The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-28
Mr.. GRESHAM IS DEAD
Near Midnight the Premier Peace
fully Breathed His Last.
RECORD OF A BUSY LIFE
He Was a Lawyer, Soldier and
Statesman-The Services Which
He Rendered In the Office
of Secretary Briefly
Summed Up.

Gresham died at lis o'clock this morn
ing at the Arlington hotel. Although
his recovery was practically abandoned
when his attack occurred shortly be-
| 1ore o'clock last evening, the most
| powerful heart stimulants known TO
medical science were injected periodi-
cally, and an infusion of normal saline
| solution was made through an open
| vein In the arm. He recovered slight
| ly, but, owing to severe rigors shortly
before IL o'clock, he began to fail rap
idly and his vitality began to ebb. The
three physicians saw that the end was
| near, and at IL o'clock they withdrew
to the ante room. leaving in the sick
| room only the members of his family
| and the nurses
UP to that time the secretary had
been conscious and talked at intervals
His words were full of bravery. He
fully appreciated his condition, and
spoke words of hope and cheer to his
stricken wife and daughter At times
his mind wandered slightly, and he
went back to the days of long ago.
recalling incidents of the springtime Of
his life. He spoke, too, of his absent
son, who was speeding to his bedside,
all too late. Mrs. Gresham sat by the
bedside smoothing his fevered brow
and occasionally reading to him from
the Bible passages which he loved. AS
the end approached. his pulse became
hardly perceptible. Gradually his eyes
glazed and closed.
Mrs. Gresham, with noble and heroic
fortitude, continued TO read the words
of the gospel to her departed husband.
Her daughter and son-in-Iaw stood
couch. At lis o'clock his breathing
ceased; peaceful shadow passed over
his pale countenance, his pulse flicker
ed. and the sorrowing family were in
the presence of death. One of the nur-
ses conveyed to the physicians the
news that the end had come. and they,
in turn, broke the word to the watch
ers in the reception room. In the hotel
lobby, outside. were a half-hundred of
the secretary's friends. No arrange
ments will be made for the funeral un-
til the arrival of his son. to-day.
Walter Quintin Gresham was a SOL
der, a judge and a statesman, prom
inent and distinguished in those three
great fields of human endeavor. He
rose to the rank Of major general of
volunteers during the rebellion. He
was for IA years United States circuit
judge for Illinois, and held three cab
met portfolios-postmaster general and
secretary of the treasury under Ar
thur, and secretary of state under
Cleveland. Mr.. Gresham came of En-
glish stock. His ancestors move to
Virginia, and later to Harrison county,
Indiana, where he was born on ST.
Patrick's day, 1882. In 1888 Mr.. Gresh-
ans father was elected sheriff, and the
next year was murdered by a noted
desperate whom he had gone to arrest
His mother was left a widow with five
small children. Walter Q. was then
but years of age. He grew up with
but two or three winters schooling un-
til he was 16 years of age. BY dint of
hard work and the assistance Of his
brother, he succeeded in entering the
seminary at Corydon
Two years there and one at Bloom
ington university completed his educa-
ton, as far as schooling was concerned.
He took up the law practice. In 1855
the republican party was formed, and
with IL the first Shrek of war was
sounded. Governor Morton appointed
him, in 1861, lieutenant of the 3Sth In
diana, but before he saw active sery-
ice he was appointed colonel of the SD
Indiana, in 1861. Mr.. Gresham's regi-
ment was ordered to join General
Grant at Fort Donaldson.
Aug. II, 1863, he was appointed brig |
adler general and placed in command |
of the Natchez division. In the follow |
ing spring he was placed in command |
of the division of the 18th corps of |
the Tennessee. which took part in the |
against Atlanta. At Leg |
getts' Hill before the attack he was |
struck by a shapshooter's bullet Just |
below the knee. To the day of his
death he never recovered the full use
Of the limb. The war over, General |
Gresham returned to his profession at
New Albany, Ind. In 1866 he was nom-
mated for congress against NJ. c.
Kerr. but the district was democratic
and he was defeated. When General
Grant became president he appointed
Mr.. Gresham United States district
Judge for Indiana. When Postmaster
General Howe died, in April, 1883, Mr..
was rendered the cabinet DO
sition and accepted. Near the close of
Arthur's term, on the death of Secre-
-ary Folger he was appointed secre-
ary of the treasury, position he held
until October. 1854. President Arthur.
who had taken him from the bench,
had the satisfaction of restoring him
10 the bench at the close Of his serv-
ce by appointing him to succeed Judge
In lsSS Judge Gresham was made a
prominent candidate for the republican
for the president at the
Chicago convention. His liberal views
IN the tariff created against him the
intagoniSm Of the extreme protection
SITS. Judge Gresham openly dissented
rom the Mckinley law. and. in 1892.
after the nomination Of Mr.. Cleveland.
he renounced his allegiance to the re-
publican party and advocated Mr.. |