The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-15
MINNESOTA,


Friday evening. April 30, 1897. JUDGE
E. G. STACY, of Albert Lea, after an
illness of little more than week, peace
fully passed into the great beyond. His
age was SO years. The blood of revolu-
tionary sires flowed in his veins and the
inheritance of their patriotic spirit was
his inspiration throughout his long, use
full and upright life. He was typical pio-
neer and citizen of the early chivalrous
school, and justly ranked among the first
citizens of the commonwealth. Indeed he
was one of the real fathers of Minnesota
as we'll as of Freedom county, and in all
the various offices and duties entrusted
to him he performed his part ably and
we'll. Mr.. Stacy was not unappreciated
in the community where he long had
his home-positions of high trust. and
the respect and affection of his fellow
men were bestowed upon him, and the
autumn of his life was rich with the
memories Of career of unus ual useful
ness and honor.
The following sketch in the Standard
OF Albert Lea outlines his useful life:
Edwin Clark Stacy was native of Ham
ilton, Madison county, New York, and
was born Sept. 5, 1913, being thus aged SO
years, s months and ID days at the time of
his death. His grandfather, Rufus Stacy,
was revolutionary soldier and partici-
pated in the battle of Bunker Hill His
father, Nathaniel Stacy, was chaplain in
the United States army in 1872 and was a
noted Universalist clergyman, being one
of the authors of the Universalist creed
1886, deceased went to Ann Arbor, Mich,
where he read law and was admitted to
the bar in 1910, and after a time in the
office of Judge G. A. Stacy, of Tecumseh,
Mich, he returned east to Pennsylvania,
where he was married to Elizabeth D.
Heath, of Erie county. Besides his legal
education he had received an academic
education and had taught school, winning
his own way in life, and after his mar
riage he practiced law at Columbus and
Erie until 1856, when he came with his fam
lily to Geneva, in Freedom county, took a
claim at the head of Geneva lake, that
then being almost in the wilds of Mime
sofa, and engaged in farming for several
years. In March 1857, he and S. N Fris-
bic and VIM. Andrews were appointed by
Gov German, the territorial governor, as
commissioners to organize Freedom coun
ty, and on the third of March they met
and duly organized the county, filling the
various officers by appointment.
Mr.. Stacy was selected by his associates
as probate judge, and he held the office one
year. Afterward he was elected county
during 1870 was superintendent of schools
In 1857 he was elected a delegate in the
constitutional convention and served in
that body, wisely aiding in framing the
organic law of the State. He took TIE
census of the county in 1858 and also in
1860. In the latter year he became resi-
dent of Albert Lea, where he has since
lived. He was the democratic nominee
for Congress in 1878, and practiced law for
many years. For the past 20 years, or more,
he has been city justice, being re elected
easily, and has devoted himself quite
closely to the duties of the office. Judge
Stacy was a member of the order of Odd
Fellows for 60 years, being Noble Grand
several terms, and the oldest Odd Fellow
in Minnesota. At the opening of the civil
war he at once took his stand for the I'm
ion, and did more than all others in Free
born county in promoting the raising of
volunteers. His loyalty to his party Dem
ocratic) was only exceeded by that to his
country, and to both he was devoted and
steadfast to the end. Besides his faithful
wife, two sons survive him.
The Freedom County bar, the Odd
Fellows and city council have adopted
resolutions on the decease of the vener-
able citizen. The funeral services were
attended by Rsv. Mr.. Richardson. By
proclamation of the mayor. stores were
closed and business suspended during
the fureral.
Old settlers, friends of Judge Stacy
for thirty and forty yeare, were present
from nearly every town in the country,
and the attendance altogether was the
largest ever known at a funeral in AL
qert Lea.