The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-26

| est associates in school, as well as with the
most daring and persistent associates in
| amusements and hilarity. He has, 10 bis later
years, more than once spoken with feeling of
| the manner in which he had escaped from the
| many bad influences which surrounded him
| in his youth.
Early in his life Mr.. Gerard was employed
in a mercantile business. 10 which he grew
| to manhood, increasing his list of friends by
| genial and honorable dealing. In 1856 he was
| married to Anna Rogers. About the same
| time he went into the Office of county treas
| urer. He remained there two years, and then
| for three years was in the Office of the county
| clerk. From the clerks Office he went into the
| Office of the probate judge. where he remained
| three years longer. In all these positions the
| deceased discharged inteligenty and faith
fully every duty devolving upon him, and had
| the entire confidence and respect of the Off
| GERS in charge, and won friendships which fol-
| lowed him to his DEATH From political offices
| he went to corporation-the gas Office
| where he has been for about twenty years. In
| that office he has had one desk. In that as in
all other positions, he manifested the quail
ties of true manhood. His fidelity and compe
tency we're never questioned. His prompt.
ness and bearing were always commended.
He never sighted his work; never sought TO
hide an error. He never neglected duty and
never pleaded illness as an excuse for neglect.
His last position was held for him after hope
was gone and until death came.
In all his life Mr.. Gerard was modest and
unobtrusive. Firm and tenacious in his own
views as to what was right and proper, I'M
mindful of the criticisms of others as to his
own acts. he allowed to others, with the full
ocf md NIT hO11f
own ideas and views, however widely they may
have differed from his own. His CHEEKY, hap
py disposition never left him. His sufferings
of mind and body he complained not of. He
rarely mentioned his suffering, though it
might have been continuous and by no means
slight. His wife, Anna, died in the month of
April, 1862, leaving for the care of her hus-
band two boys, Charles and Willie. One of
them survives. Willie in bright, beauteous
boyhood was drowned On March 10, 1874
Mr.. Gerard married Maggie Rogers To
them were born two children, one of whom
died in early infancy. Mr.. Gerard was an ex-
emplary husband and father. This man, that
carried sunshine out in life to others, dwelt in
the sunshine at home. His nine weeks of
severe suffering were passed in patience, and
the home love watched by him and refused
the service of others. He died April 20. Here
on the hilltop, looking across the valley to the
hilltop Of his childhood. and where, to the
view. the valley lies in beauty between, the
spirit took its flight to go up higher. The body
was taken into the valley; words of love and
hope and faith were spoken in the Universal
ist Church, of which the departed had long
been a member, after which the Order of Odd
Fellows took the body to tenderly lay it to rest
in this valley. fringed on the one side by the
hills where he was born and on the other by
those where he died. Funeral services were
conducted by Rev. G. G. Conner.