The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-06-25
LAID TO REST.
A SOrrOwing Community Pays It's
Last Homage to the Remains of
the Late John F. Meagher
His Memory, However, Will Live on
as an Incentive to Future
Generations

Monday all that remained upon
earth of our late dearly beloved
citizen, John F. Meagher, whom
everybody had learned to love as a
true friend was laid away in Calvary
cemetery there to repOse in sweet and
undisturbed rest to the end Of time.
The people Of every community are at
some time or another called upon to
bow in common sorrow upon the TAX
ing away Of it's most distinguished
citizen. Rich and poor alike are
humbled before the Almighty and
made to feel most keenly and deeply
the immutability of things earthly
the uncertainty Of life, the certainty OF
death. The sudden rending of the
ties of life is always sad, but doubly
so it is when the whole community as
well as the immediate members of
the family is affected. So today Man.
katO is clothed in mourning over the
demise of one of it's oldest and most
valued citizens, and the hearts Of all
open as a well spring to the five
orphan children whose grief can only
be shared. but whose loss no earthly
power can restore.
The beautiful services st. Johns
Catholic church were especially i'm
pressive and touching. The church
was filled to overlooking and still the
sidewalks and streets were filled with
friends who could not gain
admission to the services. 1t
attended funerals in the history
of the city, and the moist eyes every
where about gave stronger expressions
Of grief than uttered words could con-
vey, and told Of deeper love for the
memory of the departed soul, Of SYM
pathy for the bereaved children, than
could volumes of written encomiums
or the most touching Grafton of the
most masterful orator
His life was gentle: and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world-"This is Mani!
The sermon, at the conclusion of
High Mass, which was conducted by
Rev. Father John Pryor, assisted by
Rev. Father Busch, of Minneapolis,
and Rev. Father Vochner, of the
German Catholic church, this city,
was preached by Father Busch. 1t
was most beautiful rendition, and
the tribute paid to the life and
character Of the deceased, of his great
love for his family and devotion to
the principles of friendship, charity
and benevolence in the broadcast &C
ceptatiOn of the term, were senti-
ments feelingly expressed by the
priest and as feelingly felt by every
one present. The words spoken by
Father Busch bring to memory these
touching lines:
He struggled in the worlds rough race,
And won at last a lofty place;
And then he died behold before We
Humanity s brief sum and story
Life, death, and all there is of glory.
The remains were not exposed at
the church, but hundred of friends
and neighbOrs called at the residence
and took parting look at the silent
face which seemed to repose in sweet
sleep, with the stamp of life hardly
faded from the cheeks. Those who
looked upon Mr.. Meagher through the
glass lid of the casket could hardly be-
lieve that his earthly career had
ended, and only his good cheer, warm
greetings and kind hearted deeds left
to fill the void his death has caused in
the community which had known him
for forty years.
The funeral cortege to the cemetery
was simply an outpouring of all our
people. Hundred of carriages formed
a procession completely lining the
roadway from the st. Johns Catholic
church to the cemetery. And all wa
over