Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-14

1S49 he went to California. He outlived
nearly all the men who began then to ac-
quire the famous fortunes of the Pacific
coast, Geo. c. Gorham being the best
known of them now living here. His asso
Citations with such men as Sharon, Mackay,
etc, were the closest. They shared the
hardships and privations of the pioneer to-
-gether. Coming east again. he married at
Akron. Ohio. and went to live at Daven-
port, Iowa, where he engaged in banking.
Habits of study chung to him. and after
course of law he was admitted to the bar
in Indiana. He was made a Lincoln pres
idential' elector to fill a vacancy caused by
death.
His Departmental Life.
Shortly after President Lincoln's taking
Office he was made chief clerk of the CEN
sus and then chief clerk of the Interior De-
partment. He also served as special cot
ton agent in Florida. President johnson
afterward sent his name to the Senate for
the office of assistant secretary Of the
treasury, but on account of private inter-
eStS, which did not make it possible for
him to accept the honor, his name was
withdrawn.
Decline in Health.
Mr.. Kilbourns health began visibly to
decline ten years ago, and markedly so the
past six years His brilliantly endowed
mind first gave way. followed by a settled
melancholy and an avoidance of his old
friends and pursuits. The last two years the
steady progress of disease was complicated
by the growing infirmities of age There
came frequently to him, however, flashes Of
the old-tlme vigor and mental activity when
he enjoyed conversations with his family
and friends. as well as knowledge of what
was going on in the world. His philo-
sophical contentment with his lot and ac-
ceptance of the constraint necessary be-
cause of his disorder greatly simplified
what was done for his relief He spent
eight months at the Government Hospital
for the Insane six years ago, and was last
admitted there in May, 1902.
Mr.. kilbourn then entered the real estate
business with Mr.. Latta and at one time
the firm Of Kilbourn & Latta was the
most prominent in the District. He became
greatly interested in the affairs of the ma
tional capital and was a constant contrib
utor to the local newspapers of sugges-
tons for the general good. He was a
member of the committee of 100 that
framed the territorial bill and was a warm
friend and supporter of the late Governor
Shepherd.
The Real Estate Pool.
In January. 1876, Representative John M
Glover of Missouri introduced in the House
of Representatives resolution which was
passed providing for the appointment OF
a special committee of five to inyestjeat e
the nature and history of what was known
as the real estate pool, and the character
of the interest which the firm of J. Cooke
q Co had in the property involved and
the character OF settlement made by Ed
Waro M. Lewis, trustee, of the effects of
j. Cooke & CO.. made with the associa atoms
of said firm and the amount paid. or to
be paid In settlement. with power to send
LOT persons and papers and report to the
House. '-'o
The committee, which was designated nc
the real estate pool and ]. Cooke Indebted
ness committee. was composed of Messrs
Glover, chairman, and J. d. New of In
diana, B. B. Lewis of Alabama, H. L. Pratt
of Iowa and A. Herr Smith of PennsyI-
vania. The committee issued a SUMMONS
on Mr.. Kilbourn, commanding him to
bring with him and produce at the COM
mittee room on March 4. 1876, deeds and
deeds of trust and all other papers relat-
ing to property purchased or sold by him
as trustee for either the real estate pool
in which ]. Cooke & Co., or Messrs. Stew
art HillYer or Sunderland, or either of
them, had an interest.
Mr.. Kilbourn appeared before the COM
mittee at that time and declared on oath
that the real estate pool was purely a
remotest degree to any public interest
whatsoever. He maintained that 1t was a
private partnership. relating entirely to
private business and that no public money
was invested in it by anybody. He further
said under oath that it was not in any way
connected with any act of any officer Of
the United States or District governments
He said that no one was interested in the
affair but the firm of Kilbourn & Latta
and that the only reason he had for an
swering questions about it was that it
was purely private business.
jeremiah Black, the eminent Pennsyl-
vania lawyer, was Mr.. kilbourns attorney
Mr.. Black stated for Mr. Kilbourn that the
latter was entirely willing to answer
any interrogatories that the committe might
put to him concerning the nature and his
tory of the so-called real estate pool pro-
vided that any member Of the committee