Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-15
IN NEW ORIAm.

Josiah Willard westcott, formerly q res.
ident Of Perrysburg, died at the resi-
dence OF his father, j. N. Westcott, at
Homer, Michigan, on the 30th ult., af-
ter protracted illness, aged forty years.
Again we see proven how we'll death
loves shining mark" The departed was
man Of rare ability, great scholarly at
tainmonts, both Professionally and gener-
ally, Of nature singularly lovable, Of tenn
per always seeking the sunshine, and find
ing the best in everything. Many Of his
early years was spent in our midst and his
death will strike very close to many hearts
that loved him here.
lie was born in New York, obtained his
collegiate education at Geneva (now Ho-
bart) College, carrying off the honors Of
his class. lie entered upon the study Of
law, first in the Office Of Murray h Dodge,
OF Perrysburg, &, subsequently perfecting
his legal studies in Chicago, where he set
tied in practice, soon building up lucra-
tive and extensive business, and proving
himself tho peer OF any man of his age in
the city in his profession. Socially, his
many attractive qualities of head and
heart soon won him an onviable position,
and to-day he is mourned there by circle
Of friends than whom there are no better.
After seven years noble work in the Gar
den City, he was compelled by bronchial
difficulties to seek more congenial cli-
mate, and he made a second home in Mem
phis, Tennessee, where he soon took proud
position in the profession to which he wns
most ardently devoted. He did the work
Of four men, his active brain constantly do
ing work wholly inadequate to the
strength Of body not the strongest.
He was a man Of the simplest tastes, pas.
sionately fond of rural scenes and pleasures
! and his happiest hours were spent in re-
taxation from business cares on the plnnta-
tion where he lived, few miles out Of
town, going TO and fro by rail. Here in
the bosom Of his family, whom he adored,
in the JOYS of domestic life, the attachment
of his faithful tenants, the delights Of no
bic woods, fair landscape, luxuriant fields,
by his happy frcside, riding, driving about
the country, in pleasant neighborly inter-
course, he spent what he called his "best
days"
After ten years practice OF The law in
Memphis, he was again compelled by i'll
health to seek n more favorable climate.
lie chose st. Louis, purchasing beautiful
home in the suburbs, where his taste for
the aesthetic might find full fruition in
hill, dale, river and woodland. lie start
ed out in his new career with boundless
ambition, energy and pW to outstrip the
highest. IIe went there last November
and had already secured many heavy cases
had walked into n practice an ordinary
man might have waited years for, when
the same insidious disease which had driv-
en- him from Memphis again attacked hin,
in the shape Of Chronic Diarrhen, more
| violently than ever. Leaving his business
in charge OF an able partner, seeking
health by travel but finding it not. II his
mind would have succumbed to the weak.
ness of his body all might have boeh well
in an earthly sense, rs it is now in a heav-
enly. The past six weeks of his life were
| spent at his fathers house in Homer, Mich.
where all that the most devoted love, as
well as medical skill, could do to stay tbs
| departing steps of the household idol, was
done. lie hoped to the last, often repeat.
ing with returning favorable symptoms
the poets words, "Hope springs eternal in
the human breast" He passed away in =
peaceful sleep, not knowing the end had
come and n aslumbering infant has not 9
more placid look than death left upon hi
face.
He was faithful christian, WAS a com
municant of the Protestsnt Episcepa
church. But his life was his religion
faith OF deeds not words alone. His who'll
aim was to do good to others. There wa
not in all the warp and wool of his natur
n single thread Of self. He was full OF tn
charity that "thnketh no evil" The wri
ter Of these poor words never heard hin
speak i'll of any human being. When 9th
ers were evil spoken of his sweet charit
could always something extenuate." H
was the prop and stay OF his parents ad
vancing years, the idol of his whole fam
lily, the best son, brother, husband an
father that ever blessed family in hi
life, or broke their hearts by his deatf
He left wife and four helpless little one
to strive in this unfriendly world alone
One child, a son, was born a few days be
fore his death whom his eyes were neve
permitted to see.
He was followed to his last resting plac
by the sorrowing friends Of his early yout
and laid away with tender hands on a sur
ny southern slope, in the sunshine that h
loved so we'll. His casket was laden wit
beautiful flowers, pure as the departed sou
and consigned TO it's mother earth in th
'joyful hope" of the resurrection.
After his death, came telegram sun
moning him to the Supreme Court in sci
sion in Tennessee, the "last Gill" of
heavy case. He has gone to a highe
court, whose call could not be postponed
and where the poor triumphs of earth NJ
eclipsed by the brightness of the hcavenl
ones his noble life deserves. -.