The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-01-06
OF GEN. E. A. WALKER
4 NOT LONG BUT VERY USEFUL LIFE
 ENDED.

His Death Very Sudden and Wholly Un- expeoted--A Sketch of His Career-His Years in Now flavor and Connection With Yale and New Haven's Schools.
 The death of General Francis A. Walker, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which occurred suddenly and unexpectedly at his home early yesterday morning, brings deep sorrow to many hearts in this city, where he formerly resided for a num- ber of years, forming many friendships He was a loVable man, genial, ap- proachable, public spirited, lover of men as we'll as a lover of learning While much occupied with his work at the Sheffield Scientific school, and his extreme correspondence and researches, he yet found time to serve New Haven as member of the board of educa- tion, and like President Gilman of Johns Hopkins university who served New Haven in like manner while pro lessor at Yale years ago, he rendered | the city lneSt1mable service.
 His death will be- greatly deplored all over the country and is d distinct loss to the nation, yet perhaps nowhere will his departure be more sincerely mourn ed and lamented than here by personal friends. He died of an apoplectic at tack with which he was seized after re- tiring on Monday night, just before midnight.
 General Walker was in his usual health Monday, and attended to his many duties as usual during the day. He passed the evening with his family and retired at the usual hour. About 1230 a. m. he spoke to Mrs Walker, who was awake by his side, making some casual remark She answered him, and it was but few moments later when she was startled to notice that his breathing was becoming ster- torous She spoke to him, but received no reply He did not speak again,
 As soon as Mrs. Walker discovered that her husband was unconscious she aroused the household, and a messenger was dispatched for Dr. Butler. The doctor responded as soon as possible, but when he reached the house General Walker was beyond the reach of aid, having passed away so suddenly and quietly that the end was hardly per ceptible The cause of death was un- doubtedly apoplexy.
 It is less than two weeks since Gen. eral Walker went to New York to at tend meeting of an economic society, and made speech. He appeared to be in vigorous health so much SO in fact, that members of the society congratu- lated him upon his appearance, saying that he seemed to grow younger every day.
 In addition to a widow General Walk CT leaves five children, three sons and two daughters. The daughters were at home, but one or more of the sons are away at school. One of the sons, Eth erdge. is a junior at Sheffield Scientific school, and had just returned here on Monday.
 General Francis A. Walker was born in Boston on July 2, 1S40. His father, Amasa Walker, well known in polit- cal and educational movements, was
 
 herst and Oberlin colleges, the author of a book on The Science of Wealth." and representative in congress. The son spent his boyhood at North Brook field Mass, where his father went to live in 1S40. Graduating from Amherst in 1860, he immediately began the study of law at Worcester in the office of Devens & Hoar, the first of a surpris- ing number of occupations, in many of which he succeeded When the war broke out, he enlisted as sergeant major under Colonel Devens in the Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment, and was rap idly promoted, being captain on the staff of General Couch, major, lieu tenant colonel, brevet colonel and brigadier general, and serving on the staffs of Generals Sedgwick, Warren, and Hancock while they were in com mand of the Second corps. He was se- verely wounded at Charlottesville In 1863, and shared in the defeat and re- treat of Rockers army He was cap tured at Ream's Station and kept for some time in Libby prison.
 At the close of the war General Walker did not resume the study of the
 
 sics in Williston seminary, at East Hampton In 1868 he tried journalism on the editorial staff of the Springfield Republican, but remained there only short time, being appointed chief of the bureau of statistics at Washington the next year and a year later organ izing and conducting the ninth census. His faculty for systematizing and Or- ganizing a department was soon visible in the work of both bureaus. Some of the best features in the bureau of statistics reports date from General Walkers incumbency; in fact, the bu- reau was so new an institution al the time of his appointment that the task of organizing it scientifically fell in the main upon him.
 In 1871, while retaining the office of superintendent of the census, General Walker became United States commits sioner of Indian affairs. He resigned the latter position in 1873 to be pro- lessor of political economy in the Shef- field Scientific school at New Haven, where he stayed, with occasional leaves of absence, for eight years. One of these leaves was in the centennial year. when he was chief of the bureau of awards at Philadelphia In 1879 he or 1 trapizad the tenth opnGl1e without eyiv