Death of Major General Francis Barlow ~ October 19, 1834 - January 11, 1896

Today, 127 years ago, January 11, 1896 Francis Channing Barlow passed away at the age of 61. There were a lot of various announcements of his death at the time but they seemed superficial and did not capture the man I discovered he was through my years of research. So, this blog post is an obituary I wrote which I hope captures Frank as the man he was. Frank wrote very little about himself. He felt it was "not agreeable to speak of oneself" which is why very little personal accounts exists. I, therefore, referenced this blog post with what he personally wrote on June 20, 1880 for the 'Harvard Class of 1855 and Their Deeds Between 1865-1880'. His own personal recollection focused more on his post war career. Of note, in the 1865 'Report of the Secretary of the Class of 1855', Frank did not submit his own writing. He replied to the request regarding submitting a summary of his life since graduation with this of, "I have never written anything, and never made a speech, and never mean to make one."  The contribution was submitted by his friend Edwin Abbot, class secretary. It was a chronological account primarily of Frank's war service. 

Please read below, An Obituary: Francis Channing Barlow.

Barlow

Major General Francis Channing Barlow’s, January 11, 1896 death is announced with a heavy heart. He died at his New York home surrounded by family and friends from Bright’s Disease attributed to wounds he suffered while gallantly fighting for the Union during the War Between the States with the 2nd Corps and 11th Corps. Frank, born in Brooklyn, NY October 19, 1834, was the last surviving and middle son of David and Almira (Penniman) Barlow. He leaves behind his wife, Ellen Shaw of twenty-nine years and his three children, Robert Shaw, Charles Lowell and Louisa Shaw all of New York, Boston and Lenox, Massachusetts. He was a student at the Utopian Community of Brook Farm in West Roxbury, Massachusetts and graduated first in his 1855 class at Harvard. Here he had the privilege to be acquainted with men like Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau. Through their teachings he became a great scholar. The level of intellect paired with his innate self-determination paved his way to success. Frank went on to study law in New York with William Curtis. Frank was tenacious by nature. Fearless, brave and heroic on the battlefield and in the court room. He was well known to speak without hesitation. He served the state as Secretary of State, US Marshall of the Southern District and Attorney General for the state of New York. He was a prosperous attorney taking on corruption ruthlessly. Frank’s personal greatest legal battle was removing notorious Boss Tweed from power. While serving as Attorney General he also filed suit in the name of 'The People' against Fisk and Gould resulting in their ousting of control from the Erie Railway. Frank was proud to be a founding attorney for the American Bar Association. He served on its Executive Committee setting course for ethical conduct. He set up his own private law practice with Peter Olney. Their clients were primarily large banks, brokers and corporations He was a member of several clubs, the University, Seventh Regiment Veterans, City and Commonwealth. He was a member of the Bar Association and the New England Society. He was a loyal member of the GAR Lafayette Post No.140 of NY. Although not an active member at the time of his death he was a Mason as a young man.  Frank will be missed deeply by his family and friends here in New York and to Boston, Concord, a community he called home, and Lenox, Massachusetts. His funeral service will take place at 10:00 in the morning, Monday, January 14, 1896 at the Church of the Incarnation, Madison Avenue and Thirty-Fifth Street. His remains will be returned to Massachusetts. A private burial will take place in Brookline, Massachusetts in the tomb of his mother’s family. Frank was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, Edward and Richard. His maternal grandparents Elisha and Sybil Penniman of Brookline, Massachusetts and his paternal grandparents David and Sarah (Hatch) Barlow of Windsor, VT.  Frank's first wife Arabella Griffith predeceased him as well. She shared his patriotic fever and chose to serve with the Sanitary Commission. She died of typhoid fever in July 1864 which she contracted while caring for wounded and sick soldiers. The essence of her spirit never left Frank's heart.