Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-19
HEWITTPASSES AWAY
Former Mayor of New York suCcumbs
After PluCky Fight
OBSTRUCTIVE AUNDlCE IS CAUSE OF END
Bishop Potter TO OmcIate at Funeral
which IL NSHsd TO Take Place
in Calvary Church on
Wednesday.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.--Abram S. Hewitt.
former mayor of New York and for many
years representative in congress, died at
this morning in his S1st year, having been
critically i'll for ten days. With him at the
moment of death were his wife, his three
sons and three daughters.
Mr.. Hewitt. who has been in feeble health
for some months, was attacked with OBJ
structive jaundice on January s, and from
the first It was realized by his attending
physicians, DR.. e. l.. Keyes and DR.. f. l..
Keyes, jr., that there was practically no
hope for his recovery. On the following
Sunday it was thought that Mr. Hewitt
could not survive the night and the mem
bers Of his family were summoned to his
bedside, but his wonderful vitality kept him
alive for week longer
On Thursday Mr.. Hewitt rallied so
strongly that some hope was entertained
that he might recover but on the follow
ing night n relapse occurred, and II was
then evident that the end was not far on
A slight improvement was noted on Satur-
day morning but late that night the ply
sicians notified Mr.. Hewitts son, Peter
Cooper Hewitt, that death was imminent
and the other children, Edward r. Hewitt,
Erskine Hewitt, Mrs. ]. o. Green, Miss
Sarah Hewitt and Miss Eleanor G. Hewitt,
were summoned. and with their mother re-
mained by the bedside until the end.
The funeral services. which will be con-
Quoted by Bishop Potter, will be held in
Calvary church, Of which Mr. Hewitt was a
member, on Wednesday.
Father of steel Industry.
Abram Stevens Hewitt had been living in
retirement for the past fifteen years or more,
after having rounded off long and ardu-
Gus public career as congressman, mayor
of New York and other positions. His
days were the days during which the
foundations OF Americas present pre-emi-
nence in matters industrial were being laid,
and 1t is largely due to his energy and
foresight that the country occupies its
present proud position in the worlds af-
fairs. Politically he did much, but indus
trially far more, and it is as one Of the
pioneers in the steel business OF the United
States that he will be chiefly remembered.
Born in Haverstraw, N. Y, on July 81,
1922, he was over so at the time of his
death but he retained his mental and many
of his physical powers to the end. His
education began in the public schools OF
New York city and was completed at
Columbia university where he graduated
in 1912 at the head OF his class, after hav>
ing supported himself through college by
teaching. After taking his degree he re-
mained at Columbia for two years as assist
ant professor Of mathematics, and then
went to Europe with Peter Cooper, his
subsequent patiBer IN business.
The next year lard study won him ad-
mission to the New York bar, but falling
eyesight compelled him to relinqulsh the
practice of his chosen profession and led
to his first connection with the steel indus
1 try, shen in its infancy in America. The
| business then founded under the style of
Cooper & Hewitt still continues and con-
trolls the Trenton. Rlngwood, Pequest and
Durham iron works, which largely owe their
| prominence to Mr.. Hewitt's energy and re,
| sources.
| During the civil war he was able, owing
to a special study Of gunmaking in Eng
! land, to supply the government with war
material, which, although 1t materially
| assisted the union forces in the historic
| struggle, cost the then young firm heavy
! financial losses.
In the course of his Industrial career Mr.
! Hewitt was instrumental in introducing to
! America the Martins-Siemens, or OPEN
| hearth, method of manufacturing steel,
which has done as must almost as any one
thing to promote the development Of the
| INDUSTRY IN tnls country. ~
Never Had n strike.
Although a wealthy man and one whose
fortune was built up by hard toll and un
remitting thought, Mr.. Hewitt was never
hard taskmaster, for during all the years
he was in business his works were never
closed day through any difference Of opin-
| ion between labor and capital, and even In
periods Of financial depression he kept
the plant running at a loss rather than
dlsplace any OF his work people.
The plan of the Cooper union was his and
the success Of that institution is looked
upon by many as his most enduring monu-
ment. 1t was a labor Of love to him and oc-
| cupied much OF his thought, even after the
weight of years led to his virtual retire
ment from active participation in the ~
fairs OF the world. For more than a quar-
ter OF a century ne bestowed upon 1t, vol
unfairly. an amount of labor exceeding
that OF many college presidents.
AS a politician Mr.. Hewitt is noteworthy
as one Of the few who ever defeated PresI.
dent Roosevelt in a fight for ONCE. It wal
in 1886 that he was nominated by the demo.
Gratis for mayor Of New York and found
himself ranged against the late Henry
George and Mr.. Roosevelt. When the votei
were counted he headed the poll with 90,
552, Mr.. George came next with 6S, ,110 anC
Mr.. Roosevelt last of all with so 435 Hi
administration of the city was marked BY
rigid enforcement of the laws and a dis
position to hold all his subordinate officers
most strictly to their duty
But this was the crowning point, not thu
beginning of his political life. He first ell
tered public affairs in an oficial ca2acit!
in 1874 when he was elected to congress
where he served with the exception OF on,
term till 1887. In 1876 he was chairman o
the national democratic committee and a
such had to organize the campaign agains
his lifelong friend and partner, Pete
Cooper, who ran that year for president OF
the greenback ticket.
All this time he had been an arden
democrat, but two years ago the campaign
for free silver led him reluctantly bu
firmly to withdraw his support from the
party and throw his energies on to the re
publican side.
In the course of his career Mr.. Hewitt
was the recipient Of many honors. He wa
made an honorary LII ID. of Columbia Il
1887 and was president of the Alumni as
ISOLATION in 1883; in 1876 he was electe
president of the American Institute Of Min