The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-19
SENATOR ELKINS DEAD.
Loss TO Veterans as Well as to the
Scnate-A Man of Big Work and
Generous Impulses.

United states Senator stephen b. FL
kins is dead, and while the United
States Senate sincerely mourns his loss
it cannot be doubted that the veterans
of the war of the rebellion in general
have cause to mourn, for he was one OF
their number, and his efforts were al
ways turned in the direction of aiding
them.
Senator Elkins died on the night of
Jan. at his home here in Washington.
Senator Elkirs was a man OF affairs.
His life may be summed up as follows:
Born, Perry County, o.. Sept. 26,
1871.
Graduated by University of Missouri,
1860.
Enlisted in 1861.
Admitted to Missouri bar, 1864.
Went to New Mexico to practice law,
1864.
Member of Territorial Legislature.
1865.
Territorial Attorney G eneral, 1S6s-69.
United States District Attorney,
1S70-72.
Delegate 43d and 44th Congresses
from New Mexico, 1S73-77.
Secretary of War in President Harri-
sons Cabinet, 1923.
Senator from West Virginia, 1895 till
time Of death.
His was a great life filed with activ-
ity from youth to the day OF his death.
While his parents We're not poor, they
we're not rich enough to rear any OF
their children in idleness, and Mr.. Ell
kinS was early pushed to the-front. He
was only / 8 years of age when he grad
uated at the head of his class in the
Missouri University. His own story of
these graduating days is particularly in
terestng to the veterans.
Back in 1860, when my class was
graduated from the University of Mis-
souri,. Gov. Sterling Price addressed
us on graduation day, and afterward
urged us to stand by the South in the
approaching conflict. In the end Gov.
Price became one of the leading Cen
erals in the Confederate army, and all
but two of the class entered that SER
vice. We were graduated almost under
the guns OF the civil war, and feeling
was high in Missouri and the Border
States. My father and the brother next
to me joined the Confederates. but [
had read the Lincoln and Douglas de-
bates, and for some reason--a boy of
10 does not always know just why-1
separated from the others of my family
and my classmates and stood by the
Union.
This made matters very warm in our
family, and my brother and | came
near to fighting it out even before we
got into the blue and gray uniforms"
1t was while young ElkinS was wait
ing, with his regiment, for uniforms
and equipment, preparatory to being
sworn into the service of the Federal
Government, that he had a narrow es-
cape from being executed by the MEM
bers of Quantrell's guerrilla band. He
was riding outside the lines when he
was captured. The guerrilla leader was
annoyed because Elllins had been
brought before him instead of being
put out of the way Immediately. At
this iuncture Cole Younger. one of the
who
a member of the band recognized Mr..
Elkins and intcrceded with Quantrell
for him. AS result of his pleading
Mr.. Elllins was permitted to get away.
Many years later, when Senator
from West Virginia. Mr.. EIkins was in
strumental g in procuring for Cole
Younger. then life prisoner in the
Minnesota Penitentiary. a full pardon.
When his military service was over
and he had been admitted to the bar in
1864, young Elkins began to feel that
there were greater opportunities farther
West than could be found in Missouri.
A natural spirit of adventure might
have had something to do with his de-
cision, but, at any rate. he set out for
the Territory of New Mexico, across the
arid plains. About two-thirds of the
population of the Territory at that time
was Spanish and the youthful lawyer
found himself handicapped in equip
With the customary energy he started
in to learn the language. 1t is a tradi-
ton among some of his old friends that
he mastered Spanish within six months,
and that he soon became a fluent speak
er in that language His abilities soon
attracted general recognition, and his
knowledge of Spanish increased his
practice until he was regarded as the
foremost lawyer of the Territory.
Senator ElkinS'S career as a public
man and financier is we'll known to
the whole country. He was quick am
bilious and possessed an unusual capaci-
ty for making friends and keeping
! them. He was a personal friend and
| admirer of both Blaine and Harrison.
His first wife was a Miss Jacobs, of
Wellington, Mo-, and his second wife
| was Miss Davis, daughter of Henry B.
Davis. Of West Virginia, former candi-
date for Vice President of the United
States
Senator Elkins and his family have
| been prominent in the social life of
Washington ever since Mr.. Elkins was
| appointed Secretary of War in the Cab
| met of President Harrison. He has
| several children, those best known to
| the country being his son, Davis Elkins,
who takes his fathers place in the
| United States Senate, and Miss Kath-
crime Elkins, q typically fine American
| girl, for whose hand many titles have
| been offered, among them the Duke de
| Abruzzi, one of the finest representa-
| tives of foreign blood and capital who
| has ever sought the hand of an Ameri-
| can woman. Miss Ellxins idoliZed her
| father, and was in turn idoliZed by him.
| The sturdy Americansm of Senator Ell
| kins gave protest against the marriage
| of his daughter to a foreigner, and there
| is no doubt at all that the marriage
was held in abeyance at his request.
| Since the death of Senator Eikins the
gossip has been again revived, as it is
| known that Mrs. Elkins favored the
| marriage and that Miss Elkins was
| more than fond of the young Italian,
| and there is more than a suggestion
| that If the Duke de AbruZzi again lays
| his coronet at her feet Miss Elkins will
| become a Duchess. Coincident with
| the death of Senator Elkins came the
| report that the Duke was engaged to q
very charming Montenegran Princess,
but on this side it is not believed that
after the ardent suit he paid to Miss
Elkins. and with the knowledge that
| she in part reciprocated. the Duke
would so precipitouSly marry some 9TH
er woman.
The body of Senator Elkins was car
ried back TO Elkins. Va, the town which
| he established, named and practically
| kept going. Interment was on the top
of n wind-swept hill in the Elkins plot
The United States Senate has within
| the last few months lost six of its old
guard. Senator Elkins being the last to
| go There are only about half dozen
of the older Senators and statesmen
left, but the going away Of no member
of that great body has caused greater