Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-07-04
A Tribute to William H. Lewis.

ana the IuneFal 0Dseq uleS were uSlu
at the home Of the mother Of the
deceased, Mrs. j. p. Lewis, Saturday
at 10 a. M. Rev. j. I. Morgans
officiating. The third brother, Walter
c. was unable to arrive here on
account of pressure Of business az
but is expected here the latter part
Of the present week.
Deceased was born in Lancaster,
March %, 1888, and grew to man
hood in the place of his birth. Com
pleting a course in the city schools in
1875 he entered he State University
al Madison where he remained two
years. returning to Lancaster and
accepting responsible position in
his fathers store. In 1889 we find
him located at Butte Mont. where
ne formed partnership with his
brother Oscar, who had been at that
point for sometime previously, in an
extensive dry goods establishment.
The third brother soon goes west and
joins the firm also, and by liberal
dealing with their fellowmen, good
business methods and careful man
agement enjoyed most prosperous
career.
About three years ago the inroads
Of the fatal malady that eventually
caused his death were first noticed
upon Win II. Lewis With his char
acteristic perseverance and patience.
however, little attention was given
the matter. and the urgent necessity,
be believed, Of his presence each day
in attending to active affairs of life
apparently oyercame any inclination
he might have experienced prompt
ing him to rest and recuperate.
But a change was soon necessitated.
The brothers witnessed with intense
regret the daily wasting away OF the
one near and dear to them and on
numerous occasions endeavored TO
effect his release-souyht to olsen
gage his mind from active pursuits
and seek health-but to no avail, and
il was only after the business was
disposed OF at goodly gain did the
afflicted one cease to give i his per-
sonal attention. At the urgent soli-
cation Of the brothers the deceased
came Lancaster for a visit with
his mother and he remained here for
some time Old friends could plain
lv note the change in his condition
and were panied beyond expression
Temporarily improved by conditions
he soon became imbded with the am
biton Of old to enter again into ac-
tive life and returned TO Idaho where
be engaged in familiar pursuits. The
dread disease slowly but surely gained
headwal. however. and on sun
day. June 23rd. he took to his bed to
arise no more. death relieving his sui
ferings On the following day.
Gentle sunny-tempered refined
William Lewis Is no more and al
though nearly two weeks have passed
since the old friends of this prince of
men were shocked by the sad an
nouucement Of his untimely death
still it's hard to realize that the
cruel work of the grim reaper is a
fact. For one not living every day
among rs his CHEEKY face no longer
to De seen in the old haunts causes a
sincere grief. An ever sympathetic
disposition that he possessed met
responsive chord in the hearts Of
everyone with whom he was thrown
i'm contact. and as a result he num-
bered his friends BY the score. The
ordinary run 81 men sometimes mis-
take acquaintance for friends, and
never give the distinction a thought.
bur when the time comes for them 10
analvze the distinction, they usually
discover that they can count their
friends on the fingers Of one hand
aud are shocked to lind that those
whom they had mistaken for friends
we're ID reality mere acquaintance.
In this respect VIII Lewis was one Of
the few exceptions that 20 to prove
the ra.e. and the result was that
ever ole with whom he had ever had
n five minutes conversation was
his friend. Nature had been
sind % him in that i not only gave
him heart that had a kindly beat Ter
every human being. but an abnormal
amount of that mysterious some
thing commonly termed personal
magnetism. which compelled one to
forget care and worry AMI uacon-
sciou-ly absorb some Of the sunshine
that was ever radiating from The be-
ing 81 this estimable young man.
The shock Incident 20 his taking
away is felt more keenly by the class
If Young men with whom he was an
associate. who grew up with him
here aud knew him in as his fascina-