Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-12-28
Death of the Distinguished Soldisr
Statesman of New Jersey Causes
General Regret.
Suffered for Long Time from Com
plication of Diseases and Been
Sinking for a Year.
Was of Irish Descent and Had Long
and Useful Career as a Soldier
and Statesman.

at his home here at $3.50 a. m. He salf-
fered from diabetes complicated with
stomach and heart trouble. Senator
Sewell's illness had extended over
pt1iod of two years, but his condition
was not considered serious until about
a year ago. His constant attention to
the duties devolving upon him in his
official capacity resulted. in 1899, in a
collapse. A trip to Europe Was bene-
fetal and he soon recovered sufficient
ly to resume his duties. Toward the
end of the last session of congress he
developed complication Of diseases
and, acting on the advice of his ply
sicians, again visited various health
resorts in Europe. Upon his return,
his condition showing no Improvement,
Senator Sewell went to Asheville. ~
c., where he remained two months.
He returned to his home about four
weeks ago and for few days slight
Improvement in his condition was
nuted. During the past two weeks he
has failed steadily and he sank into
Inconsistencies some time before he
died.
William J. Sewell was born in Ire
land in 1885 and came to this country
at an early age; engaged in mercantile
pursuits, and at the outbreak of the
Civil war was commissioned as captain
in the Fifth New Jersey volunteers ::
served during the war and was brevet-
ted brigaoier general for distinguished
services at Charlottesville, and major
general for gallant services during the
war; was wounded at Charlottesville
and Gettysburg; after the war he be
came connected with the railroads in
New Jersey, branches Of the Pennsy1
vania railroad system; was elected
state senator from Camden county fr
1872. reelected in 1875 and again in
1873, and was president of the senate
in the years 1876, 1879 and 1880, whe
his party was in power; while yet g
member of the legislature he was
elected to the United Statee senate
in 1881, as the successor of Senate,
Theodore F. Randolph. and served IN
til the close of his term, in 1887; wes
elected a delegate to the Republican
national conventions of 1876, 1880
1884. 1888, 1892, 1896 and 1900, and on
each occasion was made chairman ol
his delegation; was one of the national
commissioners for New jersey of the
worlds fair at Chicago; was vice pres
ident of the board of managers Of the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers; was in command of the ma
tional guard of New Jersey. and also
connected with the management OF
various banks, trust companies and
philanthropic societies; was appointed
major general upon the declaration OF
war against Spain, But, at the unan.
imous request of the Republican mem
bers of the senate, did not take the
field; was again elected to the United
States senate in 1895. to succeed Hon
John r. Mcpherson, Dem His term
of service would expire March 8, 1901
Governor Voorhees, and Adjutant
General Oliphant left Trenton at noon
for Camden to confer with the family
of Senator Sewell in reference to hav.
ing a military funeral 1t is expected
the Third regiment the Camden bat
terry and the Newark troop will be or.
dered out for the cerem onies No or.
ders will be issued until the governors
return. The flag. on the state house is
already at haffmast because of the
death of Treasurer Swain.