New-York tribune., 1908-07-03

and as time passed he grew weaker, that the
news of his death not wholly unexpected The
sudden death of his son Marshall, few months
ago. a shock to him, and 1t Is be-
lieved to have had adverse effect on his health
Albert Halstead another son, is American Consul
at Brmrg gham England and the other members
of the family are scattered throughout the country
Murat Halstead former editor in chief of The
Cincinnati Commercal-C Gazette and later of The
Brooklyn Standard Union" born on farm
OF 319 in Butler County Ohio, about twenty
miles from Cincinnati September 2, 1879 HIS
father had removed to Ohio from North Carolina
Murat taught to read before he was four
years old by his mother from newspaper, and he
almost omnivorous reader in his youth
He attended district school until he was eighteen
and after teaching two terms he entered the
Farmers College, institution located seven miles
from Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1851
after taking three years course While he was
still in college ne had been writing for newspapers
and when he graduated he went to Cincinnati
and began writing for THE Cincinnati Atlas. and
later for The Enquirer" He afterward estab-
lished Sunday newspaper in that city. and in
1928 he worked on The Columbian and Great
West a weekly.
On March S, 1858, he obtained employment on The
Commercial local reporter and soon became
editor. In 1854 THE Commercial was reor-
ganized, and May Is Mr.. Halstead became one of
the propretors, owning sixteenth interest lie
was active in the editorial direction, and In 1867
its control passed into his hands. After pursuing
for a time of Independent journalism ne
allied himself with the Republican party In 1872
his paper supported Mr.. Greeley and the liberal
Republican cause heartily.
In 1888 THE Commerciar' and The Gazette"
were consolidated, and Mr. Halstead became the
president of the new company and continued his
editorial control. Although Mr.. Halstead opposed
Mr.. Blaine in 1876, he afterward became one of
his strongest supporters and in 1884 he edited THE
New York Extra" managing The Commercial
Gazette" at the same time from this city. In 1889
Mr. Hastead nominated by President Harrison
for German mission. but the Senate rejected the
nomination by reason of the personal antagonism
he had aroused In 1880 Mr.. Halstead went to
Brooklyn and took editorial charge of THE Brook
lyn Standard Union.' which position he held for
several years
1t has been said of Mr.. Halstead that as a
porter he was remarkable for the variety of things
which he could attend to in given time This
characteristic he retained a news editor, edi-
torial writer and editor in chief. For forty years
he reported the national political conventions. He
saw several wars correspondent, and his
criticisms of the conduct of the armies in the
Prussian war were so vigorous and forcible
that they gained him the title of Field Marshal
While 1t was impossible to estimate the amount of
newspaper writing that he did, he stated a few
years ago that he had undoubtedly written more
than. a million words year for more than forty
years. If printed in book form this newspaper
writing would have amounted TO a library of not
less than five hundred volu mes.
In recent years Mr.. Halstead wrote number Of
books Among them sour Country in War;
..The Story of Cuba" The Story of the Philip
pines" Official History of the War with Spain.
Life of President Mckinley Life of Admiral
Dewey THE Boer and British War and The
War Between Russia and Japan"
Mr.. Halstead married in 1857 to Miss Mary
Banks of Cincinnati, and their golden wedding
anniversary was celebrated on March 2, 1907. They
had seven sons and five daughters. Four of his
sons have active newspaper men, and one OF
them Marshal Halstead, long consul at Brm-
fngham England where, after his recent death, his
brother Albert Halstead, succeeded him.