Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-07-27

tlonal convention he was taken i'll and
had to be taken home. He never fully
recovered from this illness
Colonel Ingersoll spent yesterday
morning swinging in hammock and
sitting on the veranda with the mem
bers OF the family. At 1890 he started
to go up stafrs. On reaching the head
OF the stairs, Colonel Ingersoll turned
into his wife's room. Mrs. Ingersoll
was there. Together they discussed
what they would have for luncheon and
Colonel Ingersoll said he had not better
eat much, owing to the trouble with his
stomach. He seemed in good spirits
then. After talking for few minutes,
Colonel lngersoll crossed the room and
sat down in a rocking chair. He leaned
his head on his hand, which rested on
the back of the chair. Mrs. Ingersoll
asked him how he was feeling and he
replied: "Oh, BETTER These We're his
last words. A second after they We're
uttered he was dead.
TIE only sign noticed by Mrs. Inger-
soil was that the whites of his eyes sud
denly showed There was not even a
sigh or groan as death came. Doctors
were hastily called, but their verdict
was that death had come instantly.
Robert G. Ingersoll was best known
because OF his views on religious topics,
but his introduction to the country at
large was by reason of political and
not an agnostic address. 1t was in 1876
when he made the address nominating
James G. Blaine for the presidency. It
was in this speech that Mr.. Blaine was
first alluded TO as the "Plumed knight. y
lngerson was born in Dresden, N. Y,
Aug. II, 1888, and was the son of a
Congregational minister 1t is stated
Rev. Mr.. Ingersoll was somewhat lib
eral in his views, and that this liberal.
lty antagonized the more orthodox mem
bers OF his congregation. The son nat
urally agreed with his father.
At IS he entered the Office of his elder
brother. Ebon Q. Ingersoll, when Of age
was admitted to the Illinois bar and
with his brother opened law Office at
Shawneetown. Both were Democrats
and prominent in local politics. Elbow
Q. became congressman, and at that
time it was Roberts highest ambition
to be himself sent to the house Of repre-
sentatives from his home district.
In 1850 his opportunity came. He
was then offered the Democratic nomi-
nation in district that was overwhelm-
ingly Republican. He accepted and
was beaten out of his boots. Upon the
breaking out Of the civil war he entered
the Union army, after organizing reg
iment of cavalry, the Eleventh Illinois.
Of which he was made colonel. He
made reputation as soldier for per-
sonal daring and dash.
Personally Ingersoll was iolly good
fellow. He used to say that he nev r
disciplined his children. 1t was tole f
him that it was his custom to leave a
well filled wallet on the mantel of the
dining room to which any member of
his family had free access. When the
money was nearly gone, he filled it u,
and never asked any questions. His
daughters We're not allowed to 20 to
church when they We're children, and
when they grew up they did not care to
go. They never went to school day in
their lives, being trained entirely by
their father and mother at home.
Ingersoll never denied that there was
a God. He used to say that the Bible
was beautiful book and that he would
give all he had if he could believe it's
promises.