Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-07-05
SECRETARY HAY DEAD.
THE FAMOUS DIPLOMAT PASSES
AWAY SUDDENLY.
THOUGHT TO BE on THE ROAD TO RE.
covERY WHEN END GAME
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.


aenlv at his summer home, ''rhe Fells, at
fake sunapee, N. H., shortly after mid
n,vht Friday night. Though be had been in
FERROUS condition for some weeks past, the
nhvsicians aud family thought him on the
rosd TO recovery, and the end came with
staggering suddenness. The day just pre-
ceding his death he had seemed much bet
Ter. and was preparing to sit up the fol-
lowing day.
Death was due to pulmonary embolism-
clot Of blood in a small artery or blood
vessel in the lung.
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.
John-tHay was born in Salem, Ind. on
october S, 1888. On his fathers side he
was OF scotch descent.
The family records say that one OF his
ancestors was John Hay, who was the son
of a scotch soldier in the army OF the
Elector Palatine in Germany, aud who
emigrated to America about the middle OF
the eighteenth century, with four sons,
one Of whom, Adam, served in the war OF
the Revolution and was a friend and as
sociate OF Washington.
Adams son, john Hay, moved from
Kentucky to Illinois to escape the dis
graceIo living in slave state He took
with him his family, except his son
Charles, who studied medicine and settled
In Salem, Ind. lie married daughter of
the Rev. Daniel A. Leonard, OF Rhode
Island, and the late secretary was their
son.
l., -. e.
at the old Eikosi academy in Salem, at
one time a famous institution OF learning
Thence he was sent TO Brown university.
Among his classmates at Brown were
Richard oiney, afterwsrd secretary OF
state, and the late William L. Stone, who
became publisher OF the New York Jour
nal Of Con, nercs. Mr.. Hay graduated in
1858 with the reputation of being the
finest writer the university had produced.
After the graduation young Hay studied
law in the office OF Abraham Lincoln In
Springfield, III. He was admitted to prae-
tioe In therstate of Illinois in 1851. His
iaithiulness and ability had made such an
impression upon Lincoln that when the
great war President went ITO the White
House he took with him the youthful law
yer, who, with John q. Nicolay, became
his private secretary. Lincoln looked upon
him as a friend upon whom he could rely
in all things, political or social, and the
young man was associated with Lincoln
until the latter's death, ON April Is, 1865.
Following that sad event, President
johnson appointed John Hay consul gem
erAl at Paris, and in 1867 he was sent to vi
ennaas charge d'sffaires. Afterward he was
appointed secretary of legation in Madrid
In 1870 Col. Hay returned TO the United
States and became an editorial writer on
the Tribune. Here he remained about five
years. He was afterward in editorial
charge Of the Tribune for seven months,
during Whitelsw Reid's absence in Eu-
rope. He took an active part in politics,
especially in the presidential campaigns,
and spoke frequently on the stump. By
President Hayes he was made first assist
ant secretary OF state.in 1879, which office
he FLIED for two years.
Col. Hay was nominated ambassador TO
England ON March iB, 1897, and during his
residence at the Court of st. james was
particularly acceptable, both TO the Eng
lish and to the American people. tL6 Bic
In 1888 Col. Hay was appointed secretary
OF state by President Mckinley to succeed
Mr.. Day, and upon the death of Presi-
dent Mckinley was reappointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
His military title was won in the Civil
war He was appointed aide-d e-camp to
the President in 1854, and saw active SER
vice the following year under General
Gilmore and General Hunter. He was
brevetted lieutenant colonel for dis
ttnguished services.
As A WRITER.
Ii Col. Hay had never won fame as a
diplomat. he still would have been great
IN the literary world. His Life OF Lincoln,
written in collaboration with John q.
Nicolsy, is the best history of Lincoln ever
written, embodying the most intimate
knowledge of Lincoln, the man, and Lin
coin, the President.
Col. Hays poems also won instant recog-
milton, and gained for him wide reputa-
ton as keen humorist and sympathetic
observer Of human nature. His Pike
County Ballads, published in 1871, Jun
Bludso and Little Brooches were exceed
ingly popular. A complete collection of
his poems was published in 1890. His Cas-
titan Days, studies of Spanish life and
character, the fruit of his soiourn in Spain
as diplomatic officer of the United States,
appeared in 1871.
HIS FAMILY.
Mr.. Hay married Clara, daughter OF the
late Amasa Stone, of Cleveland, Ohio, IN
1874. His father-in-law left him million
dollars or more, and a magnificent house
in Euclid avenue, Cleveland. In later
years MIR. Hay made his home in Wash
ington.
They had four children. The daughters
We're Helen, who in February 1902, mar
fied Paine Whitney, son OF President