Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-06-22

in the morning it could be seen that he
was sinking rapidly, and at 4:S0o'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 G. C. Bland, Mrs S, r.
Thomas, his brother-in-law, Gen. e, Y.
Mitchell and E. Y. Mitchell, Jr., and
his private secretary, Grid Bell, were
also with him.
The funeral was held Saturday after
noon at four o'clock at the opera house
and the body was buried in the Catho-
lie cemetery. The funeral was i'll
charge of the sergeant-at-arms of the
house of representatives and was con-
Quoted by Masonic lodges.
Mr.. BANDS illness began immediate
ly after his return from Washington,
early in March. 1t started with an at
tack of grip followed with relapse,
Chronic catarrh of the stomach complH
Gated the disease. Brain trouble came
next and he died of cerebral congestion,
For several days before his death he
was partially paralyzed.
Richard p. BANDS Career.
Mr.. Bland was native Of Kentucky having
been born near Hartford on August 10, 1885
He received an academic education in his NIT
tive state and in 1855 removed to Missouri. He
then went to California and to that portion of
Utah which is now Nevada, locating at Virginia
City as practicng attorney -at-law. He WAS
interested in mining operations in California
and Nevada, and was county treasurer of CaI-
son City, Utah territory, from 1860 until the
organization of the state government of Nevada,
In 1865 he returned to Missouri and located at
Rolla. Here he practiced law with his brother
G. G. Bland, until he removed to Lebanon in
August, 1869.
Mr.. Bland devoted himself to his profession
until he was chosen to represent his district il
the Forty third congress, He was reelected tO
the Forty-fourth, Forty. fifth, Forty-sixtb,
Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth, Forty ninth,
Fiftieth Fifty-hrst, Fifty second and Fifty"
third congresses. He failed Of reelection to
the Ffty-fourth congress, hut was again elect
ed in 1895 by a majority Of over 1900 votes over
Joel d. Hubbard republican, and j, II. Stencil
pher, populist, Last fall Mr.. Bland was again
reelected to represent the Eighth district his
majority being about $500.
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 1875 chairman of the committee
on mines and mining and introduced the we'll.
known BLAND bill which provided that the
secretary Of the treasury should purchase
sufficient bullion to coin the minimum amount
of W, 600 900 a month in silver dollars of 4l2h
grains each and that these dollars should be
legal tender. In each succeeding congress he
fought faithfully and Professionally for the whte
metal. 1t 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 at
the time of the democratic national convention
in 1896 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 or telephone connection from
his home 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 Virde Mitchell, while she was 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, a graduate of the
Christian Brothers college, St. Louis; George
Vest, Ewing, John and Virginia.