The Washington herald., 1909-04-10
ETHAN HITCHCOCK
CALLED BY DEATH
Former Secretary of Interior
Dies at Daughters Home.
WILL BE BURIED IN ST. LOUIS
Was First Ambassador to RUSSIA,
and Served in the Cabinets Of
Presidents Mckinley and ROoSe-
veIt-Was "A Great Grandson of the
Hero of Fort TicOnderOga.

/ A'Faih CANNED ELnan Allen HITCHCOCK
I former Secretary Of the Interior and the
I first American Ambassador TO Russia. at
/ the home OF his son-in-law. Lieut. Com
mander Sims, L. S. y, 122S Seventeenth
street northwest. at Il o'clock yesterday
morning.
Although seventy-four years Of age. Mr..
Hitchcock had been in good health until
he contracted a severe cold in St. Louis
I six weeks ago.
/ At Mr.. Hitchcock's bedside when he
died were Mrs. Hitchcock. Commander
and Mrs. Sims. Mr. and Mrs. John S.
Shepley, the latter daughter OF the late
/ ex-Secretary; Miss Mary Hitchcock. and
/ George c. Hitchcock. a near relative.
The body VIII be conveyed 10 st. Louis
to-day. arriving there tomorrow. when
funeral services will be held. ard inter
ment viii be in Beuefontaine Cemetery,
that city.
Mr. Hitchcock's illness was not
thought TO be dangerous until ne came
10 Washington about three weeks ago
10 consult specialists. He was confined
20 his bed from that time. Death was due
10 complication OF kidney. heart, and
pulmonary troubles He sank rapidly for
The week preceding his death, and physi-
clans gave UP al hope Thursday night.
Had Notable Career.
Former Secretary Hitchcock had a dis
/ tinguished public career. He was born in
Mobile. Ala. September I9. 1855. as the
son Of Judge Henry and Anne Erwin
/ Hitchcock He came from a family OF
historical distinction. His grandmother.
Lucy Allen Hitchcock. was a daughter
Of the famous Green Mountain patriot.
Ethan Allen. His brother. Col Henry
/ Hitchcock. served with distinction in the
! civil war on the Union side
His early bOyhOOd was spent IN New
/ Orleans and in Nashville where he at
tended the public schools Later he took
/ a course at military academy at New
I Haven. Conn, where he was graduated
[ in 1855
After leaving the academy he settled I'm
s.. Louis, where he became engaged IN
/ the mercantile business In IS66 ne went
10 China, where some Of his relatives
were IN business. and entered the com
mission house OF Olyphant & Company.
Within six years he became a partner IN
this firm. In 1872 he retired from business
and spent two years travelling IN Europe.
Returning 70 this country in 1874 he re-
entered the business world. becoming
president of several manufacturing. min
ing. and railroad companies. His business
affairs brought him 10 Washington fre-
quently, especially IN regard 10 changes
IN the tariff. and II was while here that
he made the acquaintance Of President
Mckinley The acquaintance gradually
developed into warm personal friendship.
In 1897 President Mckinley appointed
Mr.. Hitchcock Minister % Russia, belev-
ing that his business ability made him
especially qualified TO bring about de-
yelopment Of larger trade relations be
tween the two countries. President Nc
Kinley was particularly desirous Of ex-
tending our export trade TO Russia. and
as Mr. Hitchcock was quite successful in
this. the American legation was raised
10 the rank Of embassy. and he was ap-
pointed the first American Ambassador
10 the court Of St Petersburg. During
the war with Spain he rendered valuable
services I'm keeping the Russian govern
ment well posted on the issues involved
in the struggle. and in preventing any in
ternational complications between the two
countries.
Becnme Secretary of Interior.
IN December. 1898 President Mckinley
cabled him an offer Of the Secretaryship
of the Interior. TO succeed Cornelius H.
Bliss. who had resigned Mr.. Hitchcock
accepted and returned TO this country
He was reappointed March >. 1901. in Nc
KinIey's second administration. AS
Cabinet officer he displayed remarkable
skill in controlling the intricate interests
Of the department over which he pre-
sided.
At the personal request Of President
Roosevelt he rerIained in Office during
the first Roosevelt administration. and
was reappOinted March s. 1906. He re-
signed the Secretaryship March 4. 1s01
His most conspicuous service while a
Cabinet officer was the prosecution Of
the land fraud cases, in which several
prominent public men were involved, in
cluding Senator Mitchell Of oregon. and
Binger Hermann. formerly Commissioner
OF the General Land ONCE. Mr.. Her
mann was acquitted, hut Senator Mitchell
was convicted
Mr.. Hitchcock was a member Of the
board OF trustees Of the Carnegie Institu-
ton and Of the New York Society OF the
Cincinnati He receil ID the honorary de-
gree Of IL D. from the University OF
Missouri. Harvard. and Washington Uni
versity. at ST. Louis