Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-06-20
The Passing of a Pi,neer.

Another of Vernon county's first set
tiers passed to the unknown beyond,
when, ON Thursday morning last, the
t4tb Michael Hinkst died at his farm
home in Franklin He settled ON the
lani where he died in l547. and during
all these changeable conditions of So
ciety and general affairs, he was counted
a most upright and honest citizen
striving always for the best things in
life. Mr. Hinkst was born in the state
of New Yorl March 10, 1917. He be-
came resi-. this state, in 1885, He
was man whe ,.Nted fis talents ana
energy in right lfAsss ttending strictly
to his own affairs, a. Tlating com
potency In the earliesS = I'd he served
as clerk, assessor, Ssaairh r., nd town
superintendent of sfhools, a. ~. doing
his full duty Oflate years he'| ., heen
very retired. Falling health has1yc an
on for two years, and the thread OF" ife
merely loosened and he passed away as
If asleep Mr. Hinkst married Elizabeth
Fisher, of Pennsylvania. in 1852 She
died in 1868, leaving three daughters and
son, who Were tenderly cared for and
given the best of opportunities by the
bereaved husband. They are all living
and credit to their ancestors. The
son went west some years ago and his
whereabouts are not known. May mar
ried r. FL. Drake, Jane and Lydia are
unmarried and live at the old home.
The funeral of Michael Hinkst oc-
Cured at the residence, attended by
large number of people. The remains
were laid to rest beside those of his wife
beneath two pine trees planted by Mr..
Hinkst, ON a nice elevation overlooking
The farm and near the residence. BY
request of the deceased there was no
formal ceremony except few tender
words pronounced by General Rogers
and H. p. Proctor, The former said:
The passing OF Michael Hinkst leaves but
few or the pioneers who came to this county
in the forties. This farm where he lived
hfty-three years, was entered by him. and
here he has resided for more than half
century. His farm was the result OF his tolls,
this house his handiwork; this home was TO
hlm an earthly paradise, the children his
treasures. hs was fonG of reading and had
good knowledge OF the affairs of the country
in which he was greatly interested. lie toll
ed, and toiied on. Increasingly he devoted
his time and energy 90 the betterments of his
surroundings. that his home should be to him
All that home implies, He has lived more
than the allotted time OF man. When we be-
bold the end OF life. how like dream it,C- es
and goes, Here and now no unhal. av ed
thoughts come in to disturb or distract: he re
Is the calm OF death and in the sadness and
silence In the presence Of death, we are gentle
and generous, grave and gracious forgivlng.
what shall we say of our departed friend
whose memory brings us here to day? He
was man; an honest and honorable man. |
look back along lhe way he came and see him
forty six year. ago flushed with expectations
beaming with life and hope hearty. buoyant
an9 bHsy with the future which lay before
him then. and he ready 10 enroll his name IN
the race for life May his mantle OF honor
able and upright citizenship fall ON others
worthy OF the mantle OF an Industrious up
right citizen, an honest man.
tie stood brayely for what he believed was
right; he never compromised with wrong nor
yielded TO that which was not for good. Such
character II glory to any age
Honiake TO the dead Is q virtue peculiar to
no age or people. He accredited to others
that honesty of conviction which was an at
tribute OF his own life, recognizable la all his
acts.
From the career OF eighty years may we
not safely Judge OF the nature and character
or the man. his experience, his answering
Integrity, his stainless honor, his restless
energy, bis sternness o. purpose, and his
hdehty to dGty-such wa, Michael HiDkst.
whom we now consign to TIL la st resting place
OF mankind--the grave. Rest 10 peace