The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1903-04-24
HELD HIGH PUBLIC OFFICES
WAR GOVERNOR, UNITED STATES
SENATOR AND SECRETARY
OF WAR.

Sey,T Minnesota lISIs IclilIoi Adi So'
ernor and the last of the war govern
ors. died at his residence, 200 South
Exchange street, few minutes after
o'clock last evening. J His death,
while not unforeseen, ipfyleW OF MS
extreme age, Lightweight years, and
his i'll health since last February, was
unexpected, and will come as shock
to the large number OF friends In this
city as we'll as the people of all the
state to whom he was known during
a long and honorable public career.
While he had been confined to the
house for two months with an attack
of govt, the immediate cause OF his
death was heart failure, due doubtless
to old age. He passed away peace
fully and without pain, surrounded by
his family, his mind retaining to the
last its full vigor and clearness.
Gov. Ramsey is survived by his
daughter and her three children. one
of whom is named for him, A. r. Fur
ness. They all reside in st. Paul.
Loses Foremost Citizen.
In the death of Alexander Ramsey
Minnesota loses one of her foremost
citizens, and one who in his own ca
reer personified the states story and,
more Indirectly, the story OF the great
Northwest. First governor of the ter
ritory in 1849, second governor of the
state ten years later, and senator lor
the twelve years between 1868 and
1875, his public service is so closely
interviewer with Minnesota's progress
from a rangeless wilderness to its
present position among the states that
the state over whose birth he pre-
sided, and to whose service the best
years of his life were given, remains
as the monument to his name.
And while he served with conspicu-
Gus ability as secretary of war in Pres
ident Hayes cabinet and as a member
of the "Edmunds commission" on the
question of Mormonism in Utah, it is
with the name of his state that he
will be known and remembered.
1t was no easy task to which he
turned when he took UP his duties as
the first territorial governor, and one
withal which required a tact, firm
ness and a steadfastness and honesty
of purpose such as but few men could
have brought to the work. But Gov.
Ramsey, although a young man, more
than fulfilled his mission. His early
policy with the Indians was one of
fair dealing, which afterward did
%N 1irh tho 6orly4 loJ,c Nf tho
Indian wars, while his firmness during
the outbreak itself taught them that
he was to be feared as we'll as trusted.
Last Of the War Governors.
Gov. Ramsey was the last of the
war governors, a group of men who,
for loyalty, high resolve and tireless
energy, has yet no equal in the United
States. AS war governor fortunate
chance gave him the distinction of
offering the first quota of troops to
President Lincoln for the defense of
the Union, and it was also his efforts
which enabled Minnesota, in spite Of
its sparse. settlements and feeble pop
ulation to furnish ten full regiments
for the war and to keep it's quota in
full strength during those five years
while carrying on a struggle against
the Indians within its own borders,
the magnitude of which is lost only
in the greater struggle Of the nation.
In politics Gov. Ramsey has been a
Republican since the foundation of
the party, but while man of strong
conviction, he never was partisan in
the sense that he was blind to the
good qualities Of those who differed
most strongly from him politically
Probably no man in the state had a
frmer hold on the affections of all
classes, and Gov. Ramsey's death will
be felt throughout the state as a per.
sonal grief.
Elected to Congress at Twenty-Eight
This distinguished citizen, perhaps
the most eminent in the early history
OF Minnesota, was born near Harris
burg, Pa, Sept. 8, 1916. He was edu.
Gated in Lafayette college at Easton
Pa. He studied law and was admitted
to the bar in 1889. He early evinced
a taste for politics and became active
IN the campaigns in his district. In
1843, when but twenty-eight years OF
age, he was elected to congress, He
was reelected in 1874 and positively
declined denomination in 1916. On
April 2, 1S49, President Tyler appoint
ed him the first governor of the new
~ created Territory of Minnesota. He
arrived in st. Paul, the capital of the
territory, on May 81, 1S49, and imme
dfately assumed the duties of his Of
ice. He served as governor of the
territory until May 5, 1853. In 1856
he was elected mayor of St.Paul. On
IAN. o, 1850, he took the. chair of gov.
ernor of the State of Minnesota, being
the second governor elected by the
new state. He served in that capacity
until July 10, 1863.
sour Quota Is Ready, Mr.. President
Alexander Ramsey will probably
live longest in history as the last OF
the loyal war governors of the South