The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-02-09
HIS WORK Done.
Ex-senator Morton s. Wilkinson
Receives the Final Summons
Sunday forming.
An Illustrious Career Finds its End
in the Little Village of Wells.
He Was President LincOln'S Friend
and His Life History Remark
able i'm Tlany Respects.
The Funeral to Occur i'm this City,
His Former Home, Tomorrow.


His Former Home, Tomorrow.
Ex-United States Senator Morton S.
Wilkinson. died at home of his daugh-
ter. Mrs. John S. Brewster. at Wells,
Sunday morning. His death was
caused by neuralgia OF the heart. A
year and half or two years ago Mr..
Wilkinson first discovered that his
heart was beginning to fail to perform
it's proper functions, AMI last Thanks
giving he stated in the presence of
Geo. II. Brewster, whose brother mar
ried Mr.. WilkinSon's daughter, that
this old heart of mine has been
pumping away for seventy four years
and is nearly done"
Two or three weeks ago Mr.. Wilkin-
son was attending the District court
at Blue Earth City, presided over by
Judge Severance. a dispatch at that
time stated that when court took a
recess Mr.. Wilkinson passed down
the stairway from the court room to
the lower hall and took chair in the
hallway. Nothing was thought of
this by those who passed out, as it
was supposed he was waiting for
somebody. When Judge Severance
came down he spoke to Mr.. Wilkin-
son but received no answer. He called
Attorney Quinn, who secured medical
assistance and Mr.. Wilkinson was ia
ken to his hotel, where he soon re
covered. He returned to Wells, and a
week ago Thursday was Frustrated by
another attack, which the physicians
called neuralgia of the heart. For
two days he suffered intense pain, but
when this was relieved he continued
to gradually sink during the past
week. It was for several days realized
that the end could not be far away, and
the announcements Of his death, while
it was received with sorrow by all ,crea-
ated no surprise. The first announce
ment that the end had come was re-
ceived ia this city at 1920 o'clock yes
terday forenoon when Mr.. Brewster
received telegram containing the
bare announcement, but no particu-
lars.
A dispatch to the St. Paul Globe
from Wells says that Mr.. Wilkinson's
death occurred at three O'Clock yester-
day morning, 1t says that some
weeks ago he rode by team from Wells
to Blue Earth City to attend court.
The distance is twenty-five miles and
the day was very cold, and since that
time the deceased has never been
in his usual health. His mind was
wandering for several days before his
death and during considerable of the
time he was only partially conscious,
finally lasping into state of entire
Inconsistencies and passing away.
Morton Smith Wilkinson was born
in Skaneateles, N. Y, Jan. %, 1919,
and he was, therefore, seventy five
years Of age on the 22d of last month.
He received an academic education,
working at intervals upon his fathers
farm while so engaged. In 1887 he
came West, locating in Illinois, where
he engaged in railroad work for a
couple of years, after which be return
ed to his native town and studied law
After being admitted to the bar he
moved to Michigan, but did not long
remain, and settled in Saltwater in
lS4S, since which time he has been a
continuous resident of this state, save
as his public duties called him to
Washington.
When the territory was organized,
In 1849 he was chosen to the legiSla-
ture, and the laws adopted by the ter
ritory as its code were of his framing.
In 1859 he was elected to the United
States senate by the Republicans, and
during the succeeding six years won
an enviable reputation. At the out
break of the war he took leading
part as one of the advsers'in the ma
nional councils, and was one of Lin
coins intimateS, upon whom he greatly
relied for advice, and was frequently
summoned TO the WhiteHouse for COD
sultatinn. He was fine speaker,
and be made many notab BILE efforts in
the senate during the stormy period.
He was chairman CT the senate COM
mittee on revolutionary claims, and
a. member of the committee on In
dian affairs, took prominent part in
the Indian question, which attracted
great attention owing to the Sioux
massacre ia Minnesota in August,
1862.