New-York tribune., 1910-06-19

ninth child Of HIS parents. who had three
children younger than Daniel. The Revo-
lutionary War forced the removal OF the
family to Duchess County until peace
came. The var was over before the ooy
could take much practical interest In IL. he
prepared himself for college, and was grad
mated from Columbia In 1875, receiving the
first honors of his class He was admitted
as an attorney at the bar of the Supreme
Court when twenty-three years old. and
in 1901 was elected representative from New
York City, In committee TO revise tne
constitution of the state. In 1902 he was
elected to the State Legislature and IN
1903 chosen to Congress, but before that
body convened he resigned his seat TO be-
como Supreme Court judge. In $50! ne
was elected Governor, serving continuously
until 1917. He was vice-president or the
United States. serving two terms, with
President James Monroe, retiring only
three months before his death. which oc-
CURED on June II. 1875. He IS buried In
ST. Marks churchyard. New York City.
Lived Most of Life on Staten Island.
D. D Tompkins married Miss Minthorne.
daughter of Mang1e Minthorne, wealthy
and honorable citizen Of New York. and
three sons and three daughters were born
of their union. After his marriage he lived
most of his life on Staten Island. near his
father-in-law's house. and Tonpkinsville Is
named after him. Many good things are
told about the excellent personal qualities
of the Governor. With all his amazing IN
dustry and generous patriotism, however,
he was careless in his business accounts.
even when over 100000 was expended
under his care for the nation and state
Some of his bitter political enemies did not
hesitate to charge him with dishonesty.
though all the facts and documents prove
that simply lack of care and skill were his
chief faults. The all-day speech Of Martin
Van Buren, in his favor, completely vindt-
eating the war Governor, is well known.
His vigor in defeating dishonest legislation
makes one think of the present Governor.
At any rate. when Tompkins found that
money was being freely offered for the pur-
chase of Senator'S votes to secure an ex-
elusive charter to the Bank of America he
adjourned the Senate for months. deferring
If not defeating the passage Of the act.
The same men, who, hoping TO win Exec
utive approval, had called him "the man
OF the people," afterward. when foiled,
used large vocabulary IN denuncfation
Of him The delay of the government in
settling his accounts made the last three
years of his life those of melancholy, but
long after his death ample vindication was
given when it was too late. Critical his
torians probably will all unite in the gen
eral verdict that Tompkins Contributed
more than any one man in the Union to
the success of our arms IN repelling the
invaders of our soi,'' and the county named
after him honors herself in honortng her
namesake.
The Ithaca bronze tablet, besides the
dates of birth and decease. contains the
Tompkins coat of arms. seal of the city.
seal of the De Witt Historical Society of
Tompkins County and arms of the State or
New York. with an outline of the chier
public services of the great war Governor.
The unveiling will take place on the birth
day of the statesman, June q.