Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1904-06-03
MATTHEW srAN1nT quay
United States Senator from Penn
sylvania Dead-Pssses Away
After Long Illness

ANaAAAH 1911 atANHN AAHNN
After Long Illness
United States Senator M. 8. Quay
died at his home In Beaver last Sat
urday afternoon, May 2Bth, after an
illness Of several months Of gastritls.
Though there had been hopes that
his condition was improving, it was
realized several days before his death
that the chances were decidedly
against regaining his health. His
illness began last spring he left
Washington and went to Atlantic
City. The change was Of little bene-
At and he returned. Three weeks
ago last Wednesday he went to the
home Of his brother at Morganza and
while there he had a serious relapse.
He then went to Beaver, his home,
and failed rapidly. On Friday he
had a sinking spell and the same
night fell asleep from which he
awakened but once. For nearly
twelve hours before his death he was
unconscious.
The funeral was held Tuesday and
the remains were inferred in Beaver
beside those Of his father and mother.
It is not within the compass Of our
space to give more than brief out
line of the man who for nearly half a
century has occupied SO large a share
Of public attention, first within the
confines Of his native state and later
in the affairs of the nation.
He was born at Dillsburg, in York
county, September 80, 1888, and was
a son Of Rev. Anderson B. Quay, a
Presbyterian minister. Some six
years after the family removed to
Pittsburg and later to Beaver.
Quay was educated partly by his
father and in the academies of Beaver
county and finally graduated from
Jefferson College, Washington county.
He entered law Office at Pitts
burg, but soon left and went to Texas
where he taught school for a year
and then came North and resumed
his law studies. In 1854 he was
admitted to the bar aud the same
year appointed prothonotary of the
county. At the breaking out of the
Civil war he resigned the Office and
enlisted in the 10th Pa. Reserves
he was appointed assistant commits
sary general with the rank of lieuten
ant colonel. Soon after Governor
Curtin appointed him private secre
tary and he 80 won regard that he
was made colonel Of the 134th Penn
Infantry and took commission il
August, 1862. Typhoid fever com
PEELED him to resign, but a few day
after he participated, as a volunteer
in the battle Of Fredericksburg, De
cember 13, 1862, and for gallantry IL
that action received from the Wa
Department medal for persona
gallantry. Returning home he wal
appointed military state agent a
Washington. Because of being {
border state raids and invasion
were threatened, and the interests 0
her soldiers in several armies CAV,
him opportunity for the exercise o.
his talents. During this time h
frequently met President Lincoln.
In 1865 he was elected to the legis
Iature. There was contest betweeI
U. s. s. Simon Cameronpnd GovernO
Curtin, rival candidates Tor the sena
torship, as to which should organic
the legislature. Curtin as War Gov
ernor was popular and Cameron hal
the prestige Of two terms in the sen
ate. Cameron put up ]. p. Glass 70
speaker and Curtin, Quay. Jus
before election Quay became a sup
porter Of Glass and Curtin's politica
power was broken. Cameron wa
returned to the Senate and Quay wa
made chairman Of the committee Of
ways and means.
In 1858 Quay was appointed secrC
J tary Of the Republican State Centra
! Committee. In 1878 Governor JOh
F. Hartranft appointed him secretar
5 Of the Commonwealth, and 1876 h
! was delegate at large to the Nationa
E Convention which nominated Hayes
o A bill was soon alter passed by tn
y legislature creating the Office {
q Recorder of Philadelphia and Qua
D was appointed TO the position Whie
y he held for a year and fhen agai
e became Secretary of the Common
i wealth under Governor Hoyt. 500
after q scandal arose and Ia 1873
Samuel Butler, becoming state treal
e urer, refused to assume responsibility
q for affairs and demanded that n
t sum Of $3.50, 600 be made good. 1t
q alleged that Quay was connecte
d with the matter and that Gamer;
and others raised the money to sa'
e further investigation.
h The same year Quay was one
y the 8o6 In the National Conveuti'