The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-01-06
I'm Memory of those who have
Gone.

we publish, below. The historical value
of such a record, to the locality in which
it has been kept for so many years, is
not at first view duly felt and appreciat-
ed, nor is it generally known that Judge
Chambers "Record'' is already much
sought for by the descendants of those
whose names are there recorded, and
others, for the purpose of fixing dates,
ages, christian and middle names, and
other kindred facts, for it must be re-
membered that the record, owing to the
care with which it was originally prepar-
ed, is known to be exact and accurate in
respect to every fact which it processes
to give with accuracy, and where the ex-
act facts are not stated, it was because
they could not be ascertained at the time.
If this record has already come to be
so highly estimated by the public on ac-
count OF its intrinsic merits, and the in
teresting information which it contains,
it is easy to conceive that from its very
nature it will continue to become more
and more so as the years roll on; and
hat if it is kept with the same accuracy
for a period embracing a century, its his
torical value in reference to every thing
it contains, will be simply incalculable.
This record, thus commenced and con-
tinued for SO many years, ought to be
made a perpetual memorial. So long as
its author survives, and we hope that this
may be for many years yet to come, it
will continue to be kept by him as it has
been in the past; but the silvery locks
of the venerable Judge are tokens Of the
fact hat ii he has not reached three
score years and ten, he is verging on
that period, and that in the course of ma
ture, he may leave us at any time. I'm
der these circumstances, assuming that
with one voice all will agree that the re-
cord ought to be continued in the future
as it has been in the past, the pertinent
inquiry arises: Who will take up the re-
cord of Judge Chambers, when death
snatches it from his hands, and continue
it during the years of his or her proba-
ton as faithfully as he has done? Tt
will require an assiduous, truthful, pains
taking and competent person to take his
place. Who will fill it? We would sug-
gest, without a hint from him or any one
else, that the Judge ought to select and
train his own successor, who wouldobey
his injunctions in respect thereto, with
the same fidelity that Hannibal obeyed
those OF his father; and to insure perpet-
uity, a like succession and a like fidelity
should be implicitly understood and es-
tablished, of perpetual permanence
whereby the record would, without fail
ure, be perpetuated. If it is continued
successfully through the hands OF the
first and second successors, its perma'
xency will have been established; for by
that time public opinion will not only de
mand but COMMAND It's continuance.
If the Judge fails to so designate hi
own successor, then we suggest that the
citizens of Eaton, in the fulfllment of
duty they owe to themselves and to pos
terity, ought to see to it that the record
does not end when its author drops it
for want of q worthy successor.
Fearing that we were perhaps too san
guine when we assumed that all would
agree that the record ought to be contin
ued, we mention a few suggestions t.
convince any who may be doubting-orin
different on the subject, that it ought Il
be done. For this purpose we mention
a c~o-existing fact, or rather, facts, tina
do not appear on the face of the record
The statute, for many years, has requir
ed the Auditor of the county to subscribe
and pay for, out of the public funds, on
copy of the newspaper of each of TIL
principal political parties, not exceedin;
two, published in the county, and to bin'
each volume separately and file it in tn
office for the benefit of, and subject t
the inspection of the public; which ha
regularly been done in this county. Now
when the friends of deceased persons d
not publish an obituary notice of them
as they should do, the author of the re
cord sees to it that such a notice is in
serted in one or the other of the newspa
pers, so as to be filed in the Auditors Of
fee. When the subject OF the notice wa
a man or of recognized mora
worth, ability, integrity, and excellenc
of character, these are all mentioned
the notice, and they become matter
recorded history in the II aboy
stated, to which the descendants of sue
persons, in the far future, can and ma
refer with pleasure and gratitude. 81
you say persons in the future will n
know where to look for such notices
the bound volumes of the newspaper
and that they will, therefore, be as
dead letter. Here is just where the deaf
record will serve as an invaluable indie
on the subject. 1t will give the day an
year of the death, and on the hypothes
that the obituary was published the ne:
week, not only the volume but the nun
Der of the paper will be pointed on
Thus by the aid OF the record as an i
dex, and the history contained in Il
comtemporaneous newspapers, preser
ing many Interesting facts and remini
+ ~ceuces relative to persons and famili
T who have lived and died in Eaton, Il
descendants OF the lost, the present, an
if the record is continued, of future sc
/ erations, will be enabled at any time
: collect such facts and "reminiscences al
preserve them in such form as may 81
, themselves.
We are so constituted that the furth
we are removed from the past, in poi
of time, the more intensely interestil
becomes any attainable fact relating
our ancestors, as they walked upon t
earth in those ancient times. 1t is