The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-24
Former Secretary Of War
Passed Away Suddenly at
Washington Home.
HEART TROUBLE BLAMED
FOR his SUDDEN DEMISE
Had Been Suffering for Sometime But
There Was no Premonition Of an
Early Death-Deceased Was sena-
tor From Michigan and Former
-
Member Of McKinley's Cabinet.

Washington, Jan. A.-United States
Senator Russell A. Alger of Michigan,
former secretary of war, died sudden
ly at his home in this city at s:45
o'clock this morning. There were
practically no premonitory symptoms
that the end was near. At half past
8 o'clock the senator had pleasant
chat with Mrs. Alger in her room, and
then went down stairs. A few min
utes later the senator suffered a re-
currence of heart trouble from which
he had suffered for long time and
death came quickly.
Senator Alger had not been feeling
we'll for several days. Tuesday night
he expected to attend dinner at the
home of Representative William AL
den Smith, but at the last moment
word came from him that he would
not be able to come.
Senator Alger was in the senate
chamber Tuesday afternoon, where he
stayed throughout most of the entire
session, listening to the discussion of
the Brownsville affair. About 4
O'Clock he retired to the cloak room
where he sat with Colonel Ransdall,
sergeant at arms of the senate, and
Senator Warner of Missouri. telling
war stories.
Russell Alexander Alger was born
in Medina county, Ohio, Feb. o. 1885,
He was left an orphan at 12 years
of age and for seven years he work.
ed on a farm, earning money with
which to attend school during the
winters. After he had completed his
education he taught school for two
years, and was admitted to the bar
in 1859. He practiced law in Cleve-
land for short time and then moved
to Michigan, where he began lumber
ing in a small way. In Sept, 1851, he
enlisted in the Second Michigan regi-
ment and went to the front.
He rose from the rank of captain
to that of major-general of volunteers.
His gallant service on particular oc-
casion at Bonneville, KY, is described
by General Sheridan in his Personal
Memoirs" It was, as General Sheri-
dan says, "the quick and desperate
work that is usually imposed on a
forlorn hope" and materially assisted
in making success of one of the most
brilliant actions of the war, where
Sheridan, by taking desperate chances,
triumphed over force estimated at
5000 men, Sheridan's force being only
917.
General Alger subsequently COM
manded the Fifth Michigan cavalry,
and was wounded in the Gettysburg
campaign. In March, 1864, he was
special commissioner from the war
department in connection with the
presidents amnesty proclamation.
Returning to Michigan at the close
of the war General Alger founded the
firms of Alger, Smith & Co., and the
ManistiQue LAUNDERING company,
which own and operate extensive tim
Der tracts and mills dn Michigan and
Minnesota. He was governor of
Michigan in 1885 and 1886, and lead
ing candidate for president at the re-
publican national convention in 1888.
He was secretary of war during the
conflict with Spain and resigned In
1899. In 1902 he was appointed United
States senator to succeed James
Mcmillan, deceased, ant the follow
ing year he was electef for the full
term. He served one ferm as COM
mander-in-chief Of the Grand Army of
the Republic and was the author OF
u,,6o1v rand hiaf0rv Of the SDaniSh-