Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-11
CHARLES c. TRowBRIDGE.
Death of DetrOSt's Venerable and FeU-B Be
IoUed Patriarch.
Detroit Free Press, April 81

day evening at the family residence, 494
Jefferson avenue. The announcement of
the sad event will be a surprise to the Citi-
zens of Detroit, for his illness was of very
brief duration, and few persons who had
been accustomed to the sight of his famil-
lar face on the street, and who were often
welcomed to his offices in Bank chambers,
where he loved to call to his side congenial
friends, had heard that he was stricken.
The immediate cause of his death was
pneumonia, the first attack of which was
felt less than a week ago, and the raw
ages OF which not even his magnificent
constitution was able to Withstand. There
had been, however, for some time, per-
ceptibIe feebleness stealing upon him, and
though his step seemed as elastic and his
bearing was as erect as of old, his closer
friends saw his powers slowly failing and
knew that the end could not be distant.
He suffered acutely during the earlier
stages of his malady, but toward the last
he was comparatively free from pain, and
his death was as peaceful as babes.
Any words that could be written con-
corning Mr. Trowbridge's career and char
acter must seem to the readers of this
journal-to the general body of the people
of INSTRUMENTATION He had been
so long a conspicuous and venerable
figure, and affectionate honors had been
laid at his feet SO often and so publicly,
that it might be said he was known to
every citizen Of Detroit. The recent
demonstration of the people of this city
in celebrating with him the completion of
his eighty-third year is still fresh in mind.
On that occasion public attention was
specially directed to his life-when his
private virtues, his long period of useful
ness, his great services to the state and
city, and his possession in an eminent
degree of those qualities of mind and
heart that made him one Of the noblest Of
human exemplars were reviewed
with great fulness of detail. When
the movement which eliminated
in that memorable celebration
was first proposed this journal said of Mr..
Trowbridge: HE has lived in Detroit six
ty-three years, and there has yet to come
to knowledge one ungracious act of his
private life, or one sign of unwillingness
to do his whole duty, and more, as a pub
lie spirited citizen. Everywhere he is held
in affectionate veneration. No man in
Detroit counts SO many or so loving per-
sonal friends as he; while those who know
him only by his record, and by observation
of the purity, gentleness and high nobility
that are among his many distinguishing
traits, claim equal privilege with his init
mates in paying tribute 81 The rare beauty
and dignity of his life anC character. It
can be truthfully said that wLitlersoever
he walketh in the sight of man, sings
and benedictions do follow him; 1or his
name is love-linked with acts OF Drosdest
benevolence, and his career Shines, as the
steady eye of faith, a luminous and besuti-
full example of the value CT clean living
and Christian practice"
No more fitting summary Of Mr.. Trow-
BRIDGES life Or more felicitous estimate of
the man could be framed than the beeuti-
full address delivered by Hon. Geo. V. II.
Lothrop at the Trowbridge banquet on the
evening of December 20. The peculiar
appropriateness of reproducing it in con-
nection with this, record of last nights
melancholy event will be universally
recognized. It is as follows:
Ny DEAR ERIE1,Ds AND FELLOW CITIZENS
There is little left in our days of the Old
patriarchal life and feeling. That has
been crowded out; but still at times there
walks one among Us so venerable and
fatherly, with such authority Of virtue and
character that all hearts bow down to him
with Instructive love and reverence.
It IS easy to pay worldly honors. They
are the chief incense we give TO men in
power, and lay at the feet of patronage.
But unboUght tributes of affection and ad-
EliratiOn for a private Life, ripe in years,
rich in usefulness, and ennCbled with all
goodness, are the highest Offering the
human heart can make. Earth never,
think, rises so near 10 the service of heaven
as when it CROWNS truth, usefulness and
purity as the supreme good of human life.
Sixty-three years ago last summer there
came to the little town OF Detroit, then one
Of the remOtest Outposts of civilization, q
youth Of nineteeH years. He came without
influence aud n honorable poverty. He
had had 5ea-s privileges of education.
But he was OF good old Massachusetts, blood
which had proved its patriotism in the
fires of the revolution. He had the reso-
lutte heart and willing hands of youth, and
genial manner that won mems conf
dence. The young man knew his own
secret, and believe that from the outset
he had determined what should be the
quality of his whole life.
At the age of twenty-five he entered on
his important work. He became cashier
of the Bank of Michigan. At about mid
die life he became the head of the Detroit
u Milwaukee railroad. In the duties of
these stations nearly forty years OF his life
were spent. The trusts we're Of the highest
character; they were discharged with abil-
ity and fidelity. These duties brought
him into contact with all sorts of men.
And here shone out that kindness of heart
and that charming Urbanity of manner
which have SO distinguished him. 1t is
often said of him, as banker, that he
could say no more graclously than most
men could say yes.
But our friend was not a mere business
man. He was not content with the sparing
education the school had given. he had
natural love of letters. By diligent self
culture he enlarged his knowledge and be-
came a gentleman so refined, scholarly and
accomplished that there was no society
that he did not adorn.
One striking service to letters should be
mentioned.
Rude and remote as then was the Mich
igan frontier, it had already had an i'm
portant history. Here had lived Pontiac,
the most intellectual red man, think, of
the northern tribes. Here he had con