River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-11
OBITUARY.


pie announcement has cast shadow
of gloom over the whole community.
But few men have been so universally
respected and beloved in life as he,
and It is therefore not surprising that
he should be so much lamented in
death. He was truly 4 righteous man,
and from the depths of many sorrow
ing hearts, that weep DER his grave,
the cry goes up to-day in the touching
pathos of scripture phrase: Help, |
Lord, for the Cody man ceaseth, for |
the faithful fall from among the chill
dren of men, Joseph F. Nichols was
born in Braintree, Vermont. March |
10Th. 1913. He was a son of the Rev.
Ami Nichols, a distinguished clergy
man of the Congregational church of
that place. His ancestry was of the
best type of puritan blood as far back
as the sailing of the May Flower.
From such an ancestry and such a pa
rentage he inherited those principles
of strict integrity and christian faith
to which he adhered with answering |
fidelity through life. and at death be-
ouearhad to his children as priceless
legacy. In 1925 he was married in
Braintree to Miss L. W. Pratt who
has shared his joys and sorrows ever
since-a worthy companion OF his |
worthy life. He removed west in
1913 and resided in Dover, H., for
eipht wears. In 1854 he came to River |
Falls, which has been his home for
twenty seven years. He was one of
the early settlers, and entered at once
into every measure proposed for the
public good. lie was among the fore
most to encourage schools. Before
the formation of Il school district IN
this valley he united with few 9TH
ers to build school house by private
subscription. lie was stakeholder
in the old Academy, and was elected
District treasurer of Joint school dis
trict No. soon after its organization,
and as proof of the confidence which
was placed in him, he was continued
in that responsible position for the
long period of twenty-one years, and
what is quite remarkable-for many
of the last of those years he was not
asked to give bonds, as every voter
felt that his word was security enough.
In religious faith he was a Congrega-
tionalist, though liberal to all other
denominations. He was one of the
original members of the Congregations
al church in this village, and it is
doubtful whether any other member
has done so much for its Growth as he.
He was not only one OF the largest
contributors III money, but in his ac-
tive labors for its prosperity. AS
leader of the music, both of the
choir and the Sabbath school, his GER |
vices have been of incalculable value. |
Year after year. with untiring assidu- !
ity he has rendered these services with |
out compensation and without reward. /
No-not unrewarded. He Las the re-
ward of an approving conscience, and |
and an approving God. And, oh, the |
unspeallable reward that awaits him |
when thr0ngs of children who were led |
to Christ through the heavenly strains |
of his music shall rise up and call him |
blessed in the world of light, lie |
leaves Il record which we would not /
add to or take from, for in all that rec |
ord there is not sullied page nor a
furnished line. The heartfelt sympa. |
thy of the entire community is rendered /
to his family in their deep aflliction.
But heaven alone can Gil the painful /
void his absence creates in that home |
which his presence rendered perpet-
ual paradise. We need not say more
of one who being dead yet speaketh,
and whose impress is still visible all
around us. lie has gone to inherit
the reward of the pure in heart. He
was faithful unto death. He has re-
ceived 4 crown of life. LET me die
the death of the righteous and let my
last end be like his. :