Cook County IL Archives Obituaries.....Douglas, Hon Stephen Arnold 1861
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com August 3, 2007, 11:40 pm

The Daily Dispatch, Jun 6-11, 1861
Death of Hon. Stephen Arnold Douglas.

This well known statesman died in Chicago on Monday last. His wife, wife's 
father and mother, and his own personal relatives, including Dr. Miller, of 
Washington city, were present with him during his last moments.--The remains 
were to be brought to Washington for interment. Senator Cameron has published 
an official obituary notice, speaking of him as a patriot, above all party 
considerations. He will have a public funeral. 
The Daily Dispatch: June 6, 1861


Stephen Arnold Douglas.
The late Stephen Arnold Douglas was born in Brandon, Rutland county, Vermont, 
on the 23d of April, 1813. He learned the trade of a cabinet maker at 
Middlebury, in his native State, and continued for a year in that business, 
but was obliged to abandon it on account of the state of his health. From 
Vermont he removed to Canandaigua, New York, where he pursued the study of the 
law until his removal to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1813. From Cleveland he removed 
still farther West, and finally settled in Jacksonville, Illinois. He obtained 
employment at first as clerk to an auctioneer, and afterwards taught a school, 
still devoting his leisure to the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 
1834, and rose rapidly in his profession, being elected Attorney General of 
the State before he was twenty-two years of age. In 1835 he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives, and at the expiration of his term was 
appointed by President Van Buren, in 1837, Register of the Land Office at 
Springfield, Illinois.--In 1840, he was elected Secretary of State of 
Illinois, and the following year Judge of the Supreme Court. Notwithstanding 
his robust appearance, he seems never to have possessed a strong physical 
organization, and resigned his judgeship, after occupying it for two years, in 
consequence of ill health. From this period his first prominence in national 
polities may be said to date. He was again elected to the United StatesHouse 
of Representatives in 1843, and continued a member of the lower House for four 
years, where he was one of the most active members, able speakers and ardent 
Democrats of that body. He was an advocate of "fifty-four forty or fight," on 
the Oregon question, and was a firm supporter of the Mexican war. One of his 
best speeches was on the question of refunding to Gen. Jackson the fine which 
he was obliged to pay at New Orleans. In December, 1847, he was elected to the 
United States Senate. His course there is fresh in the public memory. He was a 
desperate political gamester, and sacrificed his all, and hazarded his 
country's all, to obtain the Presidency. At one time he was considered a 
national statesman, and a man of intrepid spirit but the manner in which he 
succumbed of late to Lincolnism, proves that he was supple as a willow to the 
popular breeze. What a contrast to Vallandingham, standing almost alone in his 
sublime mora courage and fidelity! It cannot be denied, however, that in the 
death of Senator Douglas the North has lost the greatest man in its limits — 
the only man, in fact, who approached the character and proportions of a 
statesman. 
The Daily Dispatch: June 7, 1861


Remains of Judge Douglas.
Washington, June 4. -- James M. Cutts, Esq., the father-in-law of Mr. Douglas, 
left this evening for Chicago, accompanied by the two younger sons of Judge 
Douglas by his first wife. It is understood here that the people of Illinois 
object to the remains of Mr. Douglas being interred in any other place than in 
that State. 
The Daily Dispatch: June 8, 1861


The last hours of Hon. S. A. Douglas.

--The Chicago Journal, of the 3d instant, in recording the decease of Judge 
Douglas, thus refers to his condition during the closing hours of his 
existence. 

For a week past the lamented deceased has been only semi-conscious. Though 
recognizing his friends he has been unable to locate them, and his mind gave 
out confused fragments of the great thoughts with which his giant intellect 
was want to grapple. 

The last week was an anxious one of hopes and fears, and as we went to press 
on Saturday evening, more favorable symptoms inspired the belief in his 
friends that he had passed the crisis, and that he would again be spared in 
this hour when his country so much needed his strong arm and his experienced 
counsels. His physicians, men of experience and skill, used every resource of 
their profession to take advantage of these favorable symptoms, but in vain. 
At twelve o'clock, last night, he failed to recognize his most intimate 
friend, and became totally unconscious; at three o'clock he commenced rapidly 
to fail, and his unwilling physician pronounced him beyond hope. Their only 
duty left was the mournful one of easing his dying hours. He gradually failed, 
seemingly without pain, until eleven minutes past nine, when the lamp of life 
was extinguished without a sigh or struggle. His devoted and loving wife 
remained with him to the last moment, solacing him as best she could, buried 
under the weight of the deep affliction. Madison Cutts, his brother-in-law; 
Miss Young, of the Tremont House; B. G. Caulfield, and Dr. Hay, were also 
present. 

His death was peaceful and tranquil as the melting away of a summer cloud at 
evening, and the mourning watchers were alone with all that was earthly of 
Stephen A. Douglas. 

The Chicago Post says: 

Judge Douglas returned home quite unwell, and called his medical attendant on 
Thursday, May 2. His primary attack was acute rheumatism, which rapidly 
assumed a typhoid character, and continued from the first very unyielding. 
After some ten or twelve days his attack was complicated by an ulcerated sore 
throat, which soon yielded. Torpor of the liver and constipation of the bowels 
ensued, soon followed by a jaundiced condition, accompanied by poisoning of 
the blood, which prostrated his nervous system still more — Constant wandering 
and delirium accompanied his attack from its inception till he died. His 
utterances, though broken, gave evidence that he was conscious of his 
approaching dissolution. 

Judge Douglas was to have been buried on Friday last, on the lake shore, at 
College Grove, near Chicago. The most extensive preparations were making for 
the funeral, at last advices. 

The Daily Dispatch: June 11, 1861

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/cook/obits/d/douglas812nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 6.9 Kb