The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-02-16

of the nation. ~
In 1856 Charles Durkee, broad mind
ed, the friend of every man, loved and
admired by those who knew him, was
called from Kenosha to be the United
States Senator from Wisconsin. He
was one.of that group to whom the free
schools of Kenosha owed their existence,
and by his remembrance of the cause
of education, expressed in his will,
Kenosha has today a school building to
which the school board has given lis
name.
There are those here who will re-
member perhaps the stately funeral
procession when in 1869 he was laid 20
rest on the hill at the south, having
passed away while filling the Office of
Governor of Utah territory.
Now, again, not this time from
among the founders of the free school
system, but as we may say from among
the products, has a Senator been
chosen; and certainly there is no
human being in KenOsha who has any
doubt or hestancy as to the wisdom of
the choice of the legislature or as TO the
beneticent results in Wisconsin and the
Union from the future services for the
people of our friend Joe, >"
The School Board has decided that
this building shall bear the name of one
of it's real builders. He never saw it
except with the eye of faith, and yet his
contribution was as fundamental as the
very foundations upon which the build
ing stands. There seems to me sin
gular wisdom on the part of the school
authorities in seeking to perpetuate the
thought and influence of men who, like
Senator Durkee, Col. Frank and
Father Deming, gave OF the best of the
effort and thought of their lives to the
causes which they believed were for the
best interests of the community, and
whose belief has been confirmed by
time. The first and perhaps the
natural impulse would be to be-
stow upon streets, parks and public
edifices the names of some Of the great
leaders of men who, like Washington,
Lincoln and Grant, have been set upon
the pinnacle of fame for all time. Do
we always give due honor to the men
whose following of these leaders made
results possible? Washington was a
hero and patriot, wise and great, but
his patriotism was no more ardent, his
sacrifices no greater, his merit no
worthier of recognition than the heroes
of Bunker Hill, Bennington or Valley
Forge. They, as we'll as he, did what
they could. 1t has been the strength
and it is just cause for pride of our
nation that in almost every village,
town or city there have been men who
thought conscientiously and clearly
upon public questions and realized that
while they were not great men and
were not called to the leadership of
state or nation, yet responsibility was
theirs. They owed the duty to assist
their fellow citizens to the right solution
Of problems of municipal or national
government and to lift their ideals
above the lower considerations of sell
fishness. This would be a happy day
for Kenosha and Wisconsin if the youth
now present should take into their
lives the firm resolve that even if they
could not be leaders or warriors on the
great battlefelds of action they would,
like Father Deming, do what they
could in Wisconsin.
The great Roman Catholic church
and other churches with it observe each
year a day called All Saints day. Then
is given measure of prayer and CRATE
full thought for that unnumbered host
of heroes whose memory has become
enshrouded in the soft oblivion of the
passing years, but whose deeds are left
to bless mankind.
| zone feast of holy days the crest
| L though no churchman, love to keep.
All Saints,-the unknown good that rest
In Gods still memory folded deep
| The bravely dumb that did their deed,
| And scorned to blot it with name.
Men of the plain heroic breed
That loved Heavens silence more than fame =
February 9th, 1867, Mr.. Deming
followed to that world beyond the loved
and faithful wife who had preceded him
few years before. The words I" dust
to dust" we're again spoken IN the
cemetery on the gentle ridge at the
south of the city, and there, within
few feet from her who of the earliest of
that pioneer group had been laid to
rest, stand the tombstones of Mr.. and
Mrs. Deming. A few years ago, as |
stood at the spot, noticed some words
pencilled upon the pure white marble,
and stopped and read. Someone not
long before, standing at the grave of
this man who had fought his fight for
free schools, was evidently called back
by memory to one of the early meetings,
the warm discussions and the i'm
passioned appeals, and STOPPING, had
written, When l die l want to have
written upon my tombstone Here lies
| tho friend of free DDblic schoOls.'U