The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-08
Ex-GOV CURTIN DEAD
Pennsylvania's Great War Gov
ernOr is at Rest.
His Death Was Caused by
Old Age.
EIGHTY YEARS OLD.
Ho Nac a Gfr0no~ (tH rs0 q or
He Was a Strong Character
During the Rebellion.

BELLEFoN1E, Pa, Oct. s.-Ex-Gov-
ernor Andrew g. Curtin died at
o'clock yesterday morning His end
was peaceful, he having been uncon-
scious during the last twelve hours
Of his life All the members of his
family were at the bedside when he
passed away Mr. Curtin had been in
feeble health for some weeks, but his
condition grew serious on Thursday
last, and from that time he sank rap
idly Death was caused by old age
The ex-governor was in his sOth year
Andrew Gregg Curtin was born at
Bellefonte, April %, 1918. His father,
Roland Curtin, who came from Ire
land, and who built one of the first
foundries in Pennsylvania married
the daughter of Andrew Gregg, who
had been United States senator,
congressman and secret ary of state.
Young Curtin began his school life in
private institutions in Bellefonte, and
after term of school at Harrisburg,
he ended his acade mic education at
Milton At the age OF % years he
made state reputation as an orator
in the campaign Of s'Iippecanoe and
Tyler too =" He was an ardent Wing
and in 1874 made a canvass Of the
state for Henry Clay.
In 1s4s he was a presidential electOr
and his efforts in behalf of General
Taylor were everywhere recognized
as contributing to his election. In
1852 he was again upon the electoral
ticket and in the forefront of the bat
tie for the Wing party.
From 1854 to 1860. when the Repub-
lican party was springing into life as
a result of the agitation of the slav-
cry question, Mr. Curtin took a lead
ing position in the stirring
events which attended the birth
of the new party, and IN
1860 he was made its candi-
date for governor The election of
Lincoln depended upon two doubtful
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and Indiana
Both of them held their state cleo
tiOns in the October preceding the
November election and it was es-
sential nationally that these states
should declare for the Republican
candidate to secure his election
Simon Cameron, David Wilmot,
Andrew Curtain, Colonel Mcclure and
Thaddeus Stevens were in the
PENNSYLVANIA delegation and CurtiD's
efforts helped largely IN the nomina-
ton of Lincoln. The friendship be-
tween the martyred president and
the war governor Of the Keystone
state was of the warmest character
governor and was reelected for a
second term, serving during the en-
tire war.
The war followed close upon his
first Inaugural as chief executive
OF the state. When the first gun of
the civil war was fred he sprang to
the duty of raising troops for the
general government with an energy
and spirit unequealled by any other
state executive
1t was the aspiration of Governor
Curtin's friends that he should be
made United States senator at the
end of his second term, but enemies in
the first which had been hostile to
him prevented In 1868 he was
prominent candidate for nOmina ton
for vice president with General Grant,
but was defeated Soon after the
latter's election Governor Curtin was
nominated and confirmed as minister
to Russia and spent nearly four years
at st. Peters burg. He re turned home
in 1872 and took part in the leber-
al Republican movement which
nominated Horace Greeley. He was
prominently spoken of for the second
place on that ticket and was the
choice of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton in the Greeley convention for
president. His connection with the
liberal Republican movement and
the fact that his power and
influence in the Republican
party had been broken dur
Ing his absence, carried him into
the Democratic party. He was chosen
BY the Democrats to represent the
Twentieth Pennsylvania district in
the Forty seventh, Forty eighth and
FOrtv-ninth sessions OF congress-
serving from 1881 to 1887. For many
years he was chairman Of the foreign
affairs committee
In recent years he had been living
in retired life in Bellefonte, where he
was conspicuous figure. and where
his home was pointed out as one of
the most interesting features of that
locality.
It has been decided at the earnest
request of Governor Pattison, to bury
ex-Go vernon Curtin with a military
escort 1t will consist of a regiment
OF infantry, a troop of cavalry and a
battery Of artillery and is the escort
accorded by military etiquette to a
communicative chief. The whole Will
be in command of a brigade COM
mander. Ex-Governor Beaver has
charge of the arrangemen hts of the
funeral, which will be held under the
auspices of the Grand Army of the
Republic