Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-03-19

iocomotor ataxia his friends gave
him up. But he rallied and for a
few years seemed to be his own old
vigorous self. Lately, however, the
disease marked him strongly, and
quite recently his appearance caused
grave forebodings and anxiety. His
mind was just as clear and active as
of old, but though the spirit was
willing the flesh was weak.
His Career.
On December go lS47, John Peter Altgeld
was born in Feltas, nearCologne, Germany.
When he was eight years old his parents
moved to this country to a farm in Rich
land county, o. The elementary educa-
ton of Mr.. Altgeld was limited. The war
made a break in the monotony of his life.
lie enlisted in 1864: he was only 16 years
old at the time. He was a soldier in what
is known as the James River campaign.
After the war he started out for himself
He taught school for awhile, although he
had had no opportunities of adding much
to his own education. In 1869 he started
west on foot. He walked from Ohio to ST.
Louis. He obtained work in St. Louis and
saved enough to help him on to southern
Kansas. He finally settled at Savannah, in
northwest Missouri, where he taught
school. studied law, and soon after was
elected city attorney and later on the pros
ecut1ng attorney Of the county. Mr.. Alt
geld came to Chicago In 1875, a stranger
IN less than year he had practice which
enabled him to be comparatively independ-
ent. In 1884 he ran for congress on the
democratic ticket but was defeated In
1880 ne was nominated for the office of
judge OF the superior court and was elect
CO. He served until July 2, 1891, when he
resigned
Judge Altgeld was nominated for gov
ernor by the democratic state convent ton
OF 1892. He made a vigorous campaign
and was elected as result, being the first
and only democratic chief executive of
illinois since ante-bellum days. The dis
tlngulshing acts of his governorship were
the anarchist pardons and the trouble
with President Cleveland over the presence
or federal troops here during the rail-
road riots. In 1898 he was renominated, but
was defeated. Since then Gov. Altgeld
emerged only once from political retire
ment. and that was when his opposition
to Mayor Harrison took him into the
mayoralty campaign Of 1889. Although he
made magnificent Independent campaign
ne was defeated. His time since then has
been occupied in practicing law.
Proclamation Issued,
Springfield, ILL.,, March 13.-Lieut.
Gov. Northcott Wednesday issued the
following proclamation officially an
nouncing the death of Former Gov
ernor Altgeld:
Executive Office, State of Illinois
Wednesday, March II, 1902 1t becomes nv
painful duty to announce to the people of
Illinois the death of John p Altgeld.
twentieth governor of the state, who filed
the executive office from January 10, 1893,
until January II, 1897
Born in Prussia, in 1885, he came to this
country when a child, and as soon as he
was old enough enlisted in the service for
the defense CT his adopted country, and
bore the part of a true soldier in the clos
ing days of the civil war
He was an able lawyer, distinguished
judge, man of strong convictions. and al
ways courageous in giving them utterance
In respect to his memory request that
flags on all state buildings be displayed at
half-mast until after his funeral. and that
business In the various state departments
be suspended during the hours of the
funeral
I'm witness whereof. have hereunto set
my hand. and caused to be attached the
great seal of state, this twelfth day of
March, A. D. 1902"