New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
iR STRANAHAN'S CAREER.
"REMINISCENCES OF A BUSY AND USE
FUI LIFE.

HIS PUBLIC SERVICES AND HIS PRIVATE life
THE roNo AND HONORABLE CAREER
OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
ore Intimately associated with J. S. T. Stran-
.,ar who died little more than week ago
O, saratoga talked TO Tribune reporter vi
ruroher NJ incidents IN Mr. Stranahans He hot
touched upon by the more general OBITUARY
sketches. He said among other things;
From the many accounts OF Mt. Strandhah
lie much might he CLEANED OF interest TO ms
friends for he mingled freely with the i'ie %
his time and knew intimately many prominent
peopie His first Journey TO New-1oik iioi'
pa,orbo-oupb his country home. was made when
no ,ras not oults eleven years old and he had
mos, vivid memory Of the appearance or the
city al that time. when its limits were '"e
CITY Hall and the Battery. which was the" inc
fashionable promenade. He distinctly ren'e"-
bered the opening of the Erie Canal. WhHe lie
witt Clinton was Governor. ana reia'eu WIN
delightful detail his own personal experiences
on that occasion. He said that bottles Oh '"e
water from Lake Erie were emptied into New
York Bay - symbolic the union OF ocean anu
lake.
He was "A member Of the state l"'SlsIdtu'c
az 1886 and It Is Of interest TO note that
sllliman. was his colleague. He first visited
Washington in the early forties. and he relates
that though he travelled continuously ne was
Gonna weeks en- route for he went by rail TO
Trenton. thence by very slow coach 10 Borden
town. y. j.. from which place tedious journey
by water brought him 10 Washington.
"Mr Stranahan was sent to Congress in 1904,
ana served his constituents faithfully and in
teIIigently IN the exciting days of the Missouri
Comprom!se debates. Ii was in this Congress
that the strained relations which existed De-
,waen the North and South were emphasized by
Oh, norso,al encounter between Charles sumner
and Mr. Brooks of South Carolina. Mr. Brooks
had been expelled from the House by vote oil
It's members but had been returned by MS con-
stitupnts in the face Of this expulsion. Al me
breaking up. when the members we're preparing
10 20 home M Brooks approached Mr. StTah-
shan late at night IN the lunchroom ana salu'
oh Mr. Strauahan are you not going 10 speak
10 me-? Mr. Stranahan said: i should be giao
TO do So Mr.. Brooks. had YOU not announced
your wish that no one who voted for your eX-
pulsion should approach YOU
The reply Of Mr. Brooks. oh. Stranahan'
Stranahan. | did not moan YOU. iestl1e5 10
perception on his part of genilene's IN MI
Stranaban TO which he appealed for friendly
recognition without fear Of rebuff
in $3.50 and 1St4 he was delegate 70 the
conventions which put Mr.. Lincoln in nonina-
ton for the Presidency, and in lSSS. when MI.
Harrison was chosen President. he was an e!ec-
tor-at-large. and was made the messenger 10
carry the New York State returns to Washington
Mrs. Stranahan accompanied her husband ana
while there received with Mrs. Payne. She met
there a woman, who said to her: I carried the
tfrc
Stranaban was naturally much interested. and
her questions developed the following story;
Georgia was the deciding State in that earn
paign and whon the result Of its vote was
known the facts were sent to Washington by
pony express to the office Of the principal da'iy
paper The woman above referred to, In COM
pany with John Van Buren, and others OF their
social set had planned horseback excursion
70 the country home OF Van Buren,. in the Glove
Road and il was suggested that they under
take the mission of breaking the news to Mr..
Van Buren,. II is probable that none OF them
were eager 10 prc-empt the privilege. for the
woman relates that on reaching the house she
found herself quite alone her companions hav-
ing quietly vanished Mr.. Van Buren, made her
task easy Ivy accepting the inevitable in his
most complaisant manner. This woman was
the daughter OF Montgomery Blair the Editor
Of The Washington Globe
Mr. Stranahan was early interested in The
Tribune and except for two years. he daily
read It's pages.
The building of the Atlantic Docks on the
Brooklyn water front. the financial results Of
which did not come to him for a geneI alton; his
connection with the Bridge; his relation to the
various business institutions Of the city, his In
terest In the Polytechnic Institute. Of which he
IL, IL. 10. old AZ
rector In point Of service: his support of the
Brooklyn Institute. OF which he was vice.
president and one Of the first contributors. need
he but briefly referred to since they have been
so lately commented upon and are matters
within the knowledge OF ali who are acquainted
with the recent history OF Brooklyn.
Or Storrs said: Mr. Stranahan honored
women with instructive loyalty-and with
reason And what was this reason? He was
the sor of a noble mother. from whom he took
his standard Of women. and the time having ar
rived he associated himself with women or
mother of his children carried on with great
credit TO herself the work Of the sanitary com
mission in the Civil War, undermining her
health by her devoted labors. And she was
closely identified with ali the charitable work
OF that period.
His second wife Miss Clara c. Harrison:
daughter Of the late Colonel Seth HARRISON or
Massa chusetts has occupied places OF honor
and trust since her earliest association with
BROOKLYN She had been. at the time OF her
resignation on account Of Illness. the president
Of the State Charities Aid for twenty-five CON
secutive wears and for more than twenty-fouf
wears she was The corresponding secretary or
the Home for the Friendess. She presided at
the National Congress OF the Daughters or me
Revolution which met at Washington in 1874.
and gained the approval even OF her opponents
by her wise, impartial and yet discriminating
action She founder ard is now trustee
Of Barnard College She was vice president OF the
Woman's Commission Of New FORK state at the
Columbian Exposition, and was deeply inter
es,ed in all educational work. She endowed a
chair in Ann Arbor University in memory or
her father She Is the author OF A History or
French Painting which has been iatteringiy
commented upon. both at home and abroad. inc
dedication OF which TO Mr.. Stranahan drew from
Aa.lA. .ha., Inh