The Washington times., 1909-04-23
FORMER SENATOR
STEWART IS DEAD
AFTER OPERATION
Nevada Statesman, Long
Prominent in National
Politics, Succumbs.
FRIEND OF LINCOLN
IN TIME OF WAR
Hale and Hearty Until a Few
Weeks Ago-Born in
1927.

Morris Stewart, of Nevada, one of the
most picturesque and interesting figures
in American public life, oied this morn
ing at 7 o'clock at Georg stown Univer-
sity Hospital, aged eighty-two years.
Death was due to organic trouble
which was aggravated by the former
Senator's advanced age. In hopes of
prolonging his life, an operation was
performed on him by DR.. George Tully
Vaughn on March 81 and while the dis
tinguished patient rallied on several oc-
casions, his Improvement was only tenn
porary. He grew steadily weaker dur
ing the .ast stages of his illness, and
death came peacefully as II he had sunk
into gentle sleep.
At his side when he breather his last
was Mrs. Stewart, whom the former
Senator married about three years ago.
The funeral arrangements viii be COM
pleted later today. the body having been
removed 70 the Lee undertaking estab-
hshment Interment will probably be
in local cemetery. az Mr.. Stewart re-
garded WashingtoR as his home in re-
cent years.
Native of New York.
Senator Stewart was a native Of New
York, born at Lv>ns, Wayne county
He was a student at Yale when the
gold excitement IL California led him
TO drop study and Join the argonauts
OF forty-nine- He worked with the
pick for a year, succeeded, and when
fe had money enough resumed che
study Of law, and was admitted to the
bar. He was district attorney, and
afterward attorney general of Califor-
MIA.
In 1850 he removed to Nevada, and
there made one fortune as a lawyer and
another as one Of The men who deveI-
oped. In the Comstock lode. the greatest
paying miEe ever openeC. He served
in the Territorial and state Legislatures,
and was elected by the first Legislature
Of Nevada to the United States Senate.
Came as Republican.
When he came to Washington drst
he was a Republican He was supposed
TO be the richest man in the Senate,
many time millionaire. But his busi-
ness did not prosper while he was in
Washington He lived IN magnificent
fashion here, and was reelected in
1863
At the end of the ,ygefye years OF
service financial reverses had left him
without his fortune. and he went back
to the State with the announcement
that he would spend few years getting
new fortune, when he would re-enter
politics. He was as good as his word.
He resumed the pracuce OF law and
mining operations. In both he was one
of the most successful men in the en-
tire West. He was soon a millionaire
once more, and in 1887 was again a can
dldate for the Senate, as a Republican,
and was elected. He was reelected IN
1875 again as Republican
Silver as Issue.
At the time Of this last election the
silver movement was gaining great
headway in the West, and Stewart went
with his State. He became a Democrat
during the agitation which had its crisis
in the 1886 campaign, and as a Demo-
crat was once more a candidate before
the Nevada Legislature in 1899, and was
elected. He served this term out, and
in 1906 retired, once more aImog- In
poverty, for again his business Cffairs
had gone awry while he vas in politics
Almost eighty years old, this remark
able man gathered together the scat
tered remnants Of his second lost for
tune, and again made the announcement
that it was back to the mine for him.
He could do once more what he had
twice done already.
He was in excellent health and as full
Of faith and confidence as fifty years
before. He sold considerable real
lnplun
estate about washington. includ-
ing some farms, at great sacrifice, set
tled with his creditors, and returned to
Nevada,
Again Makes Fortune.
Once more fortune smiled on him.
He was just IN time for the great
gold mining revival in Nevada, and
his experience IN both law and min
ing was soon turned to golden ac-
count He made a new fortune, and
when once more in comfort and Sc
curity returned to Washington and
welded Mrs. Ida Cone, widow Of
Major Cone Of the army, who sur
wives him.
Since that time he has lived In
Washington, attending to business af-
fairs and taking much interest ia all
public questions.
will take place Sunday, but where,
and whether the remains will be
buried or cremated, has not been de-
cided.
Had Wide Acquaintance
Few men in public life ever enjoyed
a wider acquaintance with public men
or ever knew more varied career than
Mr.. Stewart He was a familiar figure
in Washington, where for several years
past he has practiced law, making his
headquarters in the CorcOran building.
Tan and straight, and with a long how-
ing white beard, despite his eighty-two
years he bore himself as a man of
sixty.
lie built the first Of the palatial resi-
! dences in the west end of Washington.
| in Dupont Circle, known as Stewart
/ Castle" a home which was subsequent
/ " bought and dis ismantled by former
Senator William A. Clark of Montana.
About this time he began TO invest
| heavily IN Washington real estate, and
as his early profits We're considerable,
! tSewart conceived the idea of forcing
| 1cnntfnrrnd On eirfh nnrn