Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-04-02
OBITUARY of wallace Hum,,,,rev

al MS nome IN Edtcn GrOVe. Wis. March q
1885, after an illness OF two weeks. In :
few more weeks he would have completed
his sixty-sixth year
About 1850 he went to California where b,
remained until 1872 when he returned cas-
as far as Grant county Wis, where -four
brothers and a sister had previously made
their homes. IN April 1874 he united in mar.
riage with Miss Anna Walsh of Mt Hope
and settled on the farm that has ever since
been his home Three children were borr
10 them. Mollie, Everett and Minerva. all oil
whom remained at home.
Mrs. Humphrey was a devoted wife and
mother and her death. May o. 1885, was a
hlow IRON which her husband never recov-
cred. Although at that time he was past
middle age he did not hesitate to take upon
himself the duties of both parents to his
motherless. little children. How much
courage and fortitude II. required to con
duct his farm, keep hi4bchildren together
and look 10 their moral and physical well
fare only those who are in a like situation
| can know
Mr.. Humphrey was man Of very positive
and individual character and his place can
| not well be filled Nv another He was OF q
| very social disposition being fond of visit
| ing with friends and neighbors. He was
| not gossiper but liked wen to discuss the
1
4 was an Agnostic. not through ignorance. but
| because it was the only belief that appealed
| or dread TO die. but he did shrink from the
| infirmities and feebleness OF old age. To
die meant to him either oblivion or an ex-
| istence without the physical drawbacks of
this life. where all that was MODEST in his
| character would have an opportunity to de-
velop. And when we lay his body tender
i ly in the grave today, ii will be with no
sinking of the heart at thought of what he
the Individual we knew and loved, may
have found in the Great Beyond.
The above was read at the funeral by the
Hon. +. /. Kidd of Prairie du Chen. who al
so made some general remarks. Mesdames
Lewis and BARLEY and ;. Frederick sang
some liberal songs and Mrs. Henry Young
read the following extract;
In the presence of death how beliefs and
dogmas wither and decay Character alone
survives: goodness never dies; love only, is
immortal
AS a fond mother. when the day is DER.
Leads by the hand her little child to bed.
Half willing half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly treasured and cOmforted,
BY promise of others in their stead,
Which though more splendid may not please
So nature deals with US and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand |
Leads us II rest so gently that we go.
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay
Being too full of sleep TO understand
How far the unknown transcends,
The what we know.
Death is a wonderful equalizer, Saint or
sinner, infdei or Christian. death enters all |
homes. We do not much wonder when our
neighbours house Is made desolate. But I
when death enters our own home we stand /
appalled,. Then indeed we do realize we are /
all travellers on the same journey of life,
and oh, how much we need each others love
and sympathy When the grim messenger |
lays his remorseless hands upon our loved /
ones our hearts are saddened, n6mbed with |
grief, the tendrils of affection are ruthless
ly torn asunder and our hearts bleed. In
our weak humanity, we moan and sob and |
- To 10
of our life Is darkened forever, the sky of
memory enshrouded in the dark pail of
night,s the stars of peace blotted from the
armament of our future Yet we know the |
whitest foam dances upon the darkest bill
lows. and the stars shine brightest when
surrounded by the blacklist thunder clouds.
Joy and sorrow make up the lot OF our nat
ural existence To-day the cloud OF doubt
may skirt the horizon and obscure the |
meridian of our fond authorizations Adverse /
winds may blow and the storms OF misfor
tune rage, but soon the angel of light and |
lovitness. slope, will Irvine the sweetest
roses round our sorrow bowed, aching /
heads and dress up for US bower OF future I
happiness, testoomlng II Win the cholcest OF
elYsian flowers The dark cell of despairing i
grief has always at least one tiny pinhole /
TO let the glory of hope shine in. It is Won
deFtul To the m0urner how the soul al first /
Sullenly repclling the light Of gfadness. adj I
mits the first one little raw of hope uncon-
sciousiy and Is so soon begutled into bless
ed state of calm resignation to the newt
able. Joy ANA sorrow are the beautiful 1
forms OF sympathy in which hope appears
rowtu 81 earth Death is the inevitable
law of nature. Let us calmly realize it. and
go forward in hope and perseverance. rely
ing ON our own indomitable VIII and energy,
aud we snail ma long broad, beautiful
pieces Of comfort among the shredS Strewn
in llfe's pathway only let us be sure to
gather taem as we 20, pass them not by, or
we lose them forever There isnp retracing
our steps In tine journey 81 htc, Ne pass
over the road hut once. ON let us pe care
tut watchtul 10 DO the GOOD We ctn, help
others ait we can. So teat at the end at the
Journey our hearts shall not be bafCened
with regrets Tor opportunities neglected.
Life and death are essential conditions. 0n
every side we see life ana death. UrganiHa-
tioa and decomposition formation and de-
cay, following each other As regularly rs
day and night spring summer autumn and
winter. Bvt for errors al our education we
should hook calmly on death as simple con-
aluoa 81 nature hglthcf lo rs tSdIed. de-
sired or dreaded When oar loved ones die
we weep and mourn We do pity them Yet
+ not much OF our sorrow selueht Aot Tor
those az peace calmly sleeping sweettY
resting their labor er. their work ACCOM-
When a. today Nc look pom the 6fcless
form uf a friend. let reflect upon these
facts Lei us remember that We know Eat
through clouds of trouble for rays of hope.
those silent lips nave uttered warm appeals
scattered blessings which vel i've White
we regret his loss ana miss him from our
iallS lives we Viii not harrow up our hearts
.Stth vain regrets or tfuitieSS fears. true Z
lud noble man. he made OF life the best he !
could Ne fear at Cod no love of Jesus, no I
thought of future punishment or OF reward
-putrollcd his acts, His mind was free from
superstition ana his sense OF right and Jus
ice was the law he obeyed. Let our prayers
sor him take on the shape OF effort To assist !
and aid the living
Our brother lived a most useful life. his
work well and faithfully done. Today he is
At rest sleeps the eternal sleep OF peace.
Il our hearts are sad. tears fill our eyes; z
We are hereavcd. The dear companionship
the wise council, the true sympathy. the
ready help. his loving Illustrations a z lost
80 us, But for ctr dead, all is wen with ,
them In the language of Eliza Cook
It's long, lis a last It's beautiful rest
When All sorrow is passed from the brow
and the breast
And the lone spirit truly and wisely may
crave
The s.eep that is dreamleSs the sleep OF the
grave.
Deafness Cannot BE Cured
BY local application as they cannot
Il. L ..l ~