Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-08-22
DR.. G. q. Bergman.

Or. 1t. U. bergman.
From The Elk City Kansas Enterprise.
Though Elk City and the commnni-
ty had been for some time expecting it.
they were nevertheless shocked and
saddened by the death of DR.. Berry
man at his home Aug. End. 1895.
Girard Quisenberry Bergman was
born Sept. 22d, 1885. at the Kickapoo
Mission near old Fort Leayenworth,
then Indian territory. and was the first
white child born in the State OF Kan
sas. His father then had charge of
the kickapoo and other missions, and
it was here probably seeing the un-
selfish labor for the elevatlng and pu-
rifying of mankind that DIR. Bergman
began to take that broad view of life
which taught him to believe and prac-
tice that a human existence, however
mean and low, is worth saving and
developing-that view which made of
him, later in life. philanthropist as
well as a physician.
After his mothers death, in 1874,
his father removed to Arcadia, Mo-,
and established school at that place
known as the Arcadia High School.
Here he received his early education,
but deciding his profession to be that
of medicine attended the Cincinnati
College of Medicine and Surgery grad
uating in 1865. He then began the
practice of medicine at Bowling Green.
KY, but soon returned to Missouri.
He was married on June Is. 1865. to
Minerva Anderson Woods, of Columbia.
they going to Arcadia where they lived
until 1887, when the family came to
Elk City. In 1891 DR.. Bergman be-
gan to suspect pulmonary trouble and
thinking few months ct dryer cli-
mate would restore him he spent
year in the Southwest. In the fall of
'92 he returned to Elk City, his health
not improved. Then it was that his
wife who had been so long his help.
strength and courage, died. Notwith-
standing that the best thing he had
ever possessed had gone from him, he
gathered up his worn aud shattered
forces and tried to live for his children
who now had double need of him. He
went west again but the disease was
grim and persistent, and would have
its way. In the spring of '94 he came
home to await the end patiently and
quietly among those who knew and
loved him. Through all the WEAKNESS
and suffering he was cheerful, and
smiled SO brightly through the shadows
one nearly forgot they were gathered
so dark and thick and close about him.
Those who went to help him came
away feeling rather that their own
burdens had been lifted, and it was
not till the END was very near that his
friends could believe it. When it
came he met it like Christian who is
willing to live for others even though
to die is gain and to be with Christ far
better.
He was Christian though quiet
one. 81 have nothing good to say
about myself, and should not like to
tell the bad,,n was often his modest ex-
cuse for not taking noisy and promi-
nent parts, yet to his church he gave
literally. conseled wisely, and car
ried its interests very near his heart.
His devotion to his parents was
beautiful. tender, sincere. Placed
carefully in the inner pocket of the
coat he last wore were found the obit- |
uaries of his mother and stepmother,
the former having been written fifty |
years ago. No one knew he possessed |
them. It was significant of the man.
He did a great many kind things that
no one knew.
IF man die shall he live again.
was the question Rev. Moore raised
over the bier. We do not believe that
DIR. Bergman is dead-he sleeps. The
perishable form helps make the dust
of Gods acre, but no force is lost.
What was beautiful and good in him
lives yet and will always live some
where. Now, where the soul is at
home. the love it has given is returned,
the darkness made light. the great
mysteries of living. loving and Dying
are revealed, and whatever tears he
carried hence are wiped away.
A FRIEND.
One night when Mr.. Isaac Reese was
stopping with me, says NJ. F. Hatch. q
prominent merchat of Quartermaster,
Washington, / heard him groaning.