The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-07-21
GEAR, OF IOWA, DEAD.
He Passes Away Quite Suddenly al
Washington From Heart
Disease.
WAS TAKEN Ar 2:2O AND DIED Ala.
Treparation. Made for IN. FuDc,.,
which win be at Burlington. Ia
Few Men Ia Public Life Wer.
More Generally Loved and lie.
Hpeoted.


Washington. July l5.-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 a. IN. the senator
summoned his confidential secretary,
Col Il. Root, and informed him that
he was 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, DIR.
Davis, was summoned.
His Last Words.
An examination convinced DR.. 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 rs to his condition,
replied family: II feel trifie better"
There were his last words. Fifteen
minutes later he was dead
Preparing for the Funeral.
Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell, of the
senate, was notified of Senator Gears
death. and began arranging for the
funeral. The remains will be taken
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
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 committee of the house to
attend the funeral. Secretary of Agri- |
culture Wilson will accompany Mrs.
Gear on her sad journey westward.
Wns Generally Loved.
The news of senator Gears death |
was 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 |
t. him.. He had been lifelong friend
Of the senator, the two being almost as
closely allied as brothers. He was
among the early callers at the Port
lund. Admiral Walker, of the navy,
who had been a friend Of Senator Gear
for nearly half century. accom-
panied by former Senator pasco, of
Florida, called early tc 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-
,entatious but effective charitable
works.
The News n Great Shock.
Senator Gear left besides his widow,
two daughters, Mrs. J. w. Blythe. wife
Of the principal attorney of the Chi
cago burlington & Quincy railroad,
and Mrs. Horace Rand, wife Of 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 T. 1925.
where he received common school edu-
cation. He removed to Galena, Ill.,, in
1886, and thence to Fort Smelling, Iowa ter
ritory in 1888 and to Burlington in 1843,
where he engaged in merchandising. He
was elected mayor of Burlington in 1868,
and was a member Of the Iowa house of
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 1678-79, and again in 1S8O-81. He was
elected to the Fiftieth and Fifty-frst con-
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
TO the F1fty-third congress as republic
can On January %. 1894. he was elected
senator in congress from the state of
Iowa for six years. beginning March a.
1895 His term of service would have ca
pired March 3. 1901