Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

The memorable conspiracy to seize the steamers, liberate the prisoners, and destroy the lake cities, was one of the incidents of his service. Yet so humanely did he conduct his duties that he made many lifelong friends among those whom the fortunes of war had made his prisoners.

He was mustered out of service, April 20, 1865. He devoted himself, for a few years, to active business; but some twelve years before his death retired, finding sufficient occupation in the care of a large estate of which he was one of the heirs. He was an active member of many fishing and shooting clubs, and was held in high esteem as a comrade, naturalist, and sportsman. He also was a constant attendant upon the evening gatherings at the "Ark," an institution known to all the older generation in Cleveland. He retained a strong attachment to his military associations, and was a thoroughly devoted Companion of the Loyal Legion, a member of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, and a Comrade of Memorial Grand Army Post, of Cleveland. He was ever generous in his care for any who had fallen into misfortune, or to whom life had been unpropitious.

His later years were saddened by the death of his wife; and for the year before his own death a painful heart trouble compelled him to give up his former activities. But to the last he remained the same hearty, genial, kindly gentleman.

He left two sons, both residents of Cleveland.

[ocr errors][merged small]

CAPTAIN WILLIAM CASSIUS GOODLOE.

GOODLOE.-Died, in Lexington, Kentucky, November 10, 1889, WILLIAM CASSIUS GOODLOE, late Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General of Volunteers, U. S. A., aged 48 years, 4 months, 13 days.

WILLIAM CASSIUS GOODLOE was born in Madison county, Kentucky, June 27, 1841. By his ancestry he was connected with some of the best known families in that state-the CLAYS, the SPEEDS, and others equally identified with the history and politics of Kentucky. From his earliest youth, he enjoyed all the advantages which come of such birth and surroundings. He attended the schools of Lexington, and afterward graduated at Transylvania University in 1861.

He was not of age when the war of the Rebellion broke out; and, though a pronounced Union man in his sentiments, he did not, at first, enter the military service. His mother's uncle, GENERAL CASSIUS M. CLAY, having been appointed Minister to Russia by PRESIDENT LINCOLN, invited young GOODLOE to accompany him to St. Petersburg as an attaché of the embassy. The offer was accepted, but as the war went on, the patriotic young American could not remain abroad while his country was in danger. He returned to Kentucky and volunteered as aide to GENERAL NELSON, serving with him in the disastrous campaign against KIRBY SMITH, in Eastern Kentucky, in the autumn of 1862.

He was captured at Richmond, and remained on parole till May, 1863. On the 1st of June, 1863, he was appointed assistant adjutantgeneral, with the rank of captain, and was assigned to duty with the brigade of GENERAL GREEN CLAY SMITH. His service was chiefly with the cavalry operating in Kentucky. While so serving he was authorized to recruit a regiment of heavy artillery. He was so engaged, when he was seriously injured by the fall of his horse. This accident unfitted him for further service. He resigned on the 31st of January, 1864.

As was to be expected, he took an active part in political affairs in Kentucky, and soon became known as an eloquent and effective speaker. He early espoused the principles of the Republican party, to which he remained attached till his death. He edited for awhile "The Lexington Statesman," and made it one of the ablest papers in the state. In 1871, he was elected to the legislature in a district believed to be overwhelmingly opposed to him in politics. His success was the result of his ardent and energetic eloquence. Two years later he was chosen to the state senate against even greater odds. In 1875, he was candidate for attorney-general, but, of course, the contest was hopeless. It had, however, the result of making him well known throughout the country as an impassioned and eloquent speaker, and in the Presidential campaign which followed his voice was heard on the stump from Maine to Mississippi. "His style was fervid and ornate; his manner and declamation full of zeal and passion; he never failed to arouse enthusiasm in his audience."

In January, 1878, he was appointed Minister of the United States to Belgium. This position he held for more than three years, with credit to himself and the country. "His unostentatious and free-handed hospitality won for him that regard which was always had for him in the home of his boyhood." On his return to Kentucky, he resumed the political relations which he had before held, and soon became again a leader in his party. Out of this leadership, natural and easy to a man of CAPTAIN GOODLOE's abilities and training, grew the unfortunate feud which at last was ended by his untimely and tragic death. He continued an active and earnest advocate of the principles so dear to him under all circumstances and in every locality. He was an early advocate of the right of the negro to give testimony and to vote, at a time and in places where such advocacy demanded a courage as great as that of a soldier, and a discretion and readiness of resource far greater. He was a delegate to the national conventions in 1876, 1880, 1884, and 1888.

In June, 1889, he was appointed collector of internal revenue of the seventh district of Kentucky, which office he held at the time of his death.

This is not the place to discuss the manner in which he met his tragic fate. Every circumstance, however, shows that he was unarmed; that he had pledged himself not to resort to methods unhappily frequent in some parts of the country, by which quarrels are sometimes disposed of, and, that in all that he did he acted strictly on the defensive.

CAPTAIN GOODLOE's personal and domestic life was full of charm and pleasantness. Married in 1865 to one fitted in all things to his companionship, his highest happiness was in his home. He was the father of eight children, all orphaned by his sad taking off. "In his private intercourse, whether with friends or opponents, he was one of the most amiable and kindly of men, careful and considerate of the feelings of others, and even in his most confidential communications circumspect in the terms in which he referred to the absent; a dignified and gentlemanly courtesy, which was the product of his sense of justice and of his self-respect. He was extremely proud, but neither vain nor haughty; brave and high-spirited, but neither turbulent nor truculent in manner or disposition. His own home was the seat of domestic virtues, for he was a loving husband and devoted father; his abode of quiet hospitality, which made it one of the chief attractions of the community to the stranger. Gay and cheery, he was himself a welcome guest at every hearth, and an ornament and loved figure at every social gathering. Alas! that a life so noble and beautiful in its honorable past, to which there were so many and bright promises for its future, should have had such an ending!"

He became a member of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland in 1883, and was also a Companion of the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion.

CAPTAIN JOHN CROWELL.

CROWELL.-Died, in Cleveland, Ohio, December 30, 1885, JOHN CROWELL, late Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General of Volunteers, aged 45 years, 5 months, 23 days.

JOHN CROWELL was born in Warren, Ohio, July 7, 1840. His father, JOHN CROWELL, SR., was a lawyer of distinction in that region; and had served several terms in both branches of the Ohio legislature.

When JOHN was thirteen years old, his father moved to Cleveland, where the rest of his life was passed. Fitting for college in the school of that city, he entered Kenyon College in 1857, graduating in 1861, when twenty-one years of age. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, of the 84th Ohio Infantry, and accompanied that regiment into West Virginia and Maryland. He was mustered out September 10, 1862. He re-entered the service on the 1st of May, 1863, having been appointed assistant adjutant-general, and assigned to duty with BRIGADIER-GENERAL W. B. HAZEN, with whose brigade he was afterward identified. He served with efficiency and courage during the Chickamauga campaign, and is mentioned with commendation by his commander.

[ocr errors]

He continued in the service till the war ended, resigning on the 6th of May, 1865, after two years of active and useful duty. Returning to Cleveland, he studied law, and was soon after admitted to practice. He met with immediate success, and was rapidly taking rank among the leading members of the bar when he died suddenly of heart disease.

CAPTAIN CROWELL was early a member of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, and was also a Companion of the Loyal Legion. "He was clear headed and warm hearted, bright and witty, eminently social and popular."

He left a wife and five young children.

« ZurückWeiter »