The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-14
x QUEER GHPERS OF QUEER PEOPLE, X

ABINGDON, ILL.,, Aug. 12.-In olden
times it was well esteemed custom for
knight or lady to bequeath articles of
value to the church. But this pious
purpose has received a new setting in
Abingdon. When George "A. Ward died
and his will was read, it was found
that he had bestowed his set of false
teenth to the Congregational church.
Mr.. Ward lived for years ON his farm
two miles from the city. All that time
he was a deVout and a faithful MEM
Der OF the Congregational flock. Ad-
Vancing age confined him more and
more 10 The limits OF the farm, but he
always attended services on Sundays,
unless elemental disturbances prohib
tied. he was very old, eighty-five
years when he died, and for a long
time had lived in the strictest seclusion,
but he never WaVered in hs love Of
the church. While not a wealthy man.
he was well to do, and the members
expected he would remember the So
ciety when called to rest. He did in the
manner mentioned.
He died recently, and when the will
was admitted to probate it was found
that the teeth which had for years
supplemented the natural molars of
the teslator We're the only articles be-
Of the executors business, so he turned
the teeth over to the church treasurer,
end let it so at that. His duty was
done, let the treasurer do what he
pleased with the strange legacy. No
instructions were set out in the docu-
ment relative to the disposition of the
teeth, and the treasurer was in a sad
state.
But the eccentricities Of the testator
q Of 11lt tn 70
the legatee. In order that his false
teeth might look as much like those
given TO him by nature Mr.. Ward had
instructed his dentist to plug them
with gold. SO it befeu that the old
mans original vanity at last furnished
money for the sustenance Of the
church. The dentist did as ordered
and filled many of the grinders with
virgin gold. The treasurer, on exam
lining the legacy to discover what on
earth to do With it. saw the gold and
became possessed by an inspiration.
Why not sell them for the gold therein
The treasurer is a man OF action. In
spiration produced more than a dreamy
state with him. He sent the teeth to
this city and had them appraised by a
dentist. The appraiser decided that
offered to part with that sum for the
teeth. His offer was accepted and the
church realized on the bequest unex-
pectedly. What had appeared as a
joke became an eccentric mans method
of giving money to the society with
which he had been identified so long.
Mr.. Ward was a native Of Phillips
town. Mass, and was destined for a
professional life. He was carefully
educated, graduating from Amherst
college many years ago. Then he took
up the study of medicine and in time
was duly commissioned to practice. But
q Doctors life did not suit him, and
he ended his professional life right
there. He disposed of his medical
books, bought a farm, married a wife
and settled down to farming. His first
wife did not live long, and on her death
he sold out and came still farther west
to Fairchild. He married a second
time and was made the father Of a
son.
He remained in Iowa for a while and
then went back to Terre Haute, Ind,
and thence to the Mound farm" near
here, so-called because 1t is the high
est point between the Illinois and Mis-
sissippi rivers. Here he lived until
death claimed him.
In spite of his oddities, Mr.. Ward was
able man. He was we'll liked by friends
and associa ssss, who readily forgave &C.
centricities Because of the innate good
ness of the man. lie was very de-
vout. and in his last public prayer, Of
fered shortly before his death, he pray
ed fervently for the enlightenment and