Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-31
DIES AT AGE OF s.
Passing of Aaron H. Byington,
Friend of Lincoln.
VETERAN NEWSPAPER MAN
Was for Years Identified With A.
fairs in Washington-Served
Country Abroad.

Aaron Homer Byington. who died at
the home of his son, Stewart w. Bying-
ton, in Flushing, l.. l., Thursday at the
age of eighty-five years. is we'll remem-
bered by the residents of Washington of
ante-bellum days. Mr.. Byington went
from Washington about December L to
spend the Christmas holiday season at
his sons home and became i'll about a
week ago. He had previously enjoyed
excellent health.
Native OF New York
Mr.. Byington was born in Herkimer,
n. Y. July %. 1926 and while boy his
family removed to Norwalk, Conn. There
he learned the printing business in the
office of the Norwalk Gazette. Later he
Usher for six years.
Mr.. Byington early in life was active in
politics and was a delegate to the con-
vention that nominated Abraham Lincoln
for President. When the civil war broke
out he came to Washington and became
Washington correspondent OF the New
York Tribune. In that position at such
critical time in the cOuntryS history he
was brought in close contact with the
White House and the man he had helped
to make President. He soon became
confidential friend Of Mr.. Lincoln.
When the Confederate forces made an
advance on the capital Mr.. Byington was
active in the organization Of the wash
ington-Clay Guards, and reported to Pres
ident Lincoln for service.
Shortly afterward he received an APP
pointment from Gov. Buckingham OF
Connecticut as commissary general with
the Connecticut troops. During the bat
tie Of Gettysburg the provisions Of the
nth CnnnppficNt Regiment n
hausted. The men were worn out with
the long fighting and the lack of food
was a very serious matter to the half
starved men. At this critical juncture
Mr. Byington went off on a foraging ex-
petition.
Wins a Gold Medal.
Near the battlefield he came across a
small bakeshop, where he found just six
barrels of -four in stock. He ordered the
storekeeper to bake quickly all the bread
he could, pressed into service an old, d.
lapidated wagon. and drove with the
bread rapidly as he could to his fam
ished comrades. Standing up in the
wagon, Mr.. Byington tossed out the
lOaves of bread to the cheering soldiers.
Mr.. Byington was awarded gold medal
at the close OF the war for this work.
Mr.. Byington won distinction in news
paper circles as we'll as among military
send over the wires to the President and
official Washington the story Of the bat
tie of Gettysburg. He learned that the
wires his colleagues intended to use for
jumpedAon his horse and gallopedto q small
town near Gettysburg, where he found a
man with telegraph outfit. He used this
outfit to cut in on the Washington and
New York wires.
In the line of war-reporting enterprise
Mr. Byington is credited with another
coup. 1t was he who secured Gen. Sher- |
mans report OF the Atlanta march be- |
the war closed he joined with the late
Charles A. Dana In the purchase Of the |
New York Sun, becoming publisher of |
the Sun. Later he disposed Of his in |
terest.
Prominent in Politics,
Mr.. Byington was for many years |
prominent in the politics of Connecticut |
and was deleagte to the conventions |
which nominated Garfield and Mckinley |
for the presidency. He was state SEN
ator and served as president OF the state |
senate for one term. He also repre- |
scented Norwalk in the lower house of |
the legislature. In 1892 the state senate |
appointed him ex-officio member andI
fellow of the Yale Corporation.
VI HCdLiS I"culS CdLS bNlIlSlOH
was associated with W. A. Croffut. now |
of this city, in the publication Of the |
Palladium at New Haven, Conn.
Mr.. ByingtOn was appointed consul to |
Naples by President Mckinley in 1897. |
He occupied that position for twelve
years. and while he was in Italy his |
wife. who before her marriage was Miss |
Harriet s. Richmond OF st. Andrews, |
n. B.. died. AS Mr.. Byingtons health |
was affected by the climate. he came |
back to this country to spend his last |
days with his sons and friends here and |
in Connecticut.
While he was in Italy he discovered |
that some members of an Italian secret |
society had sailed for this country with |
designs upon the life of President Roose-
welt. He cabled to the authorities at New
York. and the Italians were stopped at |
quarantine and We're Immediately return |
ed to that country.
His Surviving Children.
Mr.. Byington is survived by three sons |
George r. Byington CT New York, Stew |
art W. Byington Of Flushing and VIII
liam II. Byinston of Norwalk. Three |
sisters survive him, Mrs. Mary F.. Eakle |
and Mrs. Celestia Talbot of Washington, |
d. c., and Mrs Elizabeth Quintard of |
Bethel, Conn. He Is also survived by |
two grandsons, Homer Nj. Byington,
United States consul at Bristol. England,
and George r. ByinEton of Flushing;
one granddaughter. Mrs. Benjamin F.
Andrews. now in Porto Rico and three
great -grandchildren.
PLASTER DROPS. FOUR HURT.