The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
GEN. BANKS Is DEAD.
Passes Quietly Away After an Event
full Career.

wALTHAM, Mass, Sept. 1.-Gen. Ma
thaniel p. Banks, soldier and statesman,
died at his home on Main-st, this city,
shortly before 8 o'clock this morning from
brain trouble, after a long illness. For
nearly two years the general had been a
sufferer. but was not taken seriously i'll
until about a week ago. Early this sum-
mer he began to fail mentally, and was
taken to the home Of his daughter, the
wife Of the Rev. Paul Sterling, Mt Deer
Isle. Ne, for the summer.
Three weeks ago his condition became
more serious and ne was brought to his
home here. He grew worse and was then
taken to the Mclean asylum at Somer-
vile. He succumbed rapidly and when
he could not recognize members OF his
family It was decided by the physicians
that nothing could be done for him and
yesterday he was conveyed to his home
once more. He began 10 sink rapidly,
and at o'clock last evening 1t was evil
dent the end was fast approaching. Mrs.
Banks, with the generals daughter,
Maud. and mis- niece, Miss Sybil Banks.
was at his bedside constantly until his
death. At midnight he became uncon-
scious and slowly lost his strength until
the hour OF his death. The end came very
quietly, and those gathered about the
dying general We're hardly aware when he
passed away.
On the announcement Of Gen. Banks's
death the flags Of the public buildings in
this city were displayed at half mast
and on every side evidence Of the respect
in which the general is held is conspicu-
Gus The funeral win take place Tues
day afternoon under the direction Of
Mayor Warden and Col Stevens. On
Monday afternoon the body will be es-
corted to Asbury temple by a detail of
the c. A. r., where IL Will lie i'm state
until Monday evening. On Tuesday aft
ernoon at 1:45 brief services will be held
at the residence, after which the body
will again be borne TO Asbury temple,
where the public services will be held.
Gen. Nathaniel Prentiss Banks was
born in Waltham, Mass, Jan. 80, 1916.
After receiving a common school educa-
ton he worked in a cotton factory and
learned the trade of a machinist. He
was ambitious to fit himself for a wider
field of work, and studied diligently dur
ing his leisure hours. He became editor
of a local paper at Waltham, studied law,
was admitted to the bar and in 1S49 was
selected to represent his native town in
the legislature of Massachusetts. In 1853
he was elected TO congress as a coalition
democrat. During this term Of
service he withdrew from the
democratic party and became a
''knownothing," and was again
elected to congress. He was speaker of
the house Of representatives in 1853. Mr..
Banks was elected to the Thirty-fifth
congress by the republicans, and served
until Dec. 4, 1857, when he was chosen
governor of Massachusetts. This office
he held two terms and in 1860 became
president of the Illinois Central rain
road.
When the civil war began Mr. Banks
was commissioned major-general of vol
unteerS and assigned to the command
OF the Fifth corps in the Army Of the
Potomac. Soon after he was made Gen.
Banks and served with distinction until
May, 1854, when he resigned his commits
sion, returned to Massachusetts,, and
was again elected to congress from his
old district. Here he remained, with the
exception of one term, until 1877. Since
his retirement from congress he had been
United States marshal for MasSachu-
setts)