The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-29
SHELBY NJ. CULLOM
DIES At AGE Of 80
Funeral Will Be Held Satur.
day in Hall of Representa-
tives at Springfield, iii.

NEW YORK, Jan. 2S.-Former Senator
Shelby NJ. CuIom Of Illinois died today
after an illness OF more than week,
during which he hovered between life
and death His last words were a wish
that lie might have lived 10 see the
completion Of the national memorial TO
Abraham Lincoln. who was his personal
friend
Since his retirement from the senate
last March Mr.. Cullom had been resident
commissioners OF the commission created
by congress TO build the S2.OOo.000 me-
mortal TO Lincoln.
a little more than week ago he was
taken with grip. His advanced age
put his recovery beyond hope, but mis-
wonderful vitality postponed the end from
one sinking spell to another He was So
years old and had record OF fifty years
OF continuous public service.
Closing Scene.
The former senat tors last hours were
divided between spells of unconscious
ness and short intervals in which he rec
ognized those at his bedside. Although
from hour TO hour. It became apparent
early today when he could take no
nourishment. that the end was not far
off
Later today 1t was decided to have
brief funeral service at the Cullom homo
on Massachusetts avenue at 10 o'clock to-
morrow and take the body TO Springfield,
ILL.,, where the former senator's first and
second wives and all his children are
buried.
The senate adjourned for the day as
mark OF respect to the memory OF the
former senator when his death was an
nounced.
Senator Cullom was colleague Of
Abraham Lincoln and for more than fifty
years striking figure in political life,
thirty years OF which was spent in con-
tinuous service as q senator OF the United
States.
He died without the satisfaction of
knowing that the contract had been
signed for the erection OF the Lincoln
memorial IN this city, for which me
worked during his long career in the
senate,
Biographical Sketch.
Shelby Moore Culom's death ended
nity years of continuous public service
tnat mad made him figure In American
relations with every president from Abra-
ham Lincoln TO Woodrow Wilson
ANDREW Jackson was president Of the
United States when Mr.. CulIom was born
in 1873 in the Elk Spring valley of Ken
tucEy. near the Cumberland, where the
Culloms OF Maryland and the Coffeys OF
NORTH Carolina, drifting westward with
the tides of immigration that set IN at
the close OF the revolution. founded their
| early home.
Kentucky was slave state at his birth
| In free state. The elder Cullom was
| then a friend OF LincoIn's. recommending
the struggling backwoods lawyer TO pros
pectiye clients. Young Cullom, scraping
together the rudiments OF an education
| gained by toillng over rough DrimevaI
roads, became successfully a student at
Mount Morris academy, a country school
| teacher and n lawyer. being admitted TO
| the bar at Springfield in 1856.
When he became city attorney OF
Sprinsaeld he launched upon a political
| career, which for a record OF unhroken
| service. Is unchallenged az exceeding that
| OF any other American,
Becomes Republican.
After the historic Lincoln and Douglas
| debates Culloms intimate association
| with Lincoln caused him to follow Lin
! coin into the Republican party
| During the first year OF President Lin
| coins second term Cullom came to the ma
tional house OF representatives and began
q work which was practically interrupted
| only when he served two terms as COVER
| nor OF Illinois.
Aftor six years in tho house during
\ which he had seen the irnpea chment o}
| Andrew Johnson, he returned to Illinois.
vowing mover again to take office. only 10
| become speaker of the Legislature and
| later governor, AT the Philadelphia con-
vention he placed Grant in nomination for
| his second term, In seventy-five words
! said 10 be tho shortest nominating speech
| ever delivered.
Career in Senate.
Cullom's career as United States sena
tor began In 1888. when he resigned as
| governor and was elected to succeed
! David Davis, His service In the senate
chamber was an unbroken one for thirty
| yelrs-hve consecutive terms-a record
| excelled only by two other men, Senator
Allison. OF Iowa, ard Senator Morrill,, OF
Vermont.
He entered the senate in 1883. spry
active man OF fifty-four. Hc left in l9la