The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-04-09
DEATH OF ISAAC b. COATS.
Another Member OF Just POST, q. A.
Il. ~ Numbered with h
Grea Army of h
Dead.


Great Army of the
Dead.
Isaac L. Coats. known to every citi-
zen of Cape Girardeau and especially
to the members Of Justi Post, rs
a worthy member, died at the resi-
dence of the editor of this paper,
March 31st, 1892, aged 63 years.
Often times we are called upon to
speak of the merits of the living and
the dead, but the most difficult task
Of the scribe is to say of the dead the
deserved thing connected with the
life. when little of the career is
known. The deceased came from his
native state, Pennsylvania, to the
Cape, shortly after the close of the
var, and as he was not given to
p~arading bis family relations or his
life in detail, we are unable to speak
of him as it would be pleasure TO
do at this time. Ills life in this city
is a sojourn as plain as a book, iadel-
libby printed. lie was not Inclined
to 1.-Two a dual life and thereby de-
ceive those abOu. him. lie could be
secn as Isaac Is. Csats-that and moth
ing more-as he made no public
parade of name or past condition. lie
was q printer by trade. a good work
man and for years las his health
would permit) was a cempositer on
the case in this Office. Enough was
known Of him to warrant us in
the assertion that he had, in early
life received the benefits of careful
tutorage by some one, as he was a
man Of much more than average
ability. The fact that he, early in
the fray-which was about to sever
our country-enlisted in the Union
army and served during the entire
war, receiving an honorable dis
charge ut the close of hOS!ilities.is alone
a record noble, and his honorable dis
charge warrants the conclusion.
Much could be said. NO doubt of
his early life that would be truly
commendablc, but as it is not faniil-
lar to the writer We again conclude
that another has been called 10 the fl
nal discharge on earth-to the rel
of the eternal, where there is neither
bugle call or the final mastering
out.
We might theorize and moralize to
many columns length OIL the life, MGR
its and many good qualities of the
deceased. were the facts connected
with his career better known, but of
what is known there a be no mis-
take in casting about him the mantle
of charity in his life weakness and re-
him in the broad spirit
of human kindness which prompted
the expression.
ITO err is human, to forgive is Di-
vine"
When the nation was in its
greatest hour OF peril, and when his
life was to him, at the sweetest ebb-
his country called, and with that
great army of patriots, he took up
the solemn march to the front, which
cost q million and a half of lives TO
a principle-to defend a ma
ions honor. Old ma Coats is dead,
md with the demise passes from
.arth to that prophetic bourne, one
little known; perhaps little thought
Of by the tossing sea of humanity: but
n the great recOniDg. who knows
what there is in store for those who
lavc borne the burden Of life alone and
@ = great extent receiving few OF the /
,entle caresses which make the pill {
an oasis in the desert of life. I
lie was we'll cared for and carefully :
in his latter years by those !
ShO knew him best. and bore with T
lin in his life's weaknesses, and his i
emains were properly laid away by t
he members of JUST Post, u. A. r.. h
from the residence above \
Mentioned. Thus another OF the .
eterans of the great civil strife has a
itched his tent for the last time Il
as aroused to the music of the re- p
ellie of eternity. to give an account 4
f his stewardship on earth. 1t is Il
lan's greatest act when he can recog- Il !
ize that biblical fundamental priu- Z,
pile, that 'there is o perfect, no, d.
OF one" yet all is not lost-cannot W
e, since no one knows the secrets of Z.
neither the causes for many u
lings not in harmony with their +,
rn views. W
as
The end is reached by another of s.
e old vetcrans-Isaac Il. Coates is dc
,ad. So an
ST
til
Stage matters. sa
al