The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-04-24

Tas Fsnsral obssqsiss at ths Church and Can
stsry.

How full life is of calamity and Of grief, and
how heavily fall each upon the soul when TN
expected; how often the brightest day Of ex-
istence Is suddenly robbed Of all hope, shroud-
ed with deepest anguish, and left joyless and
rayless. Thus across the dreary cxpanse
that intervenes between his home, his wife,
his little ones and the eternal snow-crowned
barriers Of the West, where his eyes looked
out upon the world for the last time, there
flashed, on Monday morning. tidings that
startled our city, saddened . thousand
breasts, and before which one faithful, loving
heart bowed and quivcred as the reed before
the tempest. The wife and mother
awhile she stood
Transformed by grief to marble. agonizei AMI full
The anguish Of her stricken soul
Tearing its strings assunder.'
The message was that William d. Russell
died on sunday night of Congestion of the
Lungs. He had gone out to the mountains
few weeks since, we believe, for his health,
where he had engaged in business. leaving
his store here i'm competent hands. At his
earnest request his wife repaired to the latter
place two weeks ago. returning to Wichita
last Thursday. She left her husband hopeful,
and with the understanding and expectation
that he would follow her home in few days.
The sequel we have already given. His re-
mains We're sent by express Monday morn
ing. arriving nt Wichita Tuesday little past
one o'clock, when they were taken charge of
by the Odd Fellows. an organization of which
the deceased was an honorable member. and
in which he had his life insured for 81 800.
The funeral services took place at 10 O'Clock
dence on Topeka Avenue, Rcvs. Harscn and
Kirby conducting the exercises, after which
further proceedings and ceremonies were had
at the cemetery by the Odd Fellows.
of the sorrow. Of this unexpected and sud-
den bereavement Of the wifc-now the Wild
ow and now the mother Of four orphan chill
dren-our language fails. The high esteem
in which she is held by our people, the love
borne her because of many noble traits. the
admiration she has won by her ,li,intercstcd
works Of charity. and untiring efforts in be-
half Of the poor and destitute, is well under
stood and needs no words. We can only as
sure her that the deepest heartfelt sympathies
of the people are hers.
William David Russell was born in Roch-
ester, New York. in ls41, and was thirty-onc
years of age. He came 10 Leavenworth,
Kansas. in 1856. when Il mere boy. where he
was married to Miss Kitty Bell in 1868. lie
came TO Wichita i'm 1872, since which time he
has been engaged continuously in business.
Will Russell. although man Of strong will,
was a man of infinite humor. ever yicwin.
life from its brightest side. accepting the
world. its affairs and people as drama in
which comedy or tragedy predominated ac-
cording to the will Of the several actors. lie
was a man Of such generous nature and large
soul that his friendships were only limited 10y |
the number of those who knew him: his
greatest characteristic his honest fearless
ness; his chiefcst virtue his almost idolatrous
love of his wife and children.
8. And such l. human life at hest
4 MOTHER, n lovers, the green earth breast:
\ wreath that Is forn'd Of nowret- three.
Primrose. and myrtle, and rosemary
4 hopeful, n joy full. sorrowful slave,
\ launch n 70, age. n whelming wave,
The cradle the bridal bed, and the grave