The record-union., 1893-06-21
Special to the REooRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
MEMO PARK, June 2:-2 A. M.-Gov-
ernor Stanford died at II o'clock last
night. He passed away peacefully in his
sleep at his residence at Palo Alto.
Governor Stanford was in the best of
spirits yesterday Tuesday. He took a
drive around his stock farm, and seemed
as well as ever. He retired shortly after
10 o'clock, and about midnight his valet,
going into the Governors bedroom, dis
covered that he was dead.
1t had been evident for some time that
Senator Stanford's demise was ques-
were increasing alarmingly. There was
a stiffness about the limbs that made loco
motion an exceedingly difficult task. His
body was fast becoming too heavy for his
limbs to support. Hecould take the very
slightest exercise.
Six months ago the Senator sent for
DIR. Curtis of San Francisco. The doctor
prescribed heroic treatment, but the
Senator was not ready to undergo drastic
methods for the reduction of his flesh
and 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 severely plain diet
upon the Senator, and since that time his
sole food has consisted of fried hashed
meat, with hot water as the only liquid
accompaniment. The Senator rigidly ad-
hered to the severe requirements of his
physician, and it seemed for a time that
its results were most beneficial and
might possibly effect permanent cure.
The Senator expressed himself as much
fully to the time when he could devote
himself with renewed energy to public
affairs, and to the completion of certain
educational and other benevolent enter
prises that were very near to his heart.
But his strength was not sufficiently
great to respond to the demands upon it.
Its fundamental weakness suddenly
manifested itself, and he past quietly
away last night.
The Governor looks perfectly natural as
he lies in bed, seeming from all appear
ances to be in deep sleep.
His body will be embalmed.
Leland Stanford was born in Watervleit,
Albany County, \. y, March 8, 1924, and
was, therefore, 60 years of age last March.
His ancestors settled in the valley of the
Mohawk, New York, about 1920.
He was brought up on farm, and
when 20 years old began the study of law.
He was admitted to the bar in lS49, and
the same year began to practice at Port
Washington, Wis.
In 1852, having lost his law library and
ether property by fire, he removed to
California and began mining at Michigan
Bluff, Placer County, subsequently be-
coming associated in business with his
three brothers, who had preceded him 10
the Pacific Coast.
In 1886 he removed to Sacramento and
engaged IN mercantile pursuits on large
scale, laying the foundation of fortune
that subsequently reached up into the
millions.
In 1850 Senator Stanford made his en-
trance into public life as delegate to the
Chicago Convention that nominated
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency.
He was one of the four men to organize
the Central Pacific Railroad Company,
his associates being C. P. Huntington,
Mark Hopkins and ]. p. Judah-all resi-
dents of Sacramento-and was chosen
President of the company in 1861.
That same year he was elected Governor
of California by the Republicans, serving
in that capacity until 1868. He drove the
last spike of the great transcontinental
road at Promontory Point in May, 1869.
He also became interested in other
roads in this State, and was always fore
most in matters relating to the develop
ment of the State.
In 1885 he was elected to the United
States Senate, and was reelected
at the expiration of his term
in 1891. In memory of his only
son, Leland Stanford, Jr., he gave to the
State property valued at SO, 900, 900 for the
founding Of the University at Palo Alto,
which bears his sons name. Included in
the trust fund for the maintenance of the
University is his splendid estate at Vina,
Tehama County, which includes the
largest vineyard in the world.
For many years Senator Stanford had
been interested in the breeding of fine
horses and cattle, and his famous Palo
Alto stock farm is the greatest establish
ment of the kind in the Union.
The lateness of the hour at which the
news of Senator Stanford's death was re-
ceived here precluded the possibility of a
more extended sketch of one whose
name has been so prominently con-
nected with the history of the State from
its earliest date.
GOVERNOR MARKHAM.