The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-05-29

major general of volunteers during the
Rebellion. He was for Ia years United
States circuit Judge for Illinois ard held
three cabinet portfolios, postmaster gen.
eral and secretary of the treasury under
Arthur and secretary of state under Cleve-
land.
Gresham came from English stock. His
ancestors moved to Virginia and later to
Harrison county, Ind, where he was born
OH St. Patr.ck's day, 1882. In 1S43
Gresham's father was elected sheriff and
the next year was killed by a noted des-
perado 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. He grew
up with t"o or three winters schooling
until he was 10 years of age. BY dint of
hard work G-d the assistance of his
brother ne si.,, eeded in-entering the semi.
nary at Corydon Two years there and
one at Bloomington university completed
hi 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,
whii. actin. rs deputy clerk. and in 1854
entered into partnership with Thomas c.
Slaughter. an eminent lawyer of that time
In 1855 the Republican party was formed,
and with it Gresham at once allied him
self. In the law Gresham had gained a
gocsl reputation as a careful, painstaking
law,,..
Hia Record as a Soldier.
| With the first shrek of wars alarm
I Governor Morton appointed him lieuten-
| ant colonel of the Thirty eighth Indiana,
| but before he saw active service he was
| appointed colonel of the Fifty-third in De-
cember, 1861. Aug. II. 1853, he was ap-
| pointed brigadier general on the recon-
mendation Of Grant and Sherman and
placed in command of the Natchez divis-
ion In the following spring he was
placed in command of the division of the
| Seventeenth corps of the Tennessee which
took part in the campaign against A.
lanta At Leggette Hill, before Atlanta.
| he was struck by sharpshooter's bullet
just below the knee. To the day of his
death Gresham never recovered the full
| use of the limb.
The war over, General Gresham re-
| turned to his profession, forming a law
partnership at New Albany, Ind. In 1856
| he was nominated for congress against Nj.
c. Kerr, but the district was heavily Dem
ocratic and he was defeated. When Gen
| eral Grant became president he appointed
him district judge for Indiana. When
| Postmaster General Howe died in April,
18S3 Gresham, then holding court at Ev-
ansviile, was rendered the cabinet posi-
tion by telegraph and accepted. Near the
| close of Arthurs term, on the death OF
Secretary Folger, he was appointed secre-
tary of the treasury, q position he held
until October, 1854. President Arthur,
who had taken him from the bench, had
the sati: faction of restoring him to the
bench at the close of his service, by ap
pointing him to succeed Judge Drum.
mond.
Was . Candidate for President.
In 1888 Judge Gresham was made a
prominent candidate for the Republican
nomination for the presidency at the Chi
cago convention, but his liberal views on
the tariff created against him the antago-
nism of the extreme protectionists. In
1892, after the nomination of Mr.. Cleve-
land by the Democrats, he, with other dis
tinguished Republicans, openly dissented
from the Mckinley law, renounced their
allegiance to the Republican party and
advocated Mr.. Cleveland's election. Afte,
Mr. Cleveland was elected in February
1893, he summoned Judge Gresham te
, Lakewood, N. j.. where after a consulta
tion, he rendered him the position of pre-
mier of the cabinet he was forming
Judge Gresham assumed the duties OF
secretary of state on March I, 1893, and
during his term of office has come to deal
with perhaps more veXatiOus, intricate
and delicate diplomatic affairs than has
fallen to the share of most secretaries o1
, state. His treatment of these were
marked by the strong individuality which
, was part of the man.
, Personal Characteristics.
FL In appearance Gresham was somewhat
, slender in youth remarkably so-six feet
tall, his black hair and beard turned to al
iron grey. His eyes were hazel, full ant
large, with the power ito threaten anC
command" but soft and amiable in famil
lar conversation. His voice was pleasing
and consorted well with his habitual de
meanor, which was quiet and modest.
As man he was generous and frank
He was social and approachable. 1t wa
in his home life that he was most to b,
3 admired In 1858 he married Miss Matild,
}. McGrain, the daughter Of Thomas Nc
: Grain, man of Scotch-Irish descent.
!. son and daughter were born to them, VIII,
p live in Chicago. He was devoted to wifi
= and children. This side of his life tn
public knew nothing of, but it furnishe
the best key to his nature and character
In the glare of the public footlights tlnse
;. and glitter pass for gold. 1t was in tn
o soft glow of the fireside that his heart wa