Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-14
Had Passed the Biblical Term of
Years by Five.
SYNOPSIS OF LIFE HISTORY
Mechanic and School Teacher, Cap
tain and Magistrate.
SERVED TWO TERMS IN CONGRESS-
Burial VIII BE at Calhoun, In the
Family Plot, where Mrs. Crounse
Was Buried Many Years
since

Former Governor Lorenzo Crounse died
on the stroke OF midnight Thursday He
had been III for a long time, and at diff
ferent periods OF his illness had seemed
on the verge of death, but had rallied in
rather remarkable fashion For the last
few days the former governor has been
failing rapidly and hope of recovery was
practically abandoned early in the week.
Most of Wednesday and all Of Thursday
Mr.. Crounse was in a state Of coma. with
occasional moments Of consciousness.
Lorenzo Crounse was born at Sharon. in
schoharie county. N. Y, Januaty "a, 1884.
Of German descent, both his grandparents
being born across the water. He was the
youngest of seven children. and when n
boy worked in his fathers tannery He
was educated in the common schools and
attended two terms at the New York Con-
ference seminary. teaching school In the
winter to earn money for his expenses
during tn summr trms.
Raised Battery for War.
When p years OF age he began the study
of law and was admitted to the bar in 1857,
at FIT. Plain Montgomery county, N. Y.
opening an office in that town, where he
pIdCllCeO until lnt bItikluH OUT Oh lnt
civil war, when he raised at Ft. Plain
Battery X First regiment New York
Light artillery being chosen captain of
the company. He served four years and
was engaged in several battles. being Sc
verely wounded while holding Beverly's
ford on the Rappahannock river When
partially recovered he resigned his COM
mand and in 1864 moved to Nebraska, set
tling at Rulo. in Richardson county.
In the election in October of that year
the future governor of his state was
chosen one of the county's representa-
tives in the territorial legislature. Two
years later he was appointed member
of the committees on judiciary, revision
of the statutes, and to draft constitu-
tioH 20 be submitted to the voters Of tie
territory the next election. In October.
1866. he was elected justice OF the SUI
preme court. being nominated by unani-
nous vote In the republican state con-
venton held in Plattsmouth. He assumed
this office I'm March, 1867. when the state
was admitted and served a term of six
years and was assigned to the third, or
northern district comprising all the state
north of the Platte river excepting the
counties of Douglas and Sarpy.
Twice in Congress.
Governor Crounse declined denomination
to the bench at the expiration of his ju-
dicial term, but in 1872 was nominated on
the third ballot in state convention for
member of the lower house of congress
He was elected that fall against General
siIas A. Strickland and John Taffe, recelv-
ing 1900 of the 275O0 votes cast. He was
reelected to congress in 1874, but in 1876
was defeated for the senate.
At the close of his congressional cam
paign Mr.. Crounse took up his abode on
a farm in Washington county and in 1879
was appointed internal revenue collector
for Nebraska by President Hayes. Twelve
years later President Harrison appointed
him assistant secretary of the treasury.
In 1892 the republican party nominated
Mr. Crounse for governor, against his de-
sire and in the election that fall he won
by a majority OF about 10000 votes over j.
Sterling Morton, the democratic nominee
and General Charles II. Van Wyck, the
populst nominee. He was inaugurated on
January g. 1893, and served one term. re-
fusing a denomination in 1894 through the
medium Of a letter to the public
Becoming a private citizen once more,
the former governor resided on his farm
in Washington county until 1900. when he
was nominatedl and elected member OF
the state senate, which body came near
electing MIN to the United States senate to
fill out the unexpired term caused by the
death Of Senator Hayward
Governor Crounse was married to Miss
Mary f. Griffitlss in 1860 and to this union
one son and three daughters were born:
William G., Jessie, Gretchen and Marie
The eldest daughter is now Mrs. Gilbert
NJ Hitchcock. Mrs. Crounse died IN 1882
The funeral. for which the time has not
yet been set will be held in Omaha. Burial,
however. will be at Calhoun In the family
burial lot. where Mrs Crounse was laid
many years ago