The Dickinson press., 1895-06-01

Washington, May %. - Walter Q.
Gresham. secretary of state, died ut
1:50 this morning. He was conscious
until an hour and half before his
death, and talked to his wife and |
When Mr.. Gresham was taken sick
four weeks ago the physician dag
nosed the case as gall stone in the |
His pleurisy symptoms were
overlooked for almost thirty-six hours.
AS soon as DR.. w. w. Johnston, who
is now the attending physician, was
called, he discovered that the secre-
tary was suffering from an acute case
of pleurisy. probably caused by ex-
posure Willie riding out to Woodley,
the presidents country place. at night.
In the meantime the gall stone had
passed. The secretary's right lung was
affected. the cavity being already
filled with pleuratic fluid, his respira-
tion rose to 43. The physicians de-
cided not to tap the cavity, but to rely
upon absorption to rid it of the exuded
fluid. Gradually Secretary Gresham
grew better. The respiration was re-
duced almost to normal. When Dr.
Johnston thought all danger past, the
left lung suddenly became affected,
and the secretary failed rapidly.
Walter Quintin Gresham was SOL
dier, a judge and Il statesman, emil
nent and distinguished in these three
great fields of human endeavor. He
rose to the rank of major general of
volunteers during the rebellion. He
was for fourteen years United States
circuit Judge for Illinois, and held
three cabinet portfolios, postmaster
general and secretary Of the treasury
under Arthur and secretary of state
under Cleveland.
Gresham came from English stock.
His ancestors moved to Virginia and
later to Harrison county, Indiana,
where he was born on st. Patrick's
day, 1892 In 1898 Gresham's father
was elected sheriff, and the next year
was murdered by noted desperate
whom he had gone to arrest. His
mother was left a widow with five
small children. Walter Q. was but
two years of age when his father was
killed. Walter grew mp With but two
| UT Three WllllcIS SCAOOAluS uhli AC
was sixteen years of age. By dint of
brother he succeeded in entering the
seminary at Corydon. Two years there
and one at Bloomington university
completed his education so far as
schooling was concerned. He began
the study of law under Judge w. A.
Porter, one of the noted characters of
Southern Indiana, while acting as
deputy clerk, and in 1854 entered into
partnership with Thomas G. Slaughter,
an eminent lawyer of that time. and
afterwards Judge of the circuit court.
In 1855 the Republican PARTY was
formed. and with it Gresham ut once
allied himself. In the law Gresham
had gained a good reputation as .
careful, painstaking lawyer. ss
| Wieh the first shrek Of wars alat1
Gov. Morton appointed him lieutena1t
colonel of the T!:i~ty-G.e,h+h Trd'anl
but before he saw active service ~
was appointed colonel of the Fifty-
third in December, 1861. Gresham'a
regiment was ordered to join Grant
after Donaldson, Aug II, 1863. and he
was appointed brigadier general on
the recommendation of Grant and
Sherman and placed In command of
the Natchez division. In the following
spring he was placed in command Of
the division of the Seventeenth, corps
of the Tennessee, which took part in
J the campaign against Atlanta. AT
Lesgette Hill. before Atlanta. hc was
struck by sharpshooter's hn'li"t lust
below the knee. To the day IF his
death Gresham never recovered the
full use of his limb.
The war over, Gen. Gresham re-
! turned to his profession, forming q
, law partnership at New Albany. Ind
| In 1866 he was nominated for congress
against M. G. Kerr. but the district
was heavily Democratic and he was
, president he appointed him United
States district Judge for Indiana
, When postmaster general Howe died
. in April, 1883, Gresham, then holding
court at Evansville was rendered the
= cabinet position by telegraph, and ac
cepted. Near the close of Arthur
, term, on the death of Secretary
,, Folger, he was appointed secretary o
:, the treasury. position he held unit
October. 1884. President Arthur. VIII.
!. had taken him from the bench. hat
the satisfaction of restoring him tt
the bench at the close Of his service
Dy appointing him to succeed Judge
DrummOnd.
In 1888 Judge Gresham was made {
prominent candidate for the Republic
an nomination for the presidency a
! the Chicago convention. His libera
views OH the tariff created agains
D him the antagonism of the eXtrem'
!, protectionists at Chicago. He. witt
other Republicans. openly dissentet
from the Mckinley law. and in 1892
after the nomination of Mr.. Clevelan'
: by the Democrats, he renOunced hi
allegiance to the Republican part.
u snd advocated Mr.. Cleveland's elec
G ton. After Mr.. Cleveland was elected
in February, 1898. he summoned
= Judge Gresham to Lakewood. N. j
where, after a consultation, he ten
y dered him the position Of premier o
II the cabinet lie was forming. Judg
u Gresham assumed the duties Of sec
retary Of state on March Z, 1893. Dul
y ing his short term as postmaster ger
eral Gresham accomplished muct
Letter postage to Canada was reduced
, and the postal convention with Mexic
2 was signed. Another important Sci
II vice he rendered to the country wa
le the re-establishment of the fast mall
e Az secretary of state in the preseT
81 administration Mr. Gresham has com
to deal with, perhaps. more vexatiou
intricate and delicate diplomatic a
fairs than has fallen to the share
'. most secretaries of state. His trea
q ment of these were marked by stron
y individuality which was part OF ii
= man.
Il.