The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-28

dying man, had been admitted, for it
was plain that he clearly realized his
condition and desired to spend his
last moments with his loved
ones. He had been conscious,
and even conversed calmly with
those about him, but as the
midnight hour drew near, the waning
forces of life were no longer equal to
the effort, and he sank into silence.
Although almost pulseless and without
sign of life, otherwise his eyes still
showed the CLEAN of intelligence and
appreciation of what was going on
about him, and the watchers waited in
silent agony of spirit for the dread
small hours of the night, when the
tide goes out, and the life of stricken
mortals with it. No death could be
more quiet, more calm nor more peace
full. He lay for two hours with his
head resting on the arms of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Andrews, while his devoted
wife sat by his side, her hand clasped
in his, his face so turned that his last
Conscious gaze should rest upon her.
And so the minu ties dragged slowly on
till the end came.
SHORT SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Walter Quinton Gresham was a SOL
der, Judge and statesman. eminent
and distin guished in those three great
fields of human endeavOr He rose to
the rank of maj or-general of volun-
teers during the rebellion. He was for
fourteen years United States circuit
Judge for Illinois, and held three cab
met portfolios, postmaster-general and
secretary of the treasury under Arthur
and secretary of state under Cleveland.
Judge Gresham came of English
stock. His ancestors moved to Vir-
GINA and later to Harrison county,
Ind, where he was born March II,
1892, on a farm near GAINESVILLE, Harri-
son county, Ind. When , years of age,
his father, then sheriff of the county,
was killed while attempting an arrest.
The widow, with her family of six
children, struggled along. Young
Walter did his share of the work, in the
summer working on the farm, while
in winter he attended the district
school He spent year at the state
university at Bloomington. In his
leisure hours he afterward studied law;
under the guidance of Judge William
A. Porter, one of the noted characters
of the section, a martinez who drilled
his pupil thoroughly. After three
years of such work Judge Gresham was
admitted to practice, and entered into
partnership with Thomas E. Slaughter,
afterward circuit court judge. The
first republican campaign found him in
law Office. He joined the party,
took up the anti-slavery cause, and
was one of the five men in the county
who took the stump.
In 1860 he was elected to the legisla-
ture from Harrison county, was chair
man of the military committee, and
most active in aiding the legion law,
which enabled Gov. Morton to rush
troops to the front. Gresham organized
a company of home guards and led them
! into service, being first captain and
| then Northumberland He became
colonel of the Fiftythird Indiana
| in December, 1861, and Joined
Gen. Grant at Savannah. He was
made brigadier-general for good work
before Vicksburg. When before At
lanta, July 20, 1864, Gen. Gresham was
disabled, a mimic ball breaking his
leg below the knee as he was leading q
charge. This was the last of his serv.
ice. The next year he resumed the
practice of law at New Albany, with
! Gen. John NJ. Butler. He was the re
publican candidate for congress in 1866
and 1868, and, though beaten, it is
known that the first time he got more
votes than his opponent, King.
When Gen. Grant was elected presi
dent, Gresham was offered the col
| lectorship at New Orleans and the dis
trict attorneyship, but declined Hc
recommended Judge Slaughter for tn,
United States district judgeship, bur
Grant sent Gresham's name to the sen
ate, without asking the judge, and he