Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1869-01-14

rows. and hopes is broken. = His pleas
ant smile, his kindly greeting, will meet
us not again. His clear voice win never
more be heard in debate, nor lifted to
Heavennin prayer for the divine bene-
diction upon our deliberations: He is
gone forever =
''The good die first. tst'a 4
= And those whose lives are as summers dust ) !
He triumphed in life where many man
of much learning and high order Of
genius has failed, for he had learned how
to rule his own spirit, and SO to live
wisely from day to day. Though cut
down in the meridian of years ordinari-
ly allotted to man, who shall say that
those in whom the soul of man shines
most brightly do. not live forever?
"He has outsoared the shadow of our night l. as.a'
Envy, and calumny. and.hate and pain,
And that unrest which men misnail delight.
:, Can touch him not: and torture not again
From the contaeion of the worlds slow stain
He is secure, and now can never mourn 80,
A heart grown COLI. head grown gray ia vain;
With sparklsss ashes load an unlamented urn" &
Mr.. THORNHILL said:
MR.. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN. OF
THE sHoUsB OF, REPRESENTATIVES,
However painful it may be to you and
to me, it becomes my duty to announce
the death of one of our body since the
adjournment last spring.
The Hon. Andrew Gerhart is dead.
He died at his residence in Belville,
Richland county, on the oath day of
November last.
He was at the time of his death a
member of this house, and represented
the county of Richland. to which posi-
tion he was elected in the fall of 1867.
He was born in the county of Cumber-
land, in the State of Pennsylvania, from
whence he emigrated to and settled in
Richland county, about twenty years ago.
At the time of his death he was about
thirtyfsix years of age.
He left an affectionate wife to mourn
his death. My friend and your friend,
and the friend of humanity is dead, and
it is beftting that we, his surviving
friends. should, in an appropriate man
ner, pay the proper tribute of respect tc
his memory.
1t is not my purpose to attempt ar
extended history Of his early years, mol
indeed of his public life, brief though il
was. 1t is evident that he was self.
made man. His boyhood days were
marked by no particular matters of in
Iterest, so far as 1 have been able 3te
learn from his friends with whom 1 have
conversed. By his. own industry and
energy he acquired the means of obtain
| ing a good common school education, anG
spent some time in teaching, generally
| in the winter season. He spent seve
raj years of his life in the mercantil,
business, in Richland county, but no
finding it profitable abandoned it. Ou
deceased friend filled several minor of
fees, such as justice of the peace, town
ship clerk and treasurer, with credit t,
himself and advantage to the people.
He was for many years a consisten
and devoted member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and at the time O
his death, and for several years prior
an acceptable minister in that church
having had charge of congregation il
the village of Bellville.
In politics, Mr.. Gerhart was Demo
crat, having been born, reared and edu
Gated in that school of politics, as taugh
by the early fathers of the Republic
He adhered with unfaltering confdenc
to the faith of his fathers, and never fo
a moment doubted the final triumph Q
the principles embodied in the creed {
that grand old party. He loathed an
despised that narrow minded selfshnes
which arrogated to itself all the wisdom
religion and morality of the age. Hon
est in his own convictions of the correct
ness of his political faith, he cor
4 ceded to others the right to hold and e1
Ipress opinions in opposition to his owl
without being subjected to the charge {
disloyalty. ~
Although not rich in this world
goods, he was rich in the possession {
an honest heart. He was emphaticall
one of nature S noblemen-an homes
man. His political life, although brie
was marked by great earnestness an
fidelity to the interests of his constitt
ents.
1t was my good fortune to form tn
acquaintance of our deceased frien
shortly after his entrance into this Hous
as member. Modest and retiring i
his demeanor, he was.ev watchful an
vigilant in detecting and exposing erre
and fraud whenever and wherever fount
whether in the ranks of his politics
friends or those of the opposition; a
ways in his place, and always ready {
vote intelligently and understanding
upon all questions brought before til
body of which he was a worthy an
consistent member.
But our friend has gone to ethat bourr
from whence no traveller returns"
few short months ago we separated frol
him at the adjournment of the Gener
Assembly, full of life, health and hop
in the very vigor of manhood, upon IL
Threshold of usefulness, with brillial
future before him.
1t is sad thus to contemplate the frai
ty of human existence. Man, in Il
pride of his strength, often imagines tn
he is beyond the reach of deaths unset
shaft; and yet how brief is life, no
short the span of our existence. 7
day buoyant with hope, tomorrow sta
and stiff in death. Such is life, such
death.
But the stern realities of life belong
the living, and while we mourn for t
dead, and sympathize with the survi
ing widow and relatives, let us not forg
that we, too, are born to die, nor forg
our duty to our common country, al
strive, as did our departed friend,
maintain untarnished the bright escutc
con of our country's glory, and labor
unite the broken fragments of our on
happy Unionin bonds of fraternal pea
and love.
Mr.. CANFIELD said