Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-04-20
In Memoriam.

Ahoio PassVu ava. Pe"eoi"iy w
Sunday evening. April 8, at his home
surrounded by his family, George A,
Niles, born June 80, 1889. His birth
place was Auburn, New York; at that
place he enlisted in Company A, 18th
New York Volunteer infantry early
in 1861. He served until the close oil
the war in 1865. His soldier career
was beyond reproach and he was pro-
NOTED from private to captaincy.
After the war he lived in New York
and Iowa. coming to Dickinson c0un-
ty in 1870. 1t is unnecessary to say
who he was, he was known to old
and new settlers.
His home life was pleasant. Save for
the great anxiety for his much beloved
foster-son, Capt. George Niles, of
Manila, his last days were peaceful.
OF him he thought and talked until
speech failed.
With the flag that he loved spread
over his coffin he was laid away on
Tuesday, April II. On next Decora-
ton day there will be one less soldier
in line, one more grave to decorate.
He has answered to that bugle call,
the sound of which is heard only by
him for whose ears it is intended, and
has passed over to take his allotted
station in the great and silent battal-
ion which resting on its arms awaits
the orders of its Great Commander.
TO the roll of honor his name will be
added and above his dust will be
placed the flag of Abilene Post No. 63.
To those comrades who remain we
say his death may well seem like an
admonition. Today this soldier
sleeps. 1t is we who speak. Tomor-
row our lips may be silent and other
voices speak as we are speaking, In
the lottery of death there are no
blanks. 1t is part of life to mourn.
Death is rest in peace. Those who
live must grieve, those who leave us
have no sorrows; with them all is
over and the eternal problem solved.
Unless we anchor our hopes in the
hereafter we find the sum of human
happiness borne down by its sorrows.
This is only one chapter in life's his
tory. The dread moment is sure to
come when the happiness Of allfetime
melts away in one sad hour.
Whether we shall know them there
as we know them here, whether that
better life is a commingling of kin
bred spirits while the body returns to
dust, whether it is all of life to live,
whether it is all OF death to die,
whether the soul fingers around us
still or is marching on to glories
which we cannot see and which with
them are just begun, are problems
which we solve in Gods own good
time; until then it is happiness to
trust that we shall live again.
To the members of the Fraternal
Aid and the brave fremen's societies
to whom Mr.. Niles devoted his time,
money and strength, it will seempiti-
less fate that smote him in the prime
of life. Let them remember that
heaven has spared to him the decrep-
itude of age and the possibility of
mental eclipse. They will remember
him as a true friend, his charity only
limited by his resources-his good
ness, his generosity, his thoughtful
ness to the members second only to
that of his home. TO the rank and
file of his daily associates he never
turned deaf ear to their tales of sor-
row and those who thus sought him
knew him best. The best eulogy
can write is this; During an acquain-
lance Of more than twenty-five years
never heard him speak i'll of any
one and the world is surely better for
his having lived in it. after lfe's
ftful fever, he sleeps well"