The daily gazette., 1879-01-08
AARON CONRAD's DEATH,


At special meeting of City Council, {
called Jan. 1st, 1870, for the purpose Of
taking action on the dea h Of Aaron ,on-
, rad, late member from the Fifth Ward,
the following obituary address was delv
cred by Louis 7. Lynch, member from
the Tenth Ward.
| MIR. PRESIDENT This Is "A solemn
occasion, and it is fitting that we should
pause in our ordinary labors in order
that every member present, whose heart
is not overburdcned with grief, may have
an opportunity Of adding tribHte of re-
spect to the memory of our deceased
member, the late Aaron Conrad. l shall
attempt to lay a single laurel leaf upon
his coffin. | had no knowledge OF his
sickness, and when the honorable gentle
man from the Second Ward, Mr.. Taylor,
informed me that he was dead, 1t so
startled me that indeed, sir, II seemed as
though every pulsa,ion in my frame had
; ceased to beat. presume that my feel
; ings were like those of the rest OF his
friends, " hen they received the sad intel
ligence that that noble-heared man was
/. no more. | assure you that 1t filled my
hear with extreme sadness when learn-
Is ed that his mission on earth was filed
' and that his spirit had shaken off this
. mortal coil and gone to dwell with angels
9 in brighter and better world. The In
q ,ellectual emanation OF some men are so
little superior to the natural instincts Of
:. the lower animal, that We are almost led
to Il arfully doubt the cher shed truth OF
n immortality which we all so fondly cling
TO in moments of despair and adversely;
but wien such a man dies or passes
through the transition called death, we
still lives on in better world. 1t is
= customary OH an occasion like this u
q speak in detail Of the life and character
of the deceased; to begin at his early
W manhood and trace him step by s'eI
"a. through life. 1t will be impossible fol
1o' me.,o do that. will leave that duty tt
some one who has known him longer ant
"' possesses more eloquence OF Language
Is, and oratorial power. True as it is :ha
| have not known him as long as some o
's' the members present, yet hayeknowi
:: lhim long enough and been in his com
as. pany sufficient to know his value as
:, citizen. a public officer, a husband,
father and friend. And, as such, Ia
ns had no supcIiors and very few equals.
in the estimation of the dead, We ar
sometimes liable to pass beyond til
~ measures Of just appreciation, ca
arc assure YOU. sir, that whatever languag
Of eulogy may be applied to him We ar
!. in little danger of exceeding a corre'
Judgment Of his merits. In the Counc
- chamber and wherever elsc lie was Gale
To act, his superiority in many strikin
respects was at once acknow edged
' There are certain qualities, both MOI
and intellectual, in which lac was h'
y surpa, scd. First of all, he was an hol
N est lust man his integrity was pc
II vadinu and governing characteristic
his nature. which not only controlled II
conduct but shaped his sentiment al
opinion; so that it would indeed secl
sir, that he was gifted with an unerril
Judgment of right and wrong. III II
opinion there are very few men so fort
/ nate as he was i'll contracting and re al
u ing the confidence of The people amol
i whom he lived.
ii. Inspired with profound respect I
himse If all whose good fortune II was
associate with him. He possessed qua
ties that could not fail TO attract the
tention of those who are disposed
estimate one at their true value.
He had frank, genial, open couhlt
ance that gaint d him friends long beft
.r his lips were open. He had "A kind, gt
VI ervus phlanthromc spirit. that caus
him q, be ever ready AMI Wiling 10 &C
tribute the means that he had acqur
l0s by untiriug zeal and industry, TO allevia
the sutferings of atfii cted humanity 1
. highest ambition was TO be IA pubhc D'
EGE efactor. And though he was man
considerable wealth, yet ne was Io'
NJ on, ropant, hut rs humble and gentle ~
r. W child. He despised the pomp and van
! apnns of tins world for his path through
miro, had been that of rectltude and virt'
oung In "A conversation that l had with
ivate once he told me he tried to be at pei
rices. and charity with all mankind, ant
D., firmly believe he was. 1t always appe
M ed TO me, from the first time saw hi
that his greatest dt sire was TO 40 JUS
love mercy and walk humbly with
% God. when he gave aims IT was
n. for popularity as some do, for he aiw
gave IN secret and God rewarded
Openly for il. And well l kn-w I
h. there are many poor families III tnis
that he has often assisted "ith
of means and spoken words OF consolat
and sympathy to, that this nigh.
TIL mourning in sorrow and shedding II
nj of gratitude. ,
nj Mr.. President, wish that hau
guage to express the feelings o,
heart upon this occasion. l Wish III
could offer proper memorial for SUE
subj. .ct and such an Affection But
more strive to utter 1t l feel 'he
heartening influence OF she well-khe
TI1C fact that in view of death all minus
lNs into triteness. 1t would indeed se
- sir, tnat the great level-r of the hu'
- race would vindIcale his title 10 ID
&c consider d by making all men thihk
aSs as regards his visitation. The thous
thoughts that begin and end one,
dissolution, here, the eternal hope
a, after, are thoughts that are felt ahke
the lowest intellect as well as the Drl