The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1895-06-01
THE SECRETARY OF STATE SINKS
INTO HIS LONG SLEEP.
After an Illness Of Four Weeks,
and After All Danger Was
Thought to Have Been Past.
He Suffers a Relapse and
Soon Passes Away.
DISTINGUISHED IN THREE FIELDS.
1dr. Gresham Became Distinguishe
~ q Soldier, . Judge and
Statesman.

Washington, May 20. - Walter @.
Gresham, secretary of state, died at
1:5O this morning. He was conscious
until an hour and a half before his
death, and talked to his wife and
daughter.
When Mr.. Gresham was taken sick
four weeks ago the physician dag
nosed the case as gall stone in the
bladder. 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 while 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
hlled with pleuratic fluid, his respira-
tion rose to 43. Tile physicians de-
cided not to tap the cavity, but to rely
upon absorption to rid it of the exuded
fluid. Gradually Secretary Gresha N
grew better. The respiration was re-
duced almost to normal. When DIR.
Johnston thought all danger past, the
left lung suddenly became affected,
and the secretary failed rapidly.
Walter Quintin Gresham was a SOL
dier, a judge and statesman, emf
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. sa-.ss2,. Y; sSf'.sssss
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, 1882. In 1893 Gresham's father
vas 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 but
two years of age when his father was
killed. Walter grew up " ith but two
or three winters schooling until he
was sixteen 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 Bloomington university
completed his education 80 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 at once
allied himself. In the law Gresham
had gained a good reputation as q
careful, painstaking lawyer
Wieh the first shrek Of wars alarm
Gov. Morton appointed him lieutenant
colonel Of the Thirty eighth Indiana,
but before he saw active service he
was appointed colonel Of .the Fifty
third In December, 1851. Gresham's
regiment was ordered to Join Grant
after Donaldson, Aug X 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 be was placed in command Of
the division of the Seventeenth corps
Of the Tennessee. which took part in
the campaign against Atlanta. At
Leggette Hill. before Atlanta, he was
struck by sharpshOoters bullet just
below the knee. To the day of his
death Gresham never recovered the
full use Of his limb.
The war over, Gen. Gresham re-
turned to his profession, forming a
law partnership at New Albany. Ind.
In 1S86 he was nominated for congress
against M. c. Kerr. but the district
was heavily Democratic and he was
defeated. When Gen. Grant became
president he appointed him United
States district judge for Indiana.
When postmaster general Howe died
In April. 1888, Gresham, then holding
court at Evansville. was rendered the
cabinet position by telegraph, and ac-
cepted. Near the close Of Arthur's
term, on the death of Secretary
Folger, he was appointed secretary Of
the treasury. position he held until
October. 1884. President Arthur, who
had taxed him from the bench, had
the satisfaction Of restoring him to
the bench Mt the close Of his service,
by appointing him to succeed Judge
Drummond.
In 1888 Judge Gresham was made a
prominent candidate for the Republic
an domination for the presidency at
the Chicago convention. His liberal
! views on the tariff created against
him the antagonism Of the. extreme
protectionfsts at Chicago. He, with
other Republicans. openly dissented
from thg Mc0inley law. and in 1892.
after the non3ination of Mr.. Cleveland
by the DeV6crats, he renounced his
allegiance 10 the Republican party
and ADVOCATED Mr.. Cleveland's cleo
ton. AitEr Mr: Cleveland wa elected