The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-05-24
pUn1AL OF WIN. NJ. w1cKs.
The Largest Funeral Ever Seen Here
PubIIe Grief over His Loss.


geuce of the death Of our long honored
feIIow-citIzen, VIM. HI. Wicks. Had not
our people seen him about town previous
to his departure for Colorado, and wit
messed his rapid decline, 1t would scarcely
have been believed that his disease was
consumption. Six or eight months ago
he was a man in active business, weigh
ing in the neigh borhood of 200 lbs. 1t was
only last October, we think. that he pass
ed a medical examination for life insur-
ance. 1t was generally remarked and be-
IieVed that he had postponed his trip IN
search Of suddenly lost health too long,
and the fear was universal that ne never
would reach his destination. So it proved.
On the 25th of April he started in wagon
for an extended trip to the mountains, ae-
companied by his wife and child, and
Mr.. Flora. He was possessed of a de-
termined will and was hopeful to the last.
He died in Aubrey, Hamilton county,
Kansas, not far from the Colorado line,
on the 18th inst.
Mr.. Wicks had been long and favor
ably known in Emporia, and regarded
and esteemed as one Of our solid and reli-
able men. AS citizen in his home, in
business, IN the Methodist church, Of
which he was an official member, in the
Masonic Lodge, of which he was the
Worshipful Master, and in the KING hts of
Honor, of which he was q worthy member;
in all these relations of life Are was the
nobiest work of God, Gan honest man."
He had done what he could, and resign
ing himself into the hands of his Heavenly
Father, he passed away. His family,
with the body, reached Emporia by the
A. T. s. s. F. train, Friday morning, and
they were met by a large number Of our
citizens. Preparations were made for the
/ funeral by his friends, and on sunday
afternoon about o'clock the Masons in
charge OF the funeral, attended by the
Knights of Honor, repaired to the Metho-
dist church, where a large cOncourse Of
people from city and country gathered to
pay the last sad rites to one they had
loved, but now mourned.
The services In the church were con-
Quoted by Rev. G. W. Pye, pastor, assisted
by President Pomeroy and Rev. Mr.. Clark,
and were very impressive and appropriate.
After the service the body was SO placed
near the door that the audience were
permitted to look for the last upon the
face of one they had known in life. The
funeral procession was the largest ever
seen in our city. The building weuld not
hold half the attendants, and 100 teams
Joined in the procession. At the grave
the Masonic burial service was solemn
and impressive, and when through, the
crowd dispersed with bowed heads and
solemn admonitions, feeling the force OF
the lesson that speaks to all. The citi-
zens generally feel the loss, and join In
tenderest sympathies with the wife and
child left to mourn q loss that is his
gain.
| The following historical sketch OF his
life was read in the church by Judge
Cunningham:
William Montgomery Wtcks was born
lOctober 10th, 1874, in Erie county, Penn
sylvania, and died May 18th, 1873, in
Hamilton county, Kansas, aged "a years
! and seven months. At the time of his
, birth his parents resided on farm, and
when he was about one year old they
moved to Stephenson county, Illinois
hoping to benefit the mothers health, bu
she, soon after arriving in Illinois, died o.
consumption. He lived on q farm il
Stephenson county, with his father, unit
he was about II years old, receiving tn ere
the usual scanty advantages and endur
| ing the priVations of a frontier life.
When about II years old his father died
being the second victim of consumption
: Left thus orphaned and homeless b.
found refuge with a married sister liV
ing at BelTVlile, Illinois, where he lived
until 10 years OF age, when he, with her
: removed TO Douglas county, Kansas
where brother had preceded them. Her
he lived, employed at usual farm work
until the spring of 1861, when between
ri apd IL in IiO ks e. f1aStPa e 60
: 1, and served from that time during tn
entire war, period of some four anC
a-haf years, being gradually promotes
Until his discharge, when he held cap
e tain's commission. While in the arm!
y he was scarcely If ever sick, and was no
, | ted for his ruggedness of constitution AM
u for his readiness for duty and any enter
. prise requiring endurance and partakina
v Of danger. He was with his company il
some SIX or eight battles but came out un
hurt.
It At the close of the war, he being the
o past 81 years of age, attended school for
= | short time at Lecompton, and afterWard
at q business college at Kansas City. Fl
s came to Emporia early in 1868 as an agen
;, for the sale OF moving and reaping ms
q chine. That fall and winter he WAS EN-
ployed by G. w. Frederick as clerk i
e mis- grocery store. In the spring he puI
chased an interest in the store, and durin
the summer he, with the late Harr
e Mayse, bought out the establishment, an
h continued in the business under the fri
= name of Wicks q Mayes until June 1877;
at which time Msyes sold out to q. W
II Bennett.
OF his life in Emporia, his bushes
abilities and success, the most of you al
D, as well acquainted as am. OF sterlin
integrity, correct business habits, promp
energetic, dealing ION the square'' wit
10 all, no man in our business communit
Is was held in higher estimation or possess
v ed the confidence of every one to q create
= degree than Mr.. Wicks. He was marie
= to Jennie Morttord in 1869. On Januar
"a Doth, 1871, he connected himself with th
NJ. e. church and almost from the fir
IS the church availed itself OF his rare bus
a ness ability, making him an official men
Der, which place he held at the time
his death, and up to within less than w
T. months Of his death he had almost the eI
tire charge Of the finances of the church
3 He has been q member of the Masoni
fraternity for about nine years, tiIlin
i many positions of honor and trust there
in, being Master Of the lodge at the tin
of his death.
AS business man, citizen, a m ason,
Y friend, christian, and husband he hs
- few equals. From all Of these relatIo
ships he will be sorely missed, and b
e. memory will long be fragrant to this cor
ir munity. That life cannot better be hon
ored, or our respect for him and his e.
emplary life better demonstrated than
N emulating his VirtuessisTa-s ei7oIn-T = !