River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-10-26
From the Pembina, N. D., Press. !
Burial of / w. Winchester

Under the beautiful skies and balmy
breezes of the September Sabbath the
remains of Comrade, Justin William
Winchester were laid to rest Since the
mid-winter he had been dying. Slowly,
but surely, the paralysis which had
deadened the lower limbs crept upward.
At first he could still walk with the help
of a cane, then he had to lean on friends,
then it came to be that he must be
carried In their arms, or pushed about on
his wheel-chair.
Like the tree whose trunk is blasted by
the lghtning's stroke, the upper
branches still striving for life. and the
leaves seeming even brighter and more
green, because of the death and decay
from which they appear to be growing,
SO, during the long illness, the invalid
grew gentler, and his better qualiti es
seemed brighter, as the end grew nearer.
Loving hands and friendly offices did
much to soften the descent along the
downward plane from life to death. All
that love, friendship and skill could do,
was done, and without doubt his days
were prolonged to a considerable extent
by this assidious care.
The funeral was delayed until Sunday,
waiting for the arrival of his only brother
q. Z. Winchester. But Mr.. Winchester
evening, previous to the decease of his
brother ON Thursday, it was impossible
to find him, though kilograms were sent
in every probable direction, The aged
parents, who live in River Falls, Wis, are
both invalids, and the news of the death
of his son has been kept from his father
purposely, until it can be told him by
the brother, as the result upon him in
his weakness is feared.
Thus the only immediate relatives to
mourn at the funeral were the two
orphan nieces Misses Annie and Oracle
Mckenzie, now again deprived of what
to them was loving parent. But there
was no lack of willing hands and sympa-
thizing hearts. As one of the earliest
settlers and man well known to the
public, Mr.. Winchester circle OF acqualn-
tances and friends was very large and the
crowded church and the long line of
carriages in the professions testified to
the respect in which the deceased was
held.
At quarter to three on Sunday after
noon, the bearers, Messrs. j. LaMoure,
l.. +. Booker, John Kabernagle, q. w.
Ryan, j. III. Anderson and n. Il. Nelson
took up the coffin in which lay the mortal
remains, for the last solemn journey
which comes to all. The comrades of
Worden, Post, q. A. r., formed a guard
of honor and with the mourners, the sad
procession took its way to the Presby-
terrain church. The pulpit, and stand ON
which the coffin was laid, were decorated
with flags draped in heavy mourning.
and were covered with great banks of
flowers and evergreens. The coffin was
of heavy oak covered with black broad
cloth and was covered with white
flowers wrought into beautiful emblematic
designs. An American flag, with cap,
belt and sword also lay on the coffin,
being the insignia of his service as a
soldier during the war.
The services were opened by prayer by
Rev. l.. ID. Warden, special and appro-
pirate music by the Presbyterian choir,
and an eloquent sermon by the pastor,
Rev. X. Johnston. The church was
crowded to its utmost capacity and many
were compelled to remain outside and
gather about the windows. After the
friends had been given an opportunity to
take their last look at the wasted features
of him they had known so long and well,
the coffin was closed and the light of the
day shut out from the eyes that would
never need it more, until they should
open in the light of the resurrection
morn.
Then the long procession, reaching
from the church to the cemetery, took its
way to the last resting place, and about
the grave the simple and beautiful ritual
services OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public were said, as they laid their
comrade down 10 rest under the blue,
over-arching sky as he had many times
lain for an hours sleep when on the
march," "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes"
and then, the long, sweet notes of the
bugle sounded the soldiers good night"
ana the body was left to rest until wax
ened by the reyeille of the archangel ON
the morning of the resurrection.