The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-13
Den,I, Of DIR. Isurlhut.


Departed this life, in Ottawa, on Sunday eve
ming. the S,h inst. about sundown, Dr. HARMON
HURLBU'r, aged 40 years.
We make this brief and simple announcement
with sad and heavy heart. Ia the death Of this
amable aud truly good man, our town has met
with loss which we fear will never be repaired
All who knew him, and his acquaintance was eX-
tensive, will unite with us in the sentiment, that
few men in their day and generation have lived
more useful or honorable lives, or left behind them
more eloquent testimonials of the high moral qua
li,ies that distinguished their career on eatth.
As ply stefan, his loss is truly heavy stroke.
Regularly bred in his profession, with thorough
tbcorilica knowledge Of it,, Ire had the additional
advantage Of an arduous and uninterrupted prac-
ticc Of nearly fourteen years, eight Of which were
spent in the west, and mainly devoted to the treat
ment of diseases incident to the country, in which
he possessed a skill to which few will attain. Bot
il was not alone as tho skiyui physician that be
laid such universal hold on the affections Of our
people. lie was a Christian physicianthc good
Samara,in--hc turned aside from no one--in all
tnVINOuloc WIN I'llON H'Nb'i nv h"'''
no rank or condition. The poor day Iaborer in
his howell or shan,y mediocre in his Trim
houac--,he rich and naughty landlord in his pa
Iace--were all equals-reccived the same unre.
mitted attention at his hands Nor did he mere
ly administer medicine TO the body--thc great in
tcres;s of the souls Of his patients equally absorb
cd his attention. Many whom abject poverty, or
stupid Indifference had kept from the sanctuary,
and whom Christian zeal had not sought out in
their latter moments, found in him their only sp-
ritual guidc--ihc only one to point them 10 Sa-
vour and Rcdcemer--to bid them hope in Hin
for escape from imminent and eternal despair.
Oh, how cndeared was he to the poor and aillict-
ed Of our town. who enjoyed his benevolent VIZ
sits, and heard his eloquent and iervcnt prayers!
As christian man and citizen, aside from his
profession, he was pre-emnenuy dsting uishcd by
those adornmen,s and graccs that enroble human
nature. Though enjoying practice worth at
times from one 10 three thousand dollars year,
and scrupulously economical in his living, be
died comparatively poor in the things OF this
world. These be regarded not as his own-hey
were given him by his Heavenly Father in trust
to DO good with-he was his Fathers steward.
A member Of tho Congregational church in this
place, he was one Of its pillars-a bright and ehi
ming Enthusiastically conscientious in all his acts
ever adjoining the doctrine he professcd--abound-
ing in good works. But his charity was without
ostentaiion--therc was great, dazzling deed, to
attract the notice of men and to elicit applause.
twas a continued stream Of acts Of kindness and
mercy, none great in itself, bu, tell ne immensely
in tho main. But The great and peculiar attract.
tiycness Of his character was found in his open
and guiciess heart, and the absolute and almost
chdke simplicity Of his manners !, may per-
hnps, with s,ricest truth, be said of him. through
life land this with GU, the least compromise of
principle he had never come into serious COLI
sion with any person or fostcrcd on unbind or
angry feeling tow ards one human being.
The disease Of which DR.. II died was The inter
mittcnt bilious fever Tie was confined to his room
about days, during which he was constantly
attended by able physicians and his ncarcs, rcla-
iyes and friends. But il was Of no avail. In his
anxiety TO save patient out of town, that lay q,
the point of death, though sick himself he he'd
venturcd out until disease took such firm hold on
him that he was beyond cure. He saved his pa
tents life, but lost his own. Almost from the be-
ginning Of his illness he knew how il must tcrm-
nate; and the browning grace Of his life was that
which gidcd with heavenly sunset its closing
scene. The peace Of God, (which passolh nil un-
derslanding," was brightly manifested in the Sc
renily, elevated composure, and diyinely inspired
hope and faith of his last moments. lie gently
fell asleep, and was gathered TO his fathers, in ia
vor with God, md in charity with all the world,
A striking proof Of the universal esteem in
which DR.. II. was held by our citizens, is afforded
by the fact that the young people of tho village,
who had got all ready for pleasure ride on the
9Th, the fifth day no was taken down, pu, it on
indefinitely on account Of his illness though it
was then yet believed he might recover. But n
more striking proof still is afforded by the crowd
that daily met around the house he lay In, aud cs.
pocially on Sabbath, anxiously catching up every
item from within.
Df. II. was native OF Charlotte, VI. He stu
died medicine under the tuition Of Dan G.. Stone,
NJ d., in Vcrgenncs, VT whence. having gone
through a regular course hc removed 10 Clinton
willie, N. ", where he praclscj about year, and
then returned to his native town. After remain
ing u n about year, he came to Peoria, in this
state, from which place, after about years prac-
tice in his profession, no went back to Kcyesvlc,
N. Y,whencc, after another year, he removed, in
the summer Of 1898. to Ottawa. where no resided
without interruption until no died.
Hcwas married. but had no children. Mrs.
II. had been staying with her friends in Vernon,
during tho winter, and returned only ,me to vii.
ness the closing scenes Of u life that was dearest
70 her Of oil others. The God Of the bereavcd and
-. IL. L..