The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1899-02-08
col. SEXTON DIES.
Commander-in-Chi of the G. A. r..
Succumbs TO a Lingering Illness.

Succumbs to a Lingering Illness.
Washington, Feb. 6.-Col. James A.
sexton, commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic, died Sun
day morning at Garfield hospital IN
this city.
Chicago, Feb. 6.-Col. James A. Sex
ton was born in Chicago, January 5,
1874. He enlisted as private in the
Nineteenth Illinois April 10, 1861, and,
after three months service, re-enlisted
in the Sixty-seventh Illinois volunteers,
being commissioned as first lieuten-
ant. He was subsequently transferred
to the Seventy-second Illinois, and was
made a captain. He served in Ran
SONS brigade McArthur's division OF
the Seventeenth army corps, Army OF
the Tennessee, and participated in
nearly al its campaigns, sieges and
battles. He was commander of the
regiment in the battles of Columbia,
Duck River, Spring Hill, Franklin and
Nashville, and throughout the Nash
vile campaign. In 1865 he was as
signed to duty on the staff of Maj.
Gen. A. j. Smith, commander of the
Sixteenth corps, and remained with
Smith until the close of the war, being
honorably discharged in August, 1865.
AT the capture of the Spanish fort at
Mobile, Ala, April s, 1865, Col. Sexton
had his left leg broken below the knee
by piece of shell. He was also sight
ly wounded at the battle of Franklin,
and painfully wounded at the battle OF
Nashville. He remained two years in
Alabama after the war, working a
plantation which he had purchased
near Montgomery. In 1867 he returned
to Chicago and entered into business,
founding the firm of j. A. u L. S. Sex
ton. He was appointed postmaster OF
Chicago by President Harrison in 1899,
and was retained by President Cleve-
land until he resigned, January l, 1898.
Col. Sexton was an active worker in
the Grand Army of the Republic, the
Loyal Legion and other soldier and
army societies. He was past command
er of the department of Illinois, &. A.
R., and had been presidential elector,
park commissioner and colonel in the
Illinois national guard. AT the last
meeting of the Grand Army of the Re-
public he was elected commander-in-
chief, and held this position at the
time of his death, as we'll as that of a
member of the board of commission
ers appointed by the president to in.
| vestigate the conduct of the Spanish
war.
Cincinnati, Feb. Capt. w. G. John
son, senior vice commander-in-chief ot
| the G. A. r., is the head OF the firm ol
johnson Bros, hardware dealers, il
this city. Under the constitution ht
becomes the acting commander-in-chi
at once upon the death of his superior
The national council of administration
consisting Of As members, one from
each state department, has power tx
fill all vacancies. This body may elec
Capt. johnson or any other member o
the order. 1t is generally thought
however, that Capt. johnson will be Sc
lected.
Since the organization of the &. A. r
in 1866 there have been 81 command
ers-in-chief. Eleven of them are nov
dead. Col Sexton is the first to die il
Office. This brings about a condition
for which there is no precedent. |
Capt. johnson succeeds to the office tn
headquarters will be removed to Gin
cinnati.