Congressman Rathbone dies suddenly Sunday: prominent Illinois legislator fails to recover after operation

Henry R. Rathbone, of 312 Sheridan road, Kenilworth, Illinois congressman-at-large and Republican nominee for reelection in the November election, died last Sunday at the Presbyterian hospital following an operation for acute bladder trouble.

Mr. Rathbone entered the hospital ten days previous to his death for observation and treatment for the ailment with which he had suffered for more than two years. After the operation Dr. Herman L. Kretschmer, attending physician, said that his patient appeared to be doing nicely and apparently was out of danger.

But on Sunday morning Mr. Rathbone’s condition suddenly became serious. His wife, Mrs. Laura Harney Rathbone, who had occupied a room across the corridor from her husband during his illness, was summoned. He died soon after Mrs. Rathbone reached his bedside. Mr. Rathbone was 57 years old.

In the primary last April Mrs. Ruth Hanna McCormick and Mr. Rathbone were successful Republican candidates for congressman-at-large. The decision as to a successor for Mr. Rathbone rests with the Republican state committee.

In Congress Since 1922
A member of congress continuously since 1922, Mr. Rathbone was also a former president of the Hamilton club and of the Lawyer’s Association of Illinois. He was considered a trial lawyer of ability.

Mr. Rathbone was born in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 1870. His father, Maj. Henry R. Rathbone, was an officer of the Twelfth United States infantry in the Civil war and was with President Lincoln, as a special aid, in Ford’s theatre in Washington the night Lincoln was assassinated.

In 1893 Mr. Rathbone came to Chicago. He was a graduate of the Phillips Andover academy, of Yale university, and held a law degree from the University of Wisconsin. He was a member of several fraternal organizations.

Besides his widow, he is survived by a brother, Gerald Rathbone, of San Francisco, Calif., a niece, Louise Randolph, of Washington, D. C., and two nephews, Buckner T. Randolph, Washington, D. C., and Richard Harney, of Chicago.

The funeral services, held on Wednesday, were conducted by Kenwood lodge, No. 800, of the Masonic order at the Oriental consistory, 919 North Dearborn street. Burial was made at Rosehill cemetery.