Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30

/
Ex-Governor Rusk. The large portrait
of the deceased which had been
standing in the main corridor draped
i'll mourning since the generals death.
was placed in the room to the right
of the speakers desk. Among the
audience We're i large number of young
men from the university, and in open
ing the exercises, Hon. HI. A. Taylor,
chairman OF the evening, spoke 10
them especially, pointing to Uncle
Jerry as one whom any young man
might we'll take for an example.
General Lucius Fairchild then read
the resolutions which had been pre-
pared by the committee. They We're
as follows:
Again our people mourn. a dis
tinguished son of Wisconsin has been
stricken by the hand Of death. One
who was so long and intimately as
sociated with the growth and his
tory of our commonwealth has passed
away; Il man who left his impress
upon the times, and the thread of
whose life was SO strongly interviewer
| Herewith, as to leave him standing
out as Il prominent character of his
day and generation.
| In the death of jeremiah NJ. RuSk
we have sustained Il loss irreparable-
Il place made vacant which will be
difficult to fill. His eventful career, so
crowned with success, can never be
| forgotten. A resident of his adopted
state during forty years, his name
and deeds i'll that period have become
| familiar as household words. Hon.
ored with high and responsible pc
| SitiOnS for quarter of Il century, he
discharged every duty, and fulfilled
| every obligation. He was emphat-
! ically Il representative of the people
who loved and trusted him. His po-
! litical life began when he WAS quite
a young man, and its advancement
was rapid and extraordinary. From
the first public confidence was eX-
tended to him i'll the highest degree
never misplaced.
AS sheriff of his county and as
assemblyman from his district, Il state
officer for years charged with the
execution of an important trust. Six
years in the congress of the nation,
and seven years as chief executive of
the state, rounding out his official life
us a cabinet minister during Il presi-
Dental term. a record Of varied ser
vice, exceeding in time all that has
here preceded it. But we cannot pass
him by DIS Il civilian only His deeds
as 4 soldier in defense of his country
are inscribed upon the roll of fame
Born Of that patriotism which adds
a glowing lustre to the memory of
our heroic sons, his name will go
down to posterity with those who
served in the army of the re-
public.
That he was possessed Of great nat
ural ability, all will freely admit: his
keen perception, his strong, good sense
and his excellent judgment were
prOYerbial; in fact he seemed TO have
an lntultiye knowledge of subjects I'M
der consideration that was thoroughly
reliable, and which exhibited his great
ability in a remarkable degree.
He was Il man of simple tastes,
modest and unObtrusive in his man
ners; kindly and genial to all with
whom he came in contact; doing good
to all as he had opportunity, and liv-
ing Life above reprOacn. A bold and
cOu ageOuS man in all his acts and ut
teranceS, knowing the right he dare
maintain it, and, in emergencies, he
shrank not from his duty in assuming
whatever responsibility was necessary
to maintain law and order, and to vim
dictate public or private rights.
I'm considering his official life, we
should not overlook the fact that a
great part of it was spent in our city.
1t was during this period that he be-
came our neighbor and friend, and
while sustaining these intimate and
friendly relations, the people Of Madi-
son, one and all, learned to love and
respect Gen. Rusk.
This man as a citizen, soldier, or
high official, complied with all the de-
mands of his surroundings, and has
now with his clustering honors thick
upon him, gone from our sight for
ever
ut is fitting that the people of this
city, to whom Gen. Rusk was so long
and so favorab1y known, should ex-
press their sense of the calamity that
has visited them, and the people of
the state. and the whole country.
Therefore, be it resolved:
list. That in the death of jeremiah
NJ. Rusk the state has lost one of it's
most useful and honored citizens, and
the nation one of its ableSt and best
public men. and that we tender to the
family of the deceased our heartfelt
sympathy.
'2nd That the chairman of this
meeting is requested to forward copy
of these proceedings to the family of
the deceased"
After the reading of the resolutions
brief addresses We're made by Sena
tor ". T. Villas, ex-senator SpOOner,
Gen. E. E. Bryant, President G. X.
Adams, Col. George W. Bird, Hon.
George w Burrows and Prof. w. A.
Henry Hon. r. NJ. La Toilette, Mayor
Corscot and several others were eX-
pected to speak, but were unable to
be present. All the gentlemen spoke
in the highest terms and most feeling
manner of those qualities of mind and
heart which raised the 1amented gov
ernor to the positions which he so
ably filled and endeared him TO such
q host of naODln More than the of |