Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-25
OBITUARY.
RYy. RI TRACY

this eminently good man and faithful minister
of the gospel, as having occurred at Bloom :
ington on the 10th instant, after an illness OF
| only few days.
| Mr.. Tracy was born in Hartford, Vermont
on the 10th of January. 1906; and, at the
time of his DEATH had nearly completed hi:
seventieth YEAR How fully the benefits oil
education were appreciated in that New En-
| gland home il indicated by the tact that, al
| though the father was farmer OF limited
| means, six of his seven sons were fitted foi
professional life FIVE of them were ministers
| of the gospel; two became foreign mission
aries.
| When the deceased was lad of fourteen
years he made public profession of his faitf
| in Christ, and at about the same time the
reading of tract entitled, "The Claims OF
| Six Hundred Millions" kinded that missions
| airy zeal which was the inspiration OF his
whole life Graduating az yarmouth college,
where he stood first in his class, and having
completed his theological studies at Andover,
| he was ordained as a missionary at Hartford,
Connecticut in the year 1882 and sailed with
| his wifi whom he married in West Brook
| field Nj ,ssachusetts, TO China. Here he res
sponded with such zeal and energy to the
immense demands of the work to which he
| had devoted himself that after eight years
of service, he was compelled in consequence
of the breaking down of an originally vigor
Gus constitution, TO return to his native
country. BY resting for period bis health
| was partially restored, but never to a degree
that would permit of bis going abroad.
Mr.. Tracy's second choice was the home
pais urort Ia rcaaohad short fin1a
| in Ohio, and in the year 1881 came to Blake's
Prairie, then a newly settled part of the
county. As pastor of the Congregational
church he was untiring in his efforts for the
spiritual welfare of the community, preaching
| in the school houses, visiting the families and
| distributing religious books. He also secured
| the erection of church edifce. His wife
having died before he came to Wisconsin, he
! married after his settlement here the estim
| able lady who survives him. OF his two sons
the elder died in the service of his country
| in the late war
At the end of five years, Mr.. Tracy resigned
his postorate, and took charge of church in
Spring Valley, Minnesota. Having served
this church with characteristic fidelity for five
years, he was under the necessity, from i'm
paired health, of relnquishing the active
duties of the ministry, and he returned to his
OIu hOiiiC III Wills COuIbf w Spcuu lllG
der of his days He preached occasionally,
as his strength permitted, and was always
devoted friend and helper of the church with
| which he was identified Doing good was his
| ruling passion, and his usefulness ended only
with his life.
The characteristic traits. of deceased were
energy, fidelity, spirituality and cheerful
trust. He was a noble worker when but a
boy, and always continued such. He was
more than willing to recognize the obligations
of duty in any of the forms in which it might
present itself. He was faithful in little things,
in dstasteful things, and was likewise faithful
in much, making the greatest sacrifices with
cheerful devotion to the Master Never
would he decline the most arduous, self
denying duty, if it was simply known as duty ;
nor would he betray any want Of candor in
investigating question of duty. He possessed
enlarged views of the wisdom of Christ his
vision swept the entire globe, while his benev
olence embraced the whole world. He walked
with God in humble, cheerful trust and love,
assured of his own good estate, and of a
blessed future, and gloryfying in the cross by
which he had been redeemed.
This servant of God received a recompense
for his fidelity even before he came into
possession of the heavenly reward. 1t was
given him to see boy, whom he had rescued
from heatheniSm, become a Christian states
man; and in that capacity I.asun was instru
mental in inducing the Chinese government to
adopt the policy Of sending promising youth
to America to be educated, being himself APP
pointed superintendent Of their education In
his joyful satisfaction at this event, which
promises so much for the enlightenment of
that vast empire, well might this patriarchal
man say, "Mine eyes have seen thy saliva
ton"
1t was also a peculiarly kind Providence
that it should have been among the last acts
of this mans life to attend the meeting Of the
American Board, and see, as from mountain
top, how all the Kingdoms of the world are
coming under the dominion of Christ also to
preach Jesus for the last time from the pulpit
of the son who survives him, and has chosen
the same sacred calling as his father
In paper prepared some years since to be
read at his funeral our venerated father says
II may not say, Let there be no weeping
here; for perhaps some few may feel, by
natural impulse disposed to weep at ones
final parting on earth, and that impulse should
not be violently restrained; but | do say,
Let there be thanksgiving and rejoicing at my
funeral If | die Christian as | am sure |
shall, then in me grace has trumphed, the
battle of life is taught and the victory is won.
Christ has led one more of His chosen and
redeemed ones TO the end of his al-life,
and He is glorfed by it and rejoices over 1T.
am saved and rejoice with Him and
rejoice forever more There are in
this scene more reasons for rejoicing
than for sorrow; then let your joys
abound Give thanks and praise the
Lord for all his grace TO me-such
wondrous grace--to one so unworthy. For
fpinpJs uaiohb0rc
i pray YOU in Christs stead, be We reconcled to
God Be willing to have Him for you own
God and Father, and treat Him as such from
this day onward Seek first the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness. Be ye faithful
unto death. God shall give you a crown o
life Amen. IRA Tracy"
Lancaster Noyemher %. lS16 NJ