The Van Buren press., 1870-02-08
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At the residence of his mother in Van Bu
ren, on the LIST February. 1870 BENJAMIN L.
MCGEE, son of the late DR.. J. d. McGec.
After long and painful illness, borne with
the fortitude, Characteristic of him in every
emergency of life while living only few
days ago, the friends of Ben. MCKEE were
saddened at the melancholy announcement Of
| his untimely death.
| At an age, when life should have been
brightest, and the vigor and strength Of
young manhood lent hope, and bright prom
ise for the future, twas doubly hard to give
him up.
| But such is life. "Dust thou art and unto
dust thou shalt RETURN" is the ineNorable de-
cree to all mankind; yet while we bow IN
forced submission to the inscrutahlc rulings
OF Providence, we can never cease to regret
that it has been 50 ordered. Those to whom
he was nearest and dearest, should find some
comfort and be sustained in the assurance,
that he died at peace with God and man; bis
whole trust in the Saviour. on whose mercy
aud goodness he expressed himself willing to
rely, and that his hopes Of a happier home, in
another world are now being realized with
the good and blessed, who have gone before.
TO those who knew him, the mere mention of
his name, Is significant OF all that is best and
uoblest in man. To them no words are need
ed as n reminder of the virtues of one. whom
none knew, but to love him-yct It's meet
| that We giyea parting tribute to his memory,
now that he Is goHe. Generous aud kind
heactcd almost TO fault; the soul of honor.
, dctasting wrong, with the same earnestness
with which he always stood up for the right;
manly in his bearing, uniiormcly kind, cour-
tsous and ai1ahle In his intercourse with 9TH
ers. It's but natural that he won the love adj
iniation and respect OF all who knew him.
lie 1rGS cmpha,icallv what he seemed tO be-
Earnest and sincere in his nature; jealous,
above all other things, of his good name aud
honor; as fliend, the true>t of the true.
Having mlny lrlend, in different parts of
the state. who know nothing of the circum-
stances of his dcath-rrieuds and comrades
who were Milh him in times that tried mems |
souls. we would say to them, though n long
and distressing sickness, lasting almost a year,
conscious his disease was incurablc. suffering |
everything 1t seemed possible for physical
human nature to bear aruncompainingly,w with |
out pctulancc, calmly he bore it all nerycd by
the same iron win and resolution that made
him conspicuous amongst you, ON more than
one hard fought field. Through all his sick
ness he always loycd 70 tulk of his old COM
radcS-and To them | LAY. by none of their
number were they ever held in dearer re-
mcmbrance. Many who read this will re-
member that gallant form as hoy and man al.
ways to be found where the fight ragged hot
test. You. his comrades, have seen him lead,
you nevrr saw him follow.
The same spirit that made him a hero In
the strife enabled hin to bear patiently ali
his suilerings, and sustained by christian faith
To submit calmly to the last dread summons.
and commit his soul TO the hands of God, who
gavcit.
A tear to his memory, and an abiding place
in our hearts and memories, is all we now can
give him, For tloso who ma,ir,, him most
deeply, God is their only comforter May He
who IN his wisdom saw nt to take him from
them. rcunite them in the other and better
world. 4 FRIEND.