Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-09-05
Tht Republita'l:
WATERFOWL, WIS.
GEN. N. P. N DEAD.
Another lllustriouS Soldiex-States-
man Passes from Lilies
Stage.

IhAdh oSSCS H. >
Stage.
Waltham, Mass, Sept. 1.-Gen. Ma
thaniel 2. Banks, soldier and statesman,
died at his home on Main street shortly
before S o'clock this morning from brain
trouble, after a long illness. For nearly
two years the general has been a sufferer,
but he was not taken seriously i'll until
two weeks ago. Early this summer he
began to fail mentally and was taken to
the home of his daughter, the wife of the
Rev. Paul Sterling, Mount Deer Isle,
Me, for the summer. Three weeks ago
his condition became more serious and
he was brought to his home here. He
grew worse, and he was then taken to
the Mclean asylum at Somerville, but he
succumbed rapidly. and when he could
not recognize members of his family it
was decided by the physicians that moth
ing could be done for him, and yesterday
he was conveyed to his home once more.
At u O'Clock last evening 1t was evident
that the end was fast approaching. Mrs.
Banks, with the generals daughter, Maud,
and his niece, Miss Sybil Banks. were at
his bedside constantly until his death.
About midnight the general became IN
conscious and he slowly lost strength
until the hour of his death. The eud
came very quietly and those gathered
about the bed of the dying general were
hardly aware when he passed away.
On the announcement of Gen. Banks
death. the flags of the public buildings in
the city were displayed at half-mast and
on every side vidence OF the respect III
which the general is held is conspicuous.
The funeral will take place Tuesday
afternoon under the direction of Mayor
Warden and Col. Ephraim Stevens. On
Monday afternoon the body will be escort
ed to Asbury Temple by a detail OF the
@. A. r.. where it will lie in state until
Monday evening. On Tuesday at 1:45
dence. after which the body will be again
borne to Asbury Temple where the public
services will be held.
Nathanial Prentiss Banks was born IN
Waltha1n, Mass, January so, 1916. He
received a common chool education and
learned the trade of a maohinist III a
cotton factory where his father was Su-
perintendent. He was very ambitious
10 fit himself for a wider field Of work
and during his leisure hours he studied
diligently. He often secured engage
ments to lecture before meetings and in
assemblies. He finally became editor Of
a paper at Naltham and also studied law.
He was admitted to the bar and in 1919
he was chosen to represent his native
town in the state Legislature. He vas
elected speaker of the state Assembly IN
1851 INC reelected in 1852. In 1858 he
W as CHCS0u II dSI0Sdl6 10 TIE A1dSSdCuU-
sets constitutional convention, and was
selected chairman Of the delegation. He
was elected to Congress in 1858 by a CO.
aliti0n between the Democrats and the
new party. During his term Of service
he withdrew from the Democratic party
and identified himself with the American
or "knownOthing'' party. and was again
reelected to Congress-. After 8 lively
contest he was elected speaker of the
House of Representatives. The American
party soon went out of existence and Mr..
Banks was elected to the Thirty-ffth
Congress as a Republican and served
until December 4 1857, when. having
been elected governor Of Massachusetts.
he resigned his seat in Congress. He
was reelected governor ia 1858 and 1859.
He accepted the presidency Of the Illinois
Central railroad in 1860, but gave up
the Office the following year, when the
civil war broke out. and was commits
stoned q ma~jOr-gener3l of volunteers and
assigned to the command of the Fifth
go ps in the Army Of the Potomac. He
ds subsequently placed in command of
the New Orleans expedition, succeeding
Gen. b. Z. Butler, commanding the de-
partment at New Orleans. After the
capitulation of Port Hudson, Gen. Banks
was sent up the Red river with an ex-
petition, but his whole force was COM
PEELED to retreat and he was censured for
the failure of the movement, which was
taken against his advice. During his
command Of the department of the Gulf
he e~ndeavored to ~reorganize the civil gov
eminent Of Louisiana, but did not ac-
comphsh It in a manner satisfactory to
the inhabitants. He was relieved of his
command in May, 1864, resigned his COM
mission and returned to Massachusetts,
where he was reelected to Congress from
his old district. He was reelected to sue
cessIve congresses until 1877, except in
80, when he was active in support of
Horace Greeley, the Liberal-D Democratic
candidate for President. He served fer a
long time IS chairman of the committee
on foreign relations. After his retirement
from Congress he became United States
marshal for Massachusetts,. His daughter
Maud is a well-known actress.