United States,
Lamon was often intrusted with i'm.
portant and confidential missions, like
those to General Anderson, OF Fort
Sumter fame, and to Governor Pickens,
of South Carolina. On these missions
no formal credentials or written instruc-
tions were deemed necessary, but he
usually had with him an informal note
from tho President.
Colonel Lamon was aide.de.camp on
Governor Yates staff, and held COM
mission as colonel during the war. Ills
military services in the field were OF
short duration, from May, 1861, to De-
cember of that year. In May he had
been authorized to organize and COM
mand regiment OF volunteer infantry,
and subsequently his command was in
creased to brigade. His headquarters
were at Wlliamsport, Maryland.
When General Patterson crossed the
Potomac river to meet Gen. Joseph Il.
johnson, Colonel Lamon accomp panied
the movement rs u volunteer aide-de.
camp on General Calwalder's staff.
After the assassination OF President
Lincoln, Colonel Lamon resigned the
office OF marshal of the District and re.
sumed the practice OF his profession
with Hon. jeremiah S. Black and his
son, Chauncey +. Black. He gave up
business some years ago on account OF
impaired health, and has sojourned in
Europe most OF the time in search OF
recuperation. In 1872 he published the
Life of Abraham Lincoln, and had at the
time Of his death in preparation three
volume work on his "reminiscences OF
Lincoln and the war.
Some years ago COL Lamon took n
prominent part in West Virginia poll.
tics, and was tho Republican nominee
for Congress in the Second district in
1876, but was defeated by Hon. B. I.
Martin. He did not again entor the po.