People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-09-07
THE SOLDIER-STATESMAN Is
NO MORE.
BRAIN TROUBLE CAUSE OF DEATH.
He Was Ex-Speaker Of the House OF Rep
esentatives, Ex-Governor OF Massa-
ehusetts, and a Major General in
the Union Army During the
War of the Rebellion
His Notable Career.


Nathaniel P. Banks, statesman and
soldier, died at his home in this city
shortly before o'clock this morning
from brain trouble after a long ill
ness. For nearly two years he had
been suffering, but he was not taken
seriously i'll until about two weeks
ago.
At 6 o'clock last evening it was evil
dent that the end was fast approach
ing. Mrs. Banks, with his daughter,
Maud, and his niece, Miss Sybil, were
at his bedside constantly until his
death. At midnight he became I'M
conscious and slowly lost strength
until the hour of his death. The end
came very quietly and those gathered
about the bed were hardly aware
when he passed away.
The funeral will take place Tues
day afternoon under the direction of
Mayor Warden and Colonel Ephriam
Stevens. Monday afternoon the body
will be escorted to Asbury temple by
detail of the G. A. r., where it will
lie in state until evening.
FROM FACTORY BOY TO SNEAKER.
General Banks was born in this
place and, after receiving common
school training, worked in cotton fac
tory, of which his father was superin.
tendent, and thus learned the trade
of machinist. Ambition drove him
to diligent study, and, while still a
youth, he took to the lecture
platform, speaking frequently be-
fore small assemblies near his
native town. He eventually became
editor of small paper at Waltham
and then began the study of law
and was admitted to the bar. In
1S49 he was sent to the state legisla-
ture and the third and fourth year of
service as representative from Wal
than saw him speaker of the Mas
sachusetts assembly. He was chair
man of the Massachusetts, constitu-
tional convention of 1853 and on the
success of this political combination
was sent to congress as a coalition
Democrat. He withdrew, however,
soon after from the Democratic
party and allied himself with the
Know Nothing party, and as a Know
Nothing candidate was reelected
In the first session he had shown re-
markable ability and on his return
for a second term he was named for
speaker, and after a contest of two
months and on the 133d ballot he was
placed in the presiding officers chair.
When the American or Know Nothing
party went out of existence he joined
the Republican ranks and was again
sent to congress by still larger ma.
jority than his large ones of previous
elections
General Banks served until 1857,
when he was elected governor Of
Massachusetts,, resigning his seat il
congress- to assume charge of BAY
State" affairs. The two succeeding
years also found him Massachusetts
chief executive, and 1860 marked his
election as president of the Illinois
Central railroad.
The civil war called the general t
service and he went to the front a
major general of volunteers and wa
assigned to the command of the Fiftl
corps of the army of the Potomac
His first service was in the Shenan
doah valley. He was in active com
mand of large forces during the entir,
period of the war and gained the nam,
of being a daring and intrepid of
ficer and good general He wa:
in charge of the Red river expedition
which was a complete failure, an,
for this he was censured, but the cen
sure was unjust, for he had vigor
ously opposed the expedition. During
his command of the department of tn
Gulf he attempted to reorganize tn
government of Louisiana, but did no
do it in a manner satisfactory to tn,
inhabitants. He was relieved
of his command in May, 1864
resigned his commission, and, return
ing to Massachusetts, was re.electe,
to congress from his old district. IL,
was elected to the successive con
crosses until 1877, failing only in 1872
when he was active in behalf of Hor
ace Greeley. In 1890 he was servin:
his tenth term and was the. oldes
member in point of service then il
the house. After his retirement fror
congress he was made United State
marshal for Massachusetts,
Miss Maud Banks the play wrigh
and actress, is his dauyhter. Sh
went upon the stage in 1885.