, 1865-04-26
The HeF. AnhfQsa NNfglf.

Inc Kew. - Ambrose ~1&0t~
This week Chicago will lose one Of her
oldtst fer many years one Of her most prom,
iucnt and always one of her most useful and
valuable citizens. Called now to another
aeld OF labor, It is due to his past
eminent service In the history and progress
of the West, that we pay passing tribute to
him at his departure.
Rev. J. Ambrose Wight graduated at VII
1lams's College-in August 1886, where the
writer hereof first made his acquaintance. In
September Of that year, guided by that spirit
ofenterprise which then directed entcrp:is-
ing young men to the West he came to this
city. Al first he Joined a surveying party On
1hc Illinois and Michigan Caual, hut IN De-
cember he went to Rocktcn, then Just begin
ming to be settled, where he engaged In mer-
chandising till 1S41. he then went to Rock
ford where he studied law and WAS admitted
to The bar, and entered the Rockford Forum
II the winter OF 1923. In May, 1913, be re.
1r1ncd to Chicago and became associated with
John S. Wight, Esq, in the publication OF
the PRAIRIE Former, and for the next nine
years tile editorial management Of the paper
was almost exclusively In the hands Of Mr.
Wight. During these gears his ripe, sharp
judgement, keen research.ng common Sense,
sparkling wit and whitening earcaem, were Of
ineetsmab!c and permanent vnlue to tue West,
and We state what We believe TO be strictly
true, that under his guidance the foundation
was laid for that rapid progress and Won
defful development which are now the wonder
and The admiration Of the world. During
.htsc yea1s The way Was prepared for the
building Of our thousands of miles Of rail-
waya, our immense warehouses, our towns and
cities, and in fact the growth Of
IN empire, within the short spacc
Of quarter Of q century. True all this
would have come, If Mr. Wright had never
lived md written but that the moYcment
was large'y commenced and forwarded by
him there cannot be q particle Of doubt. In
the carly years Of Mr.. Wtieh:'s management
Of the Praifk Farmer the cultivation Of the
prairies was in Its infancy. Questions as to
how and when wheat should be eown 9 in re-
gard 10 the cultivation of corn and other
craius; bow new varieties Of stubborn
weeds we're to be cxtesminated what
was to be done TO oprevent the rayages OF old
md new varieties Of Insects and an:mals
MANY of them unknown to Eastern fnrmers
were to be decided and nearly I'LL Of cur in
dispensable agricultural machinery was tne1
jut,oduced. In all these matters the agd
cultual interests Of the West ware directed
and guided by the Prairie Farnser. Mr
Wieht'a Keen, sharp sense detected what va
hest; and from the witheriDg sarcasm OF Ill
pen all empires and hn1nbugs fed in dlsuaJ
For his services during these years OF earl
development tho entire West owes to M'
Wright q debt Of gratitude which it can neve
apurecIate or discharge. Subsequently, th
writer hereof was for moro than two years a.
soc.ated With Mr. Wight In the publlcatio
of the pralrie Herald, then the organ Of th
. Presbyteaan and Congregational churches
the Northwest, aud We theforc know whercs
xe affirm when We say that he is one OF II
best aud truest Of men.
In April. 1855, Mr.. Wight WIS licensed
the Presbytery Of Chicago to preach the Go
nj. In December, 1885, she Olivet Presb,
1erian Church OF this city was organized, M
for seven years Mr.. Wight vas pastor, pseacl
,np with great acceptance and uscfu'ncs
Rating health ard variety Of circumstance
caneed his resiguation some time since, an
lie now leaves Us to accept the eall Of tt
pcsbytcrian Church at Bay City, Mich;gga
The best wishes Of very large circle
friends VIII 60 with him. TINT great usc!u
ness may attend his laoors. and that long II
and abundant happiness mayablde with an
bless hi N.
On hearing, some weeks since, thathe vi
about TO leave Us. q number Of friends naitt
su testimonial, amounting TO 81. .60o, and
Ess afterwards Increased Ny other fr!"a.S