Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-27
DEATH OF COL. |NGERSOLL.
World-FamOus Orator and Agnostic
Suddenly Called.
HEART DISEASE THE CAUSE.
Drops LifelesE from Chair While Talk
ing with His Wife-short Sketch of
the Career of Remarkable Man

Col. Robert G. Ingersoll died July 20,
without an instants warning, sitting
in chair of his bedroom at his sum
mer home among the highlands Of the
Hudson, at Dobbs Ferry.
Arrangements for the funeral are
not yet made. The Ingersolls have no
family burial plot in the east-only one
in Peoria, H., where Col. Ingersoll once
practiced law. 1t has been decided that
the body will not be taken there. 1t
will be buried either in Sleepy Hollow
cemetery, Tarrytown, beloved by Wash
ington Irving, or at Woodlawn, just
over the hills from Dobbs Ferry.
Robert Green Ingersoll was born in
Dresden, N. Y, Aug. II. 1888 His
father was a Congregational minister,
and preacher of great power as a re-
viyalist, Early in his ministry he
moved west. and Robert, the youngest
OF the family, was Injured to the hard
ships of pioneer life. He began the
study Of law at Marion, ILL.,, and in 1855
he opened an office at Shawneetown, in
partnership with his elder brother,
Eben, for six years a member of con-
gress. In 1857 the brothers moved to
Peoria, which became his home for the
next twenty years.
Col. lngersoll entered politics in
1860 as a democratic candidate for
congress. He boldly declared himself
opposed to slavery and outran his con-
servative republican opponent in de-
nunciation of it. He ran far ahead of
his ticket. but was defeated. When the
war came he was the leader of the war
democrats and made haste to declare
himself supporter of the Lincoln adj
ministration. From that time on he
was always a republican in politics.
When the call for soldiers came he en-
listed in cavalry regiment. the Elev-
enth Illinois. He was commissioned
colonel of it and remained at the front
until obliged by III health to resign.
In 1868 Col. Ingersoll was a candi-
date for governor before the republican
state convention He was defeated on
account of his agnostic views. He
never after sought any political posi-
ton. He took very active part in
the campaigns, speaking in Indiana,
Maine, Ohio, and Iowa, as well as I'LL
nois.
At the national republican conven-
ton in 1876 lngersoll won his first real
triumph in oratory, proposing the
name of James G. Blaine for the pres
idential nomino on in a speech that
attracted the ,tentiOn of the entire
country. In 1877 he declined the post
of minister to Germany, preferring to
remain in this country and continue
the conduct of law business which
by that time had assumed vast pro-
portions In 1888 he was counsel for
the defense of the famous star route
cases, and won the legal battle. OF late
years his participation in business has
been of less active character.
His work IN the cause of free thought
and agnosticism is too well known to
need review The most eminent minis
tiers of the Christian religion, his bit
ter opponents in writings and on plat
forms, unite in praise of the brilliant
abilities and perfect life of the great
unbeliever. Personal enemies he had
none, and those who differed from him
on religion refrain from invective and
criticism now that he is gone. 1t can
be said with truth that in courage,
generosity, manliness and courtesy he
was an IDEAL American