Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-16


Hon. George Purnell Fisher died In
Washington on Friday.
He was born in Milford on October
18th, 1877. He attended the schools In
tho neigborhood until no was II years
old, when he went to St. Mary's Coll
lege, Baltimore. He remained at the
Institution but one year and then
entered the sophomore class of Dickin-
son College, where he graduated in
1888. He then went to Dover, where
he studied law with John NJ. Clayton
and Mt the same time taught school
there. He was admitted to practice, in
l841 at Georgetown and opened an
Office in Dover, where be soon gained a
good practice. When John M. Clayton
was appointed secretary OF State Mr..
Fisher entered public life by becoming
his private secretary. In Washington
Mr.. Fisher attracted considerable at
tention by his ability, and President +
Taylor sent him on mission to Brazil
to adjudicate certain claims held by
citizens OF this country against Brazil.
He accomplished the work and re-
turned to this country in 1862.
Mr.. Fisher then went to Dover and
resumed the practice of law. In 1865 /
he was appointed attorney general of :
the State by Gov. Causey and at the
end OF that time was elected to Com
gress by the Peoples party. He was
renominated by the Republicans, but
! was defeated. While in Congress his
ability attracted the attention of Presi-'
pointed by Mr.. Lincoln 10 be associate
Judge of tho Supreme Court OF the
District Of Columbia. He retained this
position until 1870, when he resigned
to become district attorney Of tho
District OF Columbia, TO which
position he was appointed by President
Grant. After his term OF office had ex-
pired he returned to Delaware and
practiced law until tho time of the
Harrison administration, when he was
made first auditor of the treasury.
After that Office he held no other and
removed to Milford. When the First
Delaware Cavalry was organized in
this State during the civil war, he
was made colonel, but declined on
account of having been appointed
judge.
Mr.. Fisher married Miss Eliza A.
McCelloy; G the daughter 81, Of the Rev.
and was generally looked upon as a
man of more than ordinary ability.
WILLIAM M'BRIpE.
William Mcbride, baggagemaster at
Delaware avenue station of the B. & o.
railroad, died on Saturday afternoon Of
brain fever, at his residence, No. 170S
Gilpin avenue. The fatal illness ro-
suited from an attack Of the grip. De.
was one Of the most faithful employees
of the railroad company. He was 4
sergeant of police under Mayor Wales,
and afterward became bsggagemaster
| at Delaware avenue station. Here he
did excellent service, and always had a
kind word for everyone. He was
member Of du Pont Lodge, A. r. A. M,
| Brandywine Lodge, |. o. o. F., and
st. Andrew Council, Legion of the
Rcd Cross. A few years ago he was
seriously injured on the railroad. He
suffered considerably from the effects
Of the injury, but was always cheerful
and never complained. He was AZ years
old and o widower. One daughter,
Mrs. Walter Lewis Of No. 1904 Scott
street, survives him, and tho funeral
took place from her residence on
Tuesday afternoon. Services We're
cOuuucLeu ny bue hbN, WILHELM II.
Lewis and interment was made at
Mt. Salem cemetery.
MRS. MARGARET A, OSBORNE.
Mrs. Margaret Ann Osborne died at
tho Clayton House on Saturday even
ing She had been i'll with the grip,
but died suddenly of heart failure.
Dr. Howard Ogle was summoned, but
arrived too late to save her. Mrs.
Osborne was rs years old. Her husband
was a member Of the Delaware bar,
and previous TO her marriage Mrs.
Osborne was Miss Thomas, daugh-
ter Of tho late DR.. Thomas. For several
years Mrs. Osborne had lived with her
daughter, Mrs. Baker, tho widow OF
Commander Huston Baker, u. s, NJ,
at the Clayton House. Her only son.
Alfred G. Osborne, died several years
ago. lie was for many years deputy
clerk OF tho peace under Il. X. Coch-
ran, aud later was an agent of the
government in land Office district In
the West.
JOHN SAUNDERS.
John Saunders. well-known citizen
and former superintendent of the pulp
works OF the Delaware Mills Manu-
facturing Co., died at his home, No.
1914 West Seventh street, on Saturday
afternoon. He had been sick for several
months. Mr.. Saunders was born iu
Pennsylvania 10 years ago. About 20
years ago he came to this city and be-
came ono of the corporators of the
Delaware Mills Manufacturing Co.
Seventeen years ago he became super.
intendent Of the mills and held that
position until year ago, when he re-
tired from active business. He was
widower, and the father of eight chill