Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-09
DEATH Of COLONEL POLAND.
End Came Suddenly, Though u Wns
Not InrNpcctCn.

~
Colonel Luther Poland. aged 20 years. died
ut s o'clock yesterday morning at the resi-
dence OF his son-in.law. Senator rhurston,
where the funeral services will be held to-
morrow afternoon at 3 O'Clock.
Some six weeks since Colonel Roland con-
tractcd a severe cold. which resulted in all
attack of the grip, followed by lung din
culties, and later by congestion Of the brain.
Almost Immediately after his first attack his
condition became so serious that Senator
and Mrs. Thurston were telcgraphcd for at
Washington and returned at once to Omaha.
For the past four or five weeks Mr.. Polund's
case has been considered hopeless by the at
tending physicians. Drs. Grossmann and TIL
den, owing to which fact 1t has been impos-
sible for the numerous friends who have
called from day to day to see him. II will
be 4 consolation to them, as 1t Is to his
family, to know that from almost the first
he has not been conscious Of suffering and
that the end, which came suddenly, was
painless and peaceful.
Colonel Luther Poland was born on the
list day Of April, 1926. at Watorville. Vt,
his father. Deacon Luther Poland, of an
old Massachusetts family, having been
one of the pioneer settlers of Vermont and
known in the history of that state as one of
the foremost leaders in religious and edu-
Catlonal matters.
Colonel Puland's oldest brother. Hon. Luke
=. Poland. was for many years chief justice
of that state: was United States senator and
a member of congress for many years. The
other brother, Hon. Joseph Poland of Mont
pelier, Vt, was the publisher OF the first
free soil paper ia that state.
Colonel Luther Poland learned the prin-
tors trade in his brothers Office at Montpe-
Her, VT, and there married Miss Clara NJ.
Bennett of the same place. who now survives
him. Their only child, Martha L., the wife
of Senator Thurston, was born at Norris
Vile, Vt, In 1854 Colonel Poland moved to
Madison. Wis, whore for a time he edited
and published the Capitol Gazette, a prom
incnt republican paper. He was compelled,
however. to abandon the printing business
en- account Of the asthma, from which he
has been a lifelong sufferer; and in the
hope of relief from 1t he settled in the for
est region of western Wisconsin, eventually
locating in Viroqua. the residence of Hon.
j. NJ. Rusk, late secretary OF agriculture,
who was his lifetime friend.
During the war Colonel Poland acted as
provost marshal and greatly aided in raising
troops from his section of the state. At the
outbreak of hostilities he offered his services
to his ountry but could not be accepted for
active service on account of his asthma.
In the spring Of 1869 Colonel Poland again
moved west, seeking climatic change from
his lifelong enemy, the asthma. He was
one of TIL nrst appointees to the railway mail
service on the Union Pacific road. This posi-
ton was offered him at the instance of his
friend. General Rusk. and accepted with the
expectation that the travel and change in
cident to the railway service would be bene-
fetal. Some years later he was transferred
to Utah at his request for the same reason;
and in later years at intervals he found it
necessary to seek relief in the western and
mountainous regions.