Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-13
AMERICAN Of
GREAT. FAME
PASSES AWAY

DANVILLE, Ill, Nov. 12
/ (AP)--The fiery spirit Of
Joseph Gurney Cam on,
dimmed to an ember by the
weight Of 90 years, was
quenched by death today.
In the home from which
he went to congress SO
years ago, and amid walls
laden with trophies of his
public life, the patriarch
died at high noon, in the
midst Of a deep sleep.
caused his death, but the general dep
relations of old age had warned his
family several months ago that the end
was near. He told comrades in the
national house, when he quit it's walls
in 1922 that he was going home to die,
home to the rambling brown brick
mansion which he built 65 years ago
for his bride, who preceded him to the
grave.
After his retirement from congress
he continued his daily walks down
town beneath the eIms of Vermillion
street, and the most cartooned face in
America was daily visible behind the
brown curtains of the Second National
bank, which he helped to found. But
MN N aerO /
forego his walks, and he turned to q
daily motor outing, which he continued
until few weeks ago. His mind faded
with his body, and he could recall but
dimly after his Goth birthday last May,
the scenes with which long congress
sional service was vivid. Not waning
memory, however, could keep him in
active, and his last public act, four
years ago, was to turn the. sod for a
new church for the st. James Metho-
dist Episcopal congregation.
Born Quaker, he joined the AEetho-
dist church after leving congress, and
each Sunday until recent weeks found
him in the pew his wife had occupied
throughout her lifetime in Danville.
A funeral air and one of reverence
settled over the city as news of his
death spread. Danville had known for
months that it's foremost citizen had
not long to live and it had filled with
honor his declining days
His Goth birthday was made civic
holiday, and he was guest Of the
club, to which he belonged, at
a birthday party. He did not try to
speak, but he stood behind the man.
IL II
esque hat at the. accustomed angle and
smiled genially above his chin whis-
kers while photographers made rec
ord of the occasion. He even inserted
a cigar between his teeth to make COM
plete the resemblance to the Cannon of
old, although he had largely abandoned
smoking in his later years and had
substituted mild cigars for the stogies
which were recognized throughout the
land as part of the Cannon picture.
Plans for the funeral were incom-
plete tonight, pending the arrival from
San Francisco and Washington of two
Mrs. William Hough-
telling and Mrs. Dorsey Richardson.
Cannon's two daughters, Mrs. Mabel
Leseuere and Miss Helen Cannon, were,
with their father when he died.
Funeral services will be held here
and interment will be in the Danville
cemetery. 1t is believed that Tuesday
may be selected for the last rites.
American knew Cannon as t'Uncle
Joe," the stalwart leader of the lower
house, the fier-eating debater, the ge-
nial whiskered politician elenching a
cigar in his teeth under a broad-brim-
med hat Danville knew him, too, as
Uncle Joe,' and as it most famous
townsman. but it knew him also as
man who came TO great wealth during
1 lifetime here. He was accounted
many times a millionaire, and at his
Continued on rage Eighty