New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
OBITUARY.
EDWARD MCPHERSON.

..r.,ure Penn Dec IA SpeciaD.-Edward Nc
pn.r.on. Gettysburg's greatest son. died early this
warming from the result of a mistake in medicine.
AZ, Mcpherson had been taking a tonic preparation,
srs last evening after dinner he went to the side
,oari and picking up what he supposed to be the
,,,tle containing his prescription. he poured out
,ha usual dose, a teaspoonful. and swallowed It,
n. was talking to two OF his sons a. the time and
., vas not until the fluid taken that he discov-
cred his error Instead of harmless preparation
y. had drunk fatal quantity OF the tncture Of
pux vomica. which was being taken by another
member OF the family.
NJ Mcpherson and his sons fastened to a ply
s,cian by whom an emetic was quickly admins
,e-ed and portion of.the poison was elected from
IN. stomach. The poison. however. was so quickly
absorbed by the system that ii impossible 10
relieve the sufferer. The physical collapse came
IN few minutes. and IL was followed by intense
main in the stomach and chest. Until midnight
however Mr. Mcpherson seemed TO be holding his
oup lie made a hard fight. but the drugs power
began 10 conquer and he sank gradually until $50
a ~. when ne passed away. His death was peace
ful and comparatively painless. ana was attended
Nv none OF the Commissions that are the ordinary
A WIDOW. four sons and daughter survive HIM
two OF ihe sons Jonn ana Donald were with him
sery OF the family being of town. OF the sons
JOIN b. IS member Of the Adams County bar and
r ana wP as T IS Washington correspo anp
eni OF The New-York Tribune; Norman c. is
Ing Company OF Hagerstown. Md. and Donald T.
has Just been Efsdnassd from the Harvard Law
10 the community such as II has rarely experienced
The tine for the funeral has not been absolutely
settled hu, II will probably be at 2 O'Clock on Tues
DAY December II.
Penn on July 81. 1880 At the age OF eighteen he
was graduated from the University OF Pennsyl-
yania Leaving college he devoted himself to the
study Of Law at first but subsequently took up
journalistic work in which he engaged more
or less all his life. In 1855 he was elected TO Con-
ersss as a Republican, serving two terms. At the
close Of his career as a member Of the House OF
Representatives ne appointed Deputy Commits
soHer u Internal Revenue, but remained In that
almost unanimous vote of the House. of which he
had been useful and influential member. to be Its
clerk In THIS ONCE ne remained continuously until
ls-,he longes; term of office ever enjoyed by any
House was controlled by a Republican majority.
with The exception OF this year, when he not a
ate isS from Isl 70 lsss. and again from isss TO
i@ IN the List Congress. Of which Thomas b.
Nr. Mcpherson was one OF the best informed and
most accurate political statisticans in the country.
may fairly be considered authorities In the field
they coyeT AS an expert Pert in parlamentary law
surpassed him. He possessed. moreover the quail
r. 81 pn,ung ms knowledge snd experience to
us political career which illustrate this trait IN MS
character. his famous ruling on the unit rule
nat n lNe and his action in organizing the House
Of Representatives in 1855. when he decided that
C,nederate States could not be restored TO repre-
ssr,atiol except by law
The journalistic activity OF Mr. Mcpherson ex-
tended from the writing in early life OF series Of
articles IN The Philadelphia Bulletin advocating
the sale by the State Of It's main line OF public i'm
iovements to the editorshp OF The Phiadel-
Jha Press from 1877 10 1850. In the intervening
ime he occasional contributor TO other
vel-known journals besides being the editor and
proprietor of paper in Gettysburg. He was best
known. however. as the author of his Handbook
come a standard work in every well-apponted
library. Other works published by him are
Great. REBELLION" and The Political History OF
the United States During Reconstruction" For
many wears ne was the editor OF The Tribune
Almanac and At the time OF his death was Amer
car editor # The Almanach de Gotha.
r. 81 Mr Mcpherson received the degree OF
il. r. from the University of Pennsylvania. and
that - s. N from Princeton.