Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-09

TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD.
Memorial Exercises in Honor Of the late Hon. j..
Allen Barber at the Opening Of Court.
THE COURT ROOM.

a crowded audience had assembled to
pay silent honor to their departed friend
and listen to the tributes to his memory
SO fifty spoken by his old associates,
members OF the Grant county bar.
The courtroom had been tastefully
decorated with mourning emblems by a
committee of ladies, composed of Mrs.
j. P. Lewis, Mrs. Col Clark, Mrs. Judge
Mills and Miss Nettie Meyer, assisted
by the taste and Judgment of DR.. Bar
Der.
The center window at the rear of the
courtroom had been covered and at the
top of the casing was hung the portrait
of Mr.. Barber recently mentioned in
these columns Above and on the side
was heavy border of Grape and in the
center point of the arch formed by the
draping and just above the picture was
placed a wreath of evergreen with
flowers while at the foot on either
side and reaching up to the end of the
mourning emblems were two Gala lilies
giving to the whole look of beauty and
appropriateness.
On the table extending across the bar
a mourning arch had been elected I'M
dcrneath which stood wreath of nat
ural flowers. Before the table, also
draped in mourning garb was the chair
Of the deceased. The peculiar appro-
priateness of this selection of place
came from the fact that it was there
that Mr. Barber last sat when trying a
case before the court.
When the vast audience had assem-
bled the exercises were opened by a
prayer from the Rev. c. G.. Cook, after
which q choir selected from the musical
talent of the city sang Nearer my
God to Thee "
The first speaker was his honor
JUDGE CoTHREN,
who opening his address by the state
ment that there was comfort and peace
/
trait of the revered dead "non omnis
mortar" and in the knowledge that
death does not end all, delivered an elo-
quent tribute to the dead, saying in the
course of his address that no one was
more ready to condemn dishonest act
than j. Allen Barber, none more can
did as a general rule than he. He was
a faithful friend, as many there present
can testify. He was an admirer of
purity and chastity, loved industry, adj
mired frugality, was fond of books and
exceptionally fond of social converse. He
was no egotist in an offensive sense, was
not tyrant in feeling but believer in
the declaration of independence that
all men were born free and equal. Con-
Guiding his honor said. LET us hope
that the loss is ours the gain his. TSub-
dued applause.
Judge Cothern was followed by
COL. J. G. CLARK,
who promised his remarks by saying
that not until that morning had he been
notified that he would be called upon to
speak. The gentleman said his words
would be few; that this was no time for
critism. Mr.. Barber never made,grave
or serious mistakes, he was strict him
self and eXacted the same of others but
in all he was just and when lying on his
death bed had no reason for regrets as
to the course he had pursued. Mr.. Bar
Ger had wonderful memory. His head
was a storehouse of facts and out of that
storehousc he drew the Celebrations of
his theories and arguments. As tri-
bune of the people it could be said that
their interests were never sacrificed
while in his hands. He had stamped
his impress upon this county. His life
was brilliant example for the rising
generations. His spirit will live to in
spire young men to struggle on ard be
useful not only to themselves but to the
state.
MIR. A. II. BUSHNELL
said: Among the honorable dead of the
| past year we, members of the bar, es-
pccially mark that of j. Allen Barber.
At the February term of last year he
was with us sitting in that chair but has
now passed on and entered the door OF
the hereafter. He was one of the oldest
lawyers in the state. lie had come TO
/ Lancaster in 1887, this was his home
and here he was buried, No member
had stood higher at this bar than j.
Allen Barber. He was probably one of
| the wealthiest menin Grant county, but
not by wealth was he To be judged.
He was ever ready to assist the needy
and no Impoverished sufferer ever
looked for help in vain. Often brusque
and abrupt all knew the real tender
ness of his nature. He was man of
broad views, comprehensive knowledge
and one who was never satiated in pur-
suing learning. His exploring and ca
/ pacious mind went out into all fields.
/ Mr.. Barber had come into the world in
the age of tiintlock muskcts, of spinning
wheels. the hand printing press and
mail coaches and lived to see the advent
of railroads, ritled cannon. sewing ma
chimes. the telegraph, microphone, tele-
/ phone and the power printing press
But while we cherish and revere the
memory of j. Allen Barber we will ever
/ remember him as a wise and iucorrlIpti-
BILE legislator. 1t is not right, said the
! speaker, to attribute to our deceased
| brother virtues which he had not but all
shortcomings are obscured by the true
manliness hone through his life
He was man OF generous impulses
whose asperities. such as they were.
were softened and toned down by age.
He goes down to the grave regretted by
/ all who knew him.
/ MIR. GEO. CLEMENTSON
said; will not undertake to say much
rs lh. BARRIERS character and life have
been SO ably commented on by previous
speakers, would however say one word
for the dead that is gone. A year ago
he was with us and with apparently