Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-19
GEAR, OF IOWA. DEAD.
he Passes Away Quite Suddenly at
Washington From Heart
Disease.
Preparations Made for the Funeral
which, VIII be sat Burlington. la
Few Men ina Public Life Were
More Generally Loved and Re.
spected.

Washington, July 15.-United States
Senator Gear, of Iowa, died at his
apartments in the Portland at 4:2s
Saturday mornig of heart failure. He
was in his usual health up to 2:30 a
m, when he was attacked. Doctors
were Immediately summoned, but their
efforts were unavailing.
Shortly before 2 a. m. the senator
summoned his confidential secretary.
Col. r. Root, and informed him that
he vas troubled with congestion IN
his chest. Mrs. Gear was called, and
she and Col. Root applied some simple
remedies which seemed to relieve the
senator's suffering. At $3.50 Senator
Gear complained of serious difficulty
in breathing. His condition became
critical, and his family physician, DR..
Davis, was summoned.
His Inst Words.
An examination convinced DIR. Da.
Wis that his distinguished patient was
suffering from heart trouble, and, call,
ing Col. Root aside he informed him
that Senator Gear could last scarcely
an hour. About four o'clock the sen.
ator seemed to be easier, and when
asked by Mrs. Gear as to his condition.
replied family: Il feel q trif1e better
There were his last words. Fifteen
minutes later he was dead.
Preparing for the FuueraI.
Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell, of the
senate, was notified of Senator Gears
death, and began arranging for the
fTIToro1 Tho -oraoinc will ha fo1yan
directly to Burlington, Ia, which for
many years has been the home of Sen.
ator Gear. Col. Ransdell communicated
with Senator Frye, of Maine, president
pro tempore of the senate, who will
name a committee of senators to rep
resent the senate at the funeral.
Through the sergeant-at-arms of the
house, Speaker Henderson also was
notified officially of the death. He will
designate a committee of the house to
attend the funeral. Secretary Of Agri-
culture Wilson will accompany Mrs
Gear on her sad journey westward.
Was Generally Loved.
The news of Senator Gears death
was q great shock to his personal and
official friends in Washington. by
whom he was very highly regarded.
Secretary Wilson was inexpressibly
shocked when the news was conveyed
tc him. He had been a lifelong friend
Of the senator, the two being almost as
closely allied as brothers. He was
among the early callers at the Port.
land. Admiral Walker, of the navy
who had been a friend Of Senator Gea1
for nearly half a century. accom-
panied by former Senator Pasco, OF
Florida, called early to tender their
services and sympathy. Mrs. Gear.
Frustrated with grief, was unable TO
receives callers.
Few men in public life were more
generally loved and respected than
Senator Gear. Some of his most init
mate friends were found among those
who differed from him in politics. He
was known particularly for his unos.
tentatious but effective charitable
works.
The News "a Great Shock.
Senator Gear left besides his widow,
two daughters, Mrs. J. w. Blythe, wife
Of the principal attorney of the Chi
cago. Burlington s. Quincy railroad,
and Mrs. Horace Rand, wife of a prom
inent business man. both residing in
burlington. Funeral services will be
held in Burlington on Wednesday.
John Henry Gear, of Burlington. Ia.,
was born in Itahca, N. Y, April 2, 1875,
where he received a common school. edu-
cation. He removed to Galena, Ill, In
1895, and thence to Fort Smelling, Iowa ter
ritory. in 1888. and to Burlington. in 1S4S,
where he engaged in merchandising. He
was elected mayor of Burlington in 1853.
and was a member of the Iowa house OF
representative of the fourteenth, fifteenth
and sixteenth general assemblies of the
state, serving as speaker for the last two
terms. He was elected governor of Iowa
in 1S7S-79. and again in 1SS0-Sl: He was
crosses. but was defeated for the Fifty
second. During the administration of
President Harrison he was assistant sec
rotary of the treasury. He was elected
10 the Fifty-third congress as a republic
can. On January q, 1894, he was elected a
senator in congress from the state of
Iowa for six years, beginning March 4,
1895. His term of service would have eA.
pired March 3, 1901