Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-05-31
w. @. GRESHAM is DEAD
LIFE PASSES AWAY IN WASH
INGTON ON THE 2STH.
He Had Been Suffering With Pleurisy,
But Was Getting Better Until
Short Time Before Death.


Short Time Before Death.
WASHINGTON, May 2s.--Wulter @.
Gresham, secretary Of state, is dead.
He died at 1:15 this morning.
When he was taken sick four weeks
ago the physician diagnosed his case as
"allstone in the bladder. HIS pleurisy
symptoms were overlooked for almost
thirty-six hours. The attending ply
stefan later discovered that the secre-
tary was suffering from an acute case
OF pleurisy, probably caused by expos
ure while riding out to Woodley, the
presidents country place, at night. In
the meantime the gladstone had passed.
The secretary's right lung was affect
ed, the cavity being already filed with
pleuritic fluid. His respiration rose to
43. The physicians decided not to tap
the cavity, but to rely on absorption
to get rid of the exuded fluid. Gradu-
ally Secretary Gresham grew better.
The respiration was reduced to almost
normal.
On the a5th, when Dir. Johnson
thought all danger passed, the left
lung suddenly became affected and
filled rapidly. Since then either DR..
johnson or the consulting physicion
has been at his bedside constantly, as
have Mrs. Gresham and the secretarys
son-in-law, Mr.. Andrews. He passed
a very bad night Saturday and a bad
day Sunday, suffering SO much pain
that Sunday night he was placed under
the influence of opiates. He was kept
more or less under their influence yes.
terday. His long illness weakened the
secretary greatly, and it is said his
physicians decided that in his exhaust
ed condition he could not undergo an
operation for the removal of the
fluid. The fact that the secre-
tary had stomach trouble for
years and was obliged to diet mill
tated against any rapid recovery of
strength. Secretary Gresham had an
attack of pleurisy years ago. He also
suffered much from his wounds, be-
ing at one time bed-ridden for years.
Notwithstanding these facts DR.. John
son says he had a great deal of vitality.
Walter Quinton Gresham was born
near GAINESVILLE, Harrison county, Ind.
March II, 1888. His grandparents
emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky,
from which state they removed to
Indiana, while his parents were
children. Walter Gresham's early
education was obtained in the country
schools of the neighborhood and one
arin the state university at Bloom
ington, Ind, but he did not graduate.
From the university he went to Cor
ydon, Ind, where he studied law
while acting as deputy clerk, and in
1854 was admitted to the bar. In 1850
he was elected to the legislature, and
at the end of the session entered the
federal service as licntenant-colonel OF
the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. In
1861 he was appointed colonel Of the
Fifty-third Indiana regiment and
served under Grant until after the
siege of Vicksburg when he was made
brigadier-general of the volunteers.
General Gresham was transferred
to Sherman command at the Begin
ming of the expedition against Allan
ia and took command of the Fourth
division of the Seventeenth army
corps In the severe fighting before
Atlanta he was wounded and disabled
at Leggett's Hill, July 20, 1864, when
he was obliged to retire from active
service, and on March 10, 1865, was
breveted major-g general of volunteers
for gallantry. He then went to New
Albany, Ind, where he practiced law,
and in 1866 he was candidate for
congress on the republican ticket, but
was defeated. In 1860 President Grant
appointed him judge of the United
States district court for Indiana. In
1882 he resigned mis- judgeship to
accept the postmaster generalship
under President Arthur. In 1884 he
was transferred to the position of
secretary of state. In December of the
same year he was appointed United
States circuit judge for the Seventh
judicial district. In 1SS4-1SSS he was
mentioned as a presidential candidate.
In 1898 President Cleveland appointed
him secretary of state.