The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-27

says the San Francisco Call of June 19.
General Dimond had been failing in
health for years, and some months ago
his constitution began to weaken per-
ceptibly. So, on the advice of his ply
sicians, he surrendered active business
employment at his office. He had two
or three sinking spells of late, and the
members of his family were panied by
premature newspaper articles to the eff
feet that he was dying.
William Henry Dimond was born in
Honolulu, November IL, 1888, and was
therefore in his 58th year. His father,
a man of New England birth, went to
Hawaii as a missionary. General Di-
mond's ancestors, dating back to his
great. great grandfather, were New
England people who participated in the
French and Indian wars and valiantly
fought in the Revolutionary war Tor
American independence. His great
grandfather, Jesse Dimond, served in
the war of 1812-15, fighting against the
British.
When the great civil war of 1861 came
In the United States William Henry d.
mond was living in Hawaii. He es-
poused the cause of the Union and ten
dered his services to President Lincoln,
offering to bring 100 men with him.
At that particular time England was
seeking a pretext to quarrel with the
United States, so Secretary Seward ad-
vised against the acceptance or Volun-
-teers recruited on foreign shore, and
PC Ein6lV Declined
President Lincoln.
AS the war progressed young Dimond
resolved to enter the contest himself,
so he travelled 900 miles from Honolu-
In to Washington and asked to be as
signed TO duty He was commissioned
captain and ordered for duty on the
staff of Major General Rufus Saxton,
then commanding the Federal forces
with headquarters at Beaufort, ). Z.
After the surrender of Lee and john
ston Captain Dimond resigned, decl1n--
ing to accept commission in the regu-
lar army.
After the war he made tour of Eu-
rome and then resumed his business ca
reer in Honolulu In 1867 he came to
San Francisco, establishing business
connections with the firm of Williams,
blanchard &, Co In 1880, on the retire
nent of Mr.. Blanchard, the firm be-
came Williams, Dimond Co.
In 1880 he was appointed lieutenant
colonel on the staff of Governor George
n perkins. and on December IA, 1881.
he was commissioned brigadier general,
Second Brigade, \. G. C., succeeding
General John McComb. who had been
amounted warden of the Folsom prison.
Ne was leappointed brigadier general
nv Governor Bartlett and appointed
major general of the division by GOV
ernor Waterman on September %. 1887. !
He was reappointed major general by |
Governor Markham and held that rank |
at the time of his death, as his reslg-
nation. rendered short time ago. Was
not accepted by Governor Budd
General Dimond was an active COM
nanion of the Loyal Legion, and was
elected commander of the California
Commandery of the order in 1882. he
was comrade of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, belonging to George n
Thomas. post He was chairman OF the
finance committee of the national en-
camnment held in San Francisco, and
rendered excellent service. He also
served one campaign as chairman OF
the Republican State Central Commit
tee He served three years as Park
Commissioner, resigning that position
when he was appointed by President