Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-01
EULOGIUM ON THE LATE HON. w
V.WAR, ny HON. ASHER COOK.

scgo county, N. Y, on the 9th day of August,
1907 and was, at his death, little over 6S years
old, Although in early manhood he was aflct-
cd with i'll health, he passed through n stormy
life and attained almost 10 tho allotted three
score and ten years.
His father was a farmer and his early life was
spent on the farm with nothing remarkable 10
| distinguish IL from the life Of farmer boys Of
the present day. only that at that early day in
the history Of our country boys played less and
worked more than at the present time. lie was
bone Of numerous family all of whom, except
himself believe. followed thoir fathers occu-
patton. But his feeble health warned him he
would not be able TO earn n livelihood by phys
| ical labor, and he early turned his attention 10
| the acquiring of an education for this purpose
| he entered Hardwick Academy, and after n
preparatory course, at the age of about %, he
entered Union College from which he was grad
uated in due course having enjoyed the privi-
| legcs of an institution under the immediate di-
rection Of the celebrated DR.. Watt, whom he
considered on Of the first men of his age and he
always delighted to speak Of his early precep-
tor in terms of the highest praise, thereby
showing that he had heart easily touched and
menled by kindness.
Mr.. Ways father was n poor man and unable
to dcfray the expenses of his son in college, so
|
his clsss. had, in great part to provide the
means of defraying his own expenses, This OK
pericnco and the hardships he endured in ac-
quiring an education, beRot in him n sympathy
for young men similarly situated, and was the
| foundation Of the noble bequest made by him to
| the Perrysburg Union School, by which he has
made provision for maintaining in college
youth of this county, to be selected without re-
gard to race sex. at stated intervals, from
| the pupilS of that School through all coming
time.
Immediately on his return from college he
entered the law Office of Mr.. Chandler, at
Leroy, in the State of n. Y, whore he laid the
foundation of his legal knowledge by that close
application and deep research for which, in
after life. he became so noted But his legal
studies were completed with Payne & Wilson,
at Painosville, o., and he was admitted to the
practice of the law by the Old Supreme Court of
Ohio, on the circuit at Piketon, Pike Co., in the
year 1892.
Like most enterprising young men he deemed
1t necessary to go West, and in search for q
location he travelled over parts Of Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois. but finally settled ..t Perrysburg in
the year 1884 where ,e remained until his death,
and although ,dring the last twenty years of his
life he r", eled IN :ch and made investments
| elseV acre, he found no place that seemed to
possess all the home comforts so completly ms
| Pcrrysburg. and always when absent longed to
return to this peaceful village.
Mr.. Way was n good lawyer and in the trial of
n cause always seized the strong points of his
case and urged them with underwriting atten-
tiOn. No sophistry could scduce him into side
Issues no clustering or frowning could drive
him from the main question. Though not ele-
giant he was forcible. always despising the Aow-
ars nf rhetorie md winning nv the unprri a
certainty Of his logical deductions. Mr.. Way
came to Perrysburg at time when speculation
ran high, and had the misfortune which has be-
fallen too many young men. to think the way
easier to opulcnce and distinction through spec
ulatiOn, than by close application to an honor
able profession. He entered this arena and
failed and now found that those profcssed
friends who hoyered around him while he had
the appearance of wealth and success were hol-
lOw-heartcd. In this he met only the common
experience of mankind but he was unprcpared
for it. and that, together with the unkind treat
ment which he received at the hands of political
associates, md from whom he was entitled to
better usage. gave him unfavorable opinion
of mankind which, to n great extent. controlled
him through life. 1t was this unfavorable
opinion. thus formed. that caused him to look
too often with suspicion upon the acts of others.
hands of designing men, who wrought upon his
susceptible imagination, and easily caused him
to believe that acts in themselves innocent and
proper, concealed improper designs, as were in
ieed evidences of rascality.
Many of the peculiarites however, in the life
Of Willard v. Way, are to be accounted for by
the circumstances which surrounded him.
Having early experienced the hollow-heart-
edness of pretended friends. he ever after relied
on his own personal cxertions for success. This
made his life laborous one, At first he had TO
struggle hard for bare subsistence, and having
accustomed himself to endure privations in
poverty he continued il in afluence. But il he
worked hard to earn money it was not for self
qualification nor TO be squandered in luxurious
living. He denied himself much that would
have made life more pleasant that his savings
might be made to aid in the culture and eleva-
tion of others. If he denied himself and
spent his life in endeavoring to purify the moral
atmosphere In which he lived, it was that an
honest public sentiment might grow up as the
people breathed freely Of its more invigorating
qualities. If in life he was exacting he has
proved noble in death. He had a genuine love
for Perrysburg and never omitted an opportuni-
ty to advance her interests or aid in her growth.
Whenever there was any public improvement
to be made he was always ready to help along
the good work. but his. deep interest in her
welfare sometimes caused him to desire to limit
the expenses for such purposes to an extent
which, crippled rather than aided the work
though his intentions were only to do the great
est good at the least expense; This local at
t%e6%ent n Ssea% Pass;on Tith hin and IMS year, e.
found public library at Perrysburg, and by
his will he has carried out this intention and
bequeathed to the Town Conncil for tn at pur.
pose the larger portion Of his estate. This be-
quest in additiO TO the liberality of tho donor
shows the appreciation which he had of the
worth and h hlnteilSS1Go OF the people o; rcTTys I
and much of his property had been made in the
manly competition Of business with thom. lie
received blows from them in the conflicts incl
dent to a business life. and had learned to
admire the grit they showed in dcfending, what
they deemed the right although he could not
always ngree with them. lie was too wise not
to know that no one man can. in this world
enough to conccdc to others all he demanded
for himsel flair play and free discussion. and
in this he became convinced the people Of Per
rysburg were as liberal and as free frsm excep-
tions as any, and that n library selected by them
wonld contain enough OF American spirit and
in them tho noble traits he had learned to ad.
mire. PeTrysburg will accept this gift and com
ply with tho reasonable conditions on which il
is made and hold the virtues Of tho donor IL
grateful remem bTRnce.
Mr.. Way was the last Of that band Of piopeesrl
BIseS S s swamp m "oSo 0S horss6sok and swami tRt
streams in their journeys with the Court on the
Circuit. Many of them we're brilliant and
out. Mr.. Way, less brilliant. moved more
slowly, and though his life-light was not daz-
Eling, he has. in the noble bequest to Perrys.
burg for library, purposes, left a star to gpidC
the footsteps of the generations who shall live
| here after him, which shall outshine the meteor
flashes Of those who eclipsed him whilo liv'
Mr. Way was an honest, prudent and eco.
| nomieal man, but he was not what Is denOmin-
ated popular man. Popularity is too often
tho outgrOwth Of public caprice. Honesty
economy and an exacting accountability, un-
less accompanied by great force of character
weigh down their possessOr. while prodigalitY
and pTOhigacy too often puff an unworthy man
into notoriety which is mistaken for popular
ity, and this is especially the case in 2 eOmmu'
nifty where those who gain a livelihood by min
istering 10 the appetites and passions Of their
| follows give tone to public sentiment.
In sueh a community virtue is at discount
while vice Teigns in gilded saloons. If Mr..
} Way had spent of his money in pandetipg TO
public opinion, he might have received, but
| could No have enioyed the fullsOme Draise of nm