The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-18
LARGE FUNERAL.
Obsequfes Over the Body Of
Joshua Wheeler,
One of Kansas Pioneers Identi-
fed With the States History.
J. j. INGALLS, SPEAKS.
an Eloquent and Glow
ing Tribute.
Other Prominent Kansans at the
NOrtOnviIIe Funeral.
rom Our Special Correspondent.

{
NOrtonville. kan, May 1S.-Ihis town
was well filled with prominent people
Sunday
The funeral of Hon Joshua Wheeler
was held in the Seventh Day Baptist
church, Nortonville. at 1O:3O a. M. yes
terday.
A very large audience was present
and many prominent men from other
parts of the state, nearly twenty COM
ing from Atchison. including ex-senator
John J. Ingalls,, Chief Justice David
Martin, Judge w. D. Webb and A. j.
Harwi.
The pail bearers were President Geo
r. Fairchild of the State Agricultural
college. Manhattan; Thos NJ. Potter.
Peabody, president of the state board
of agriculture; j. K. Fisher of Atchison
and o. Davis, j. w Harris and M. j.
Stillman Of NOrtonvilIe.
The sermon was preached by the pas
tor, J. NJ Todd, from I Cor, is. 5f-5S-
THE sting of death is sin, the strength
of sin is the law, but thanks be to God
who give US the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ"
The sermon was an earnest and logi-
cal argument for the natural fear Of
death and the victory achieved over
this through the Lord Jesus Christ
Rev C. M COttreIs secretary of the
A. T. & s. f. Railroad Y. NJ c.. A., and
Mr.. Wheeler's former pastor, gave
brief outline of his life and analysis of
BIOGRAPHICAL
Joshua Wheeler was born in England
in 1927, came to America in 1874 TO
Kansas in 1857, and settled on the farm
on which he passed the rest of his life.
Professed conversion at about is and
became a constituent member of the
Seventh Day Baptist church at Nor
tonville in 1853.
He was a man Of broad life and wide
influence, having been connected with
] the educational, agricultural and po-
litical interests of the state for nearly
forty years. having been state senator,
/ regent and treasurer of the Agflcul-
tural college at Manhattan and presi-
I dent of the state board Of agriculture.
I Tribute was also paid. to. him as
4 systematic farmer, q man of splendlo
memory, fine diction, and hence Qe-
! lightful cOnversatiOnalist "A man falJh-
flll to his friends. of official integrity
and worthy of public trust, and, best OF
all, of strong religious conNlcll0A77 4Hep
and abiding Christian faith.
Rev. Isaac Maris, near neighpor loI
SO years spoke the praise of MIR and
Mrs Wheeler as kind. wise and good
neighbors, and of Mr. W. as man
ever ready to give advice and sit In
council in every time of need.
TRIBUTES OF RESPECT
President Fairchild brought his tribute
as q personal friend and as represen-
tative of the college at Manhattan He
felt that he belonged among the mOur-
ners. During six years he had been
I
college work and at this hour the fac
ulty at Manhattan are remembering
and mourning with you
He paid high and beaut1ul tribute 10
Mr.. Wheeler as man of clear mind
and excellent Judgment He could take
any question, hear the argument. weigh
the residence and draw his conclusions
and you would find that he was all
ways or nearly always right He could
differ with you in friendly way ana
oppose you without revenge He was
Z
feel that what you trusted to him was
yours and his. and his and yours, and
you soon found that your confidence
ilsad not been misplaced, and you came
not only to trust but to love him.
President Thomas Potter spoke for
the state agricultural society and told
how valuable Mr.. Wheelers work had
been to the agricultural society, and
how great would be her loss by his
INGALLS, TRIBUTE.
Senator John j. ingalls, in his elO-
Quent and infmitable way spoke of the
tragedy of human life; that on this
thcater of action no man ever appear
/ ed of his own accord We are all sent
here. said ne. upon our mysterious mis-
sion, and when the purpose for which
we were sent is completed, without be-
/ ing consulted we are summarily dis
/ charged and sent across the boundary
of the mysterious kingdom. We are all
/ engaged in whatever please TO term the
( battle Of life, a battle in which lnefe
are no volunteers, but all are con-
scripts and when the battle is fought
we are mustered out. From one stand
/ point have no right to speak upon this
/ solemn occasion from this pulpit, as 7
/ do not profess to have experimental
! religion. But from another standpoint
have There are at least three
points which I hold i'm common with
/ YOU / believe in God, I believe in the
I Immortality of the soul. and believe
I we shall be judged for the deeds done
in the body I once heard distinguish
| ed divine preach upon the evidences Of
/ a future life to be found i'm nature. He
said the birds in the autumn have am
/ instinct to migrate to southern cline
/ and nature furnishes the south land
for them The fish have an instinct to
/ 90 in shoals to other waters for their
/ spawning place, and nature furnishes
the place and does not disappOint them
Shall nature keep faith with the outer
I and unconscious creation and cheat the
/ Lord of them all2 Has Joshua Wheeler
/ been cheated2 No. said Mr.. ingalls, In
/ coffin, this is but the tenement he has
/ left while his spirit has entered upon
/ its immortal destiny Brother Wheel
/ er farewell; goodbye we shall meet
I again
I and excellent music, and after the
4 large audience had taken Its IareWeA
I view of the body at least a soma nan
] mile of conVeyances followed IN tue
I procession to the grave where Joshua
/ Wheeler was laid in his last resting
I place
/ ters. and two children are left toselnst
I with the church community ana state
I +o mourn his loss. The wife L. IT, ttafi-
/ dolf. who is well known to many 10 @
( daughter OF the deceased