The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-04-28

RICHARD J. OGLESBY.
the brain, resulting from fall, was
the direct cause of his death, but the
indirect cause was weakness from
which he had suffered ever since a se-
we're attack of the grip four years ago.
To-day, while preparing lunch at his
home in Oglehurst an attack of ver-
tigo caused Gov. Oglesby to faf4 to the
floor, and in the fall his head struck
upon small box. DIR. C. b. Taylor,
the family physician, was summoned,
and all possible aid was given, but the
ex-governor's system was too weak to
rally, and death came without his hav-
ing regained consciousness.
Biographical.
Richard ]. Oglesby was born In Oldham
county. county; KY July Is, 1874 and came to
bar in 1s45. and the following year volun- ui-
tteered for service In the Mexican war as
lieutenant Of Co. G, Fourth Illinois regi-
Cruz and Cerro Gordo. He became a
gold argonaut" in 1s49, made a limited
amount In California, and returned to Illi-
nois In 1852
In 1851 he enlisted in the civil war, and
at Fort Donelson, as brigadier general he
lost 500 men, his brigade being the first
to be attacked At the battle of Corinth
carried from the field to die but he re-
covered, and carried the ball In his body
to the day Of his death.
For his bravery he had been promoted
during his recovery to major general, but
In the spring he was obliged to retire
from active service on account OF the
wound sustained at Corinth. He returned
was elected governor of Illinois. He was
elected again in 1872, and for third term
In 1854 In the last campaign his oppo-
popular democrat personally In the his
tory Of the state
Uncle Dick did not serve his second
convened II elected him to the United
States senate, where he served the state
until March 4. 1879.
Gov. oglesby is survived by his widow
and five children--John, Jasper and Rich
ard J. Oglesby. Jr., Mrs. Olive Snyder. OF
Kansas City, and Miss Felicite Oglesby.
who Is now visiting In Paris. Srance
Without regard to party lines Uncle
Dick" Oglesby had for more than a gem
Grafton been the idol OF the people OF ILL.,
nois. In fact, from the time OF the break
just passed his majority, no question OF
public policy In the state was settled
without hfs having been taken into con-
ference. With big heart. and a brain
as big as his heart he could not have
been other than big man. He started
In life g carpenters apprentices. tried
success I'm either but the contact which
he had with the common people during
this .epriod, coupled with a native DEM
ocratic spirit, which all the honors
heaped upon him could not submerge. he
kept close to the popular affections with
out knowing or caring how he did It,
Ex-Gov. Oglesby had no liking for ma
chine uolitics. In fact, that part of mod
ern political science was an absolutely
unknown quantity to him, and yet no
man ever lived in Illinois who could In
xrrx4A H..
always on the people as the source OF
political power, and in this he followed
the advice of Abraham Lincoln, who once
said to him: Dick, keep close to the peo-
pie; they are always right, and will new
er mislead you
He had no thought of political fences.
In campaign times he would tell the party
managers In his crude, direct way to put
him where he would do the most good
He would then pull his coat and wade in
for the party. His speeches were a
strange mixture OF the commonplace and
the eloquent At rural picnics he was an
oracle OF political wisdom. He adapted
his language to the caliber and character
of the audience before him, and enforced
his points in homely way that never
failed to win applause and bring convic-
tion. Oftentimes he descended to the in
elegant and hinged on the vulgar. but his
words were the impetuous expressions OF
sanguine. honest and unaffected nature
AS an illustration of the simplicity and
democracy of Uncle Dick. ii is told OF
him that once when In New York during
the Cleveland-Blain campaign. and asked
his companion what kind of place II was
The latter replied Come I'm and See
The two dined royalty on a luncheon or
dered by the governors friend, who
wound up by asking Uncle Dick to smoke
handed out some fine Havanas Uncle
Dick reached out a hand to take one of
them, when thought arrested him
Whats the price Of these?" he asked
twenty-five cents, said the clerk
Holy smoker' calculated Uncle Dick
Put 'em back. put EN- back quick l
darsen't do II. Why man alive IL they
ever found out in Illinois that | smoked
Is cent cigars. whether / paid for 'em
or not, they'd turn me out of the church.
and ii would ruin me forever. No, sir:
five cent cigars at. home and ten cent
ones in New York are good enough for
me-.
Although born In Kentucky. and resid-
ing there IL years, he Joined the abolition
party In the north as soon as he could
and he attributed his antipathy 10 slavery
to Uncle Tim," who was the only slave
In the family in Kentucky. Upon the
death of the elder Oglesby 1t was neces-
sary TO go! Uncle Tim at auction TO di-
vide the money among the heirs. II shall
never forget how he looked as he stood on
the. box ready fc- sale said "Cncie
Dick. Il went up to him and said: 'Un-
Gle Tim, I'm going to work and earn
money to buy you and set you free Ii
was long struggle for he. but in 1919 j
had saved several thousand dollars In
California, and, sending part of the money
to my brother, / purchased the freedom
he old H.