The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-03-10
AT REST.
WET REEs.

"Viet Rees was born in Bavaria,
Germany in 1915. Emigrated to the
United States in 1888. He was marri-
ed to Minerva Kines in 1910 and to
this union ten children were born.
His wife and two children preceded
him to their final rest. He was a
member Of the Christian church for
45 years and died as he had lived, full
of hope and trust in God. on Feb. 4tb
1899 at the age of S3 years, months
and "a days"
This is the data, the abbreviated
history, the simple story of the life
and death of one of Johnson-Co's. old
est settlers.
Every life furnishes the data of birth
age and death, but every life does not
furnish record, the details of which
are of equal interest and utility to
mankind. The reading world oft goes
wild over the acts and accomplish
ments of warriors, statesmen and en-
inent men OF letters, and our journals
give almost endless commentaries on
their deeds of valor and wonderful ac-
mplishments, until halo of glory
encompasses their lives the very de-
tails of which are sought after and de-
voured by the public. While this is
commendable to certain degree, yet
these lives are the exception to COM
mon humanity and are not, nor can
not be the real mentors or models to
guide the human race. How often do
we lay to rest in the silent church
yard, the purest and best models of
manhood and womanhood with a sim
pie ceremony and brief obituary,
and the great world moves on without
in the least recognizing the fact that
in the lives of these departed ones
there existed nearly every element Uf
character and human greatness that
we admire, and that we would love to
have the young and rising generation
appreciate and take pattern after and
yet such lives are the only possible
models for the masses Of mankind.
Our great statesmen and philosophers
are born, not made and their native
talents and inherited qualities are the
heritage Of but few, 1t is true, every
boy would like to be Lincoln, Grant
or Webster, but every boy cannot be,
neither can one boy out Of every mil
lion. But every boy can be a hero if
he reaches manhood and trains his
life to its best possibilities. If he is
true to himself, his fellow man and
his God. II he is determined that the
world shall be happier and better
through his effort, if he never stoops
to mean thing, if he is unseltish and
helps by any and every method in his
power where help is needed. If he
does right because it is right and lea
yes his example to others then he is
hero, an uncrowned king among men
and whether he dies on the field of
battle or falls asleep in the more pea
ceful walks of life, the world must re-
cognize him, will sadly miss him, and
will know that he has gone to his re-
ward and that his works will follow
him. Such was the life and death of
Wet Rees. We have laid him away
beneath the beautiful snow a fitting
emblem to enshroud his tomb.-Relat
ives and neighbors alike gathered
around the cofiined dead as though
they could not give him up. The
church to which he had been so faith
full for forty and five years paid its
last tribute, and the Masonic Order
came regardless Of distance or the
severity of the weather and followed
his remains to the grave and there
with impressive ceremony laid the
aged father of Israel in his last rest
ing place.
'I have fought good fight, kept
the faith. henceforth, there is laid up
for me crown ofrighteousnesswhich
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me. at that day."
Immortal words of Paul, and syet a
fit tribute to all who faithfully follow
the Divine Master. /. ID. III.
The Chanute Building and Loan