The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-09
Ex-United States Senator
John Roderick MCPher-
son Passes Away.
SKETCH OF HIS USEFUL CAREER
From Alderman of Jersey City to
Member of the Highest Leg
isIative Body in the Land.


died at Taylor's Hotel last night. AL
though Mr.. Mcpherson has been in poor
health for the past two years his death
was a sudden one. He had no apprehen-
sion of death. He was having his resi-
dence at Washington renovated and pre-
pared for his family. and he expected to
sEend the winter there. He had also
purchased a lot at Lakewood and was
about to erect residence there. Mr.. Nc
Pherson arrived at Taylor's Hotel last
Monday accompanied by his trained
nurse, C. M. Beach. On Tuesday he had
an attack of Indigestion, but it did not
confine him to his room, and on Wednes-
day he transacted some business at the
First National Bank. Thursday he was
not SO well, and yesterday he kept to his
room. About two O'Clock he became
worse and he Immediately sent to New
York for his physicians, Drs. Janeway
and Cyrus Edison. He sank rapidly from
that time, and at I:30 o'clock he died. No
one was with him at the time except Mr..
Beach. Shortly after his death DR.. Edison
arrived at the hotel. He examined the
dead statesman, and said that death was
due to heart failure caused by an acute
attack of indigestion
Mr.. McPherson's body was taken to
McNulty's undertaking establishment
this morning, where DIT was embalmed and
prepared for shipment TO Washington. 1t
left Jersey City at three O'clock this after
noon.
Mr.. Mcpherson was born in Livingston
county, New York. May 8. 1888. He set
tied in Jersey City in 1853, and began his
political career in 1864 as member of the
Hudson County Board of Aldermen, and
f,ead n iu1,
later, when he was elected United States
Senator from New Jersey. After the
consolidation of Hudson City and Jersey
City he became the rival of Leon Albeit,
who was later Governor, for the Demo-
cratic nomination to the State Senate.
So even were they matched in political
strength that the question was referred
to a committee of arbitrators, who, after
a long discussion. awarded the nomina-
tfon to Mcpherson.
After a career of distinction in the
State Senate, during which Mcpherson
won great popularity by championing the
General Railroad law, which was passed
after long and bitter struggle. He
amassed considerable wealth, and in
1877 made plans TO succeed Senator Fre-
linghuysen. A Democratic Legislature
came to help him, and he overcame the
opposition of the powerful State House
Ring infifcting on them their first SER
ious defeat, and earning their undytng
political enmity.
AT the expiration of his first term, in
1883. the ring. .girded on its armor to meet
him again. He defied five Democrats
who threatened to desert him, and en-
listed the sympathy OF Republicans. When
the five saw this they fell into line, and
he was reelected.
When he sought his third term, in 1889,
Mr.. Mcpherson was surprised to ind a
strong rival in Leon Albeit who had
been his faithful ally since their close
race for the State Senatorship in 1871. The
rivalry grew out of a railroad fight. The
Baltimore & Ohio, which had long been
trying TO obtain a water front at Jersey
City, was backed in its efforts by Mr..
Albeit, while Mr.. Mcpherson caampioned
the Pennsylvania road in its opposition.
1t looked on the night of the caucus as
if Albeit would win, but matters swung
around suddenly, and the vote stood
Mcpherson, 25; Albeit, Is. Thus he was
honored as has been no other citizen of
the State. with three terms in the United
States Senate,
Senator Mcpherson was a very striking
III.
a,-'a.s'....s--.s,. -. ..N,,--....
eai couhlf1ss "ouio De calieu hlgnly aris-
tocratic in appearance. He was over six
feet in height broad sbonldered snare
-
eno sine"y. ne nao q magnfncent prow'
which overshadowed pair of large blue
gray eyes deem set in their sockets.
s.t.-a,.- . 60 ::
pieictns at tineS, anu yet olten hlhuiy III
their melancholy. His nose was large and
stropp high arched and vary nrorninant
- 80. Nu
Ills thln, expanding nostriis seemed TO IN
dicate high aspirations and determine
tis,, was 7ur;fta,, IN hi ss+rong iow AL
' "A-..s. 0'1 ii sse'one 'o".
ways Wen ana even fasnionabiy dressed.
he was figure that could not pass with
o,,t notica ss he ctro,la atong Tho s+reats
-SSs ~ - - oioe Inc
OF washington, with long steps towards
the Capitol
R,,t Il was uba, c.na4or nfopbsrson
- - -.
SPOKE tnaI you discovered MS greateSl
charm HIS voice was rich, clear and
musical with Just enough OF the ancestral
purr apoat II 70 pc agreeable. His iis
manner was graceful ana earnest HIS
memory was wonderful Busy man as
Ls WAS, ne aiWays Iouno llme 10 study
n.u , ei.o luiiu u u " iiiAol inati ne aeCunu-
tdisu taiss u a. w9H4sr " nle ilienus. Eyery-
tihns ne Ieau ns feInenDereo. anu ne
Gouae ols lsette etu lrom meaho.y pass M Maller
Pass u me cias5siGs, Wnether oi otate
sT,sa,, niSsoty. ptusophy pveriy, e,;t,,
tb a1 ios "a anw ~; 81, iS iaa.itali.y
ar ' sentsrv rsc1iea al,u ms iniceted