The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-06-23

RICHARD PARKS BLAND.
in the morning il could be seen that he
was sinking rapidly, and at 1870 clock
he ceased to breathe. Toward the end
the action of his heart increased per-
ceptibly and hopes were expressed that
he was awakening, but it was fruit
less hope. His sons, Theodore, Ewing,
George and John. his daughters, Fan
ME and Virginia, and Mrs. Bland were
at his bedside when the end came. His
brother, Judge c. c. Bland, Mrs. s. r
Thomas, his brother-in-law, Gen. +. y.
Mitchell and +. Y. Mitchell, Jr., and
his private secretary, Grid Bell. were
also with him.
The funeral will be held Saturday
afternoon at four O'Clock at the opera
house and the body will be buried in
the Catholic cemetery. The funeral
will be in charge of the sergeant-at-
arms of the house of representatives
and will be conducted by Masonic
lodges. Private Secretary Bell has
notified the clerk of the house of Mr..
BANDS death, asking him to appoint a
committee of members to attend the flu
neral. Prominent friends of Mr.. Bland
throughout the country have been
notified of the funeral arrangements.
Mr.. Bland was member of no church
and the ministers of all denominations
will participate in the services. II is
planned to have Col. William j. Bryan
deliver the funeral Grafton. The body
will lie in state at the opera house for
"a hours.
Mr.. BANDS illness began immediate
~ after his return from Washington,
early in March. 1t started with an at
tack of grip followed with a relapse.
Chronic catarrh of the stomach compli-
Gated the disease. Brain trouble came
next and he died of cere bral congestion.
For several days before his death he
was partially paralyzed.
Richard T.. BANDS Career.
Mr. Bland was native Of Kentucky having
been born near Hurtfurd On August ~, 1888.
He received an academic education in his ma
tive state ana in 800 removed to Missouri. He
then went TO California and to that portion Of
Utah which is now Nevada, locating at Virginia
City aS a practiCing uttOrney-at-luw He was
interested in mining operations in California
ana Nevada, and was county treasurer OF Car
son city, Utah territory, from 1869 until the
organ. Eat on of the state government OF Nevada.
Ia 1853 he returned 10 Missouri and located NJ
Rolla. Here he pructiced law with his brother,
{. G. Bland, until he removed TO Lebanon in
August 1863
Mr.. Bland devoted himself to his profession
until he was chosen to represent his district in
the Forty third congress, He was reelected TO
the Fortyfourth Forty-tfth, Forty-siXth,
Forty-seventh Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth,
Ftueth, Fifty-irst Fifty second and Fifty
third congresses, He failed OF reelection to
the Fifty-fourth CONGRESS-, but was again elect
ed In 1876 by majority of over 5000 votes over
Joel ID. Hubbard, republican, and J. II, Stenc-
pner, populist Last fall MIR, Bland was again
reelected to represent the Eighth district, his
majority being about 2,50J.
Mr. Bland became best known In politics be-
cause Of his long and earnest advocacy Of the
free coinage of silver His acknowledged lead
ersbip earned for him the title Of silver Dick,
He became in 1873 chairman OF the committee
on mines and mining and introduced the we'll
known Bland bill " which provided that the
secretary of the treasury shoulG purchase
sufficient bullion to coin the minimum amount
Of S2uOO,OOO month in silver dollars Of 4l2h
grains each and that these dollars should be
legal tender In each succeeding congress he
fought faithfully and persistently for the white
metal IL was mainly through his efforts that
the memorable silver commission was appoint
ed and made the exhaustive report on the sub
Ject which is now on file in the national archives
Mr.. Bland was never more interesting than ut
the time Of the democratic national convention
in 1876 when he was strong figure before the con-
vention At that time he was at his home two
miles away from the town of Lebanon He had
no Geographic OF telephone connection from
his nome to Lebanon. Instead of remaining
close to means Of direct communication with
the exciting scenes in Chicago he continued to
pursue his daily habits on the farm,
Mr.. Bland was married the first year that he
was elected to congress He met his wife, who
was Miss Virdie Mitchell, while She was a stu
dent at Caledonia, Ten children were born to
them. but four died. The eldest is Miss Fannie
who was educated at the Sacred Heart convent
Washington; Theodore, graduate of the
| Christian Brothers college st, Louis; George
| Vest, Ewing John and Virginia.