Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-07-12
GONE TO HIS
LONG HOME
Loving and Borrowing Kindred and
Friends Follow the Remains of L.
M. Ok6u to Their Resting Place.
Eloquent Tributes in Speech and Tears
Paid to the Memory of the Departed
Citizen at OdSSViIle.

The sad intelligence was received
here Saturday announcing the death
of l.. M. Okey at his home in Cass-
Vile which occurred at 3 ii. m. on
that day. The news was not entirely
unexpected for deceased had been a
sufferer for some months past with Il
fatal cancerous malady that slowly
but surely undermined his once strong
and rugged constitution. Its inroads
were plainly depicted a year ago and
the final termination Saturday marked
a period of the most painful suffering
man is called upon TO endure. Char
acteristic of him however all this al
Fiction was endured with heroic
courage. and not until few short
months ago did he relinquish active
duties devolving upon his business.
Mr. Okey was seventy-seven years
Of age and one of the pioneer settlers
of Grant county. He resided for years
on farm near the village of Cass-
vile and prospered. We find him not
many years ago retiring to the
above named village where he opened
a bank which he conducted to the
time of his death. His integrity, con-
servative good judgment aud friend
" courtesy not only marked his bust
ness dealings and social relations but
also opened the way to an unusual
succession of public offices in all of
which he acquitted himself carefully,
thoroughly and well. Beneath his
easy-going exterior there was not a
little native shrewdness and caution;
| but ii eau be truly said these many
positions came to him not through
diligent efforts on his own part but
through his genial nature which rem
dered him acceptable to all, combined
with marked efficiency. He was al
ways an 'available man"-not in a
colorless, passive fashion as politicians
often use the word; but by reason of
universal respect in which he was
held as II man, and his happy power
of making personal friends.
The funeral services were conducted
at the family residence in Cassville ut
p. m. Monday and the large gather
ing Of people from roundabout who
came to pay their last tribute was
fitting testimony of his noble worth
TO the community in which he had so
long been leader. Deceased was a
member of CassvileMasonic lodge and
under their auspices were the scenes
incident to the closing of his earthly
career carried out. He was also IA
member of De Molai Commandery
knights Templar of Boscobel and an
escort of Knights in full uniform add
ed mpressiveness TO the long cortege.
Sir Knights present at the sol
emn occasion were III. w. HuEbell,
H. G. Armstrong, w Il. Hurd, w. l..
Huff, j. n. Miller, John Church, Ar
thur Nixon and Z. Il. Sarles of Bosco-
bel; John S. Wright, j. G. Churchill,
Il. Never, +. j. Brown, G.. III. Basford
and Geo. +. Bndd of Lancaster; +. l..
Greer and Lincoln Abraham, Bloom
ington; w. ii. Hunt, Potosi; f. |.
Kidd, Prairie du Chen.
Rev. r. j. Brown of this city was
the officiating clergyman assisted by
Rev Breeze of Potosi. The late abode
of the deceased was of insufficient
capacity to accommodate a third of
the gathering and the avenue in front
was fairly crowded with friends who
knew the good man in life. Floral
tributes lay about the casket in pro-
fusion and hundreds viewed the re-
mains of all that was mortal of the
one they held in such high esteem.
A widow and four sons mourn the
death of l.. NJ Okey but in every
household in the little village and in
eve business establishment on the
street will his counsel and presence
be missed.