Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-12-18

r aoI neAriy iorty-slA yeafs-eXceptlng little
while that he was In business at Sparta. Let
US also bear In mind that this German
youth came 10 this country poor boy, but
erland' and with bis two hands and an in
dustrlous purpose he set to the task OF cary
ing Tor himself name worthy 10 be remem-
oeted long after his body has crumbled into
the dust. IL is true that those pioneer times
were favorable In many respects toward the
making OF fame ana fortune; but they we're
no less times OF hardship and sacrifice. He
was always a friend TO hard work and IL there
was one thing above all else which he never
learned, that was knowing how 10 take life
easy by throwing on responsibility on youu-
ger shoulders. tie was essentially and always
industrious, never sick and alwss- =. his
post OF duty; He was a remarkably active
man all the days of his life His quick elastic
step, his accurate business habits, his lifa~
losg devotion to business. all speak his praise
AS one who bee anne the best known business
man in all this community. William II.
Linden ann had what believe to be unusual
business ability. He did not simply have
mind for large plans In banking and mercan-
tile life which Is essential for heads OF firms,
but he had also what is less common-an un-
usual power TO hold and t. master details In
business How often lave seen men who
cared for the larger plans of affairs, but hav-
ing little or no taste or ability for the detail
ana tnen now many men there are who are
masters % sSes OF detaii Snt VINO cannot grasp the
them both and do them we'll.
Ihen again he was pre-eminently eau
tious, conser vative man. More than once as
l have talked with him about the rise and
fall OF men aud great houses In large cities
in times OF panic, be quietly remarked that
he WAS too conservative TO take such risks.
He preferred to do business In an agrlcultur-
al community where he knew every body and
everybody knew him, and you who have
known him the longest and have been most
Intimately associated with him, will gladly
bear testimony to his success In this commu-
nifty. Beginning wi nothing he built him
self up step by step In this county until he
has whole host of warm hearted friends ALI
over this section OF the state. Especially IN
Vernon county have these farmers learned to
respect him and honor his cool Judgment and
splendid business sagacity. To us who are
living here where for all these years he has
gone in and out among us let not his great
simple, honest life Le without its lessons for
good While he VAS conservative man and
q close man In trade he was always an
honest man an honorable. When once lie
gave his word IL was as good as his bond lie
counted his name his promise TO 20 that
under which IL stood. And this upright and
downright honesty and business integrity
ought TO be a life-lesson to all OF US younger
men here In business and In different pro
fessions. Such man living for forty-six years
in "A community with no stain upon his busl-
ness character ought to be an inapir alton TO
coming generations. IL Is no small thing TO
be ia business in the same community for
forty six years and carry the confidence and
esteem OF hundreds of farmers All 4 old neigh
bors here In ViroQua through aii the trials
Of trade and to stand at the snG OF nearly
three score and ten years with yirtuous,
pure honest and helpful life.
And then again. Wil,ian. Il. Lindemann
was peculiarly modest, almost dlfiident
man He never said mCcE about what he
hlmse was doing and one needed TO know
him well and get close to him tn appreciate
him. He was in an unsual degree self con-
tain man. This lastquality doubtless came
from the fact that he was a seli-made man.
In business hours he often seemed little
distant and reserved; but he was not really
so; for II you rode with hir1 cut into tho
country for a day or met him Ia the Masonic
lodge. where for many years he v As treasurer
he was most genial and 1oviAl, i have again
"a IN a nd fnk ND
laugh as heartily as a romping, roiicking boy
OF eighteen.
And then he was kind man. His German
birth and simple heart to heart home train
ing made him kindly disposed TO those who
wecc In real need, and ali his life long he was
sympathetic 20 those who really needed
sympathy and were worthy OF help And
rarely, If one was in real need OF help, RouId
be be turned away empty from his place OF
since Ills death have | had people tell me
In u quiet and modest way he had helped
them In times OF need. As | stood Ia his
private room at the barr. a few moments after
his death, strong man with tears In his
eyes and his voice ghocked said, Gle trusted
me for money and helped me when ! was not
worth a dollar" And Others bear similar
testimony TO his kindness He was an honest
man; he was a good business man, and
useful aud influential citizen and his famll-
lar face aDd active life In this community
will be missed by the people Of this section
OF the state aud In other places whore he had
social and business relations, As his uastar
IalWays enjoyed seeing him in our services
and ia our social relations be was very com
pRnlonAble and genial.
And so from us tGere goes out today true
friend whom we have learned to respect and
whose judgment VIC valued In many q critical
Lihce Ia iifeI but let us not forget his help
fulness and may be enable us all 70 live better
lives and be stronger to do our work for God
and man. One by one these old nelghbors
20 out from these earthly scenes TO Join that
Innummerabie host which have gone on be-
fore. Aud once more. let US not be unmind-
ful today to syu4pathise With this household,
this wife OF his youth and these children. In
this home circle he WAS indulgent father
and an atfectionate husband, and here too in
a most real sense mis- place will be empty and
his quiet presence sorely missed, and his
personal interest In ali the details OF the
home will bring tears TO the eyes many times
In the futurei But he has gone forever 70
that home where all our dear loved ones are
and we would net SlAh him back: nor could
he have gone more peacefully. He Just ceas-
ed 10 work auy longer on earth and laying
aside his life long earthly work, he begins a
new work In new world where sorrow,
slckGesS, death and separation are unknown.
And so our old friend. plain, sensible,
straightforward, upright man and citizen,
one ever proud TO be OF the people, has
gone out from among US and we shall not
see him again tu our .h0 1es nor upon our
streetsl And yet II we Initiate bis good traits
he will live on in cur community and still
tie near 70 us In friendly and fatherly and
brotherly sympathyl All other things on
earth fade and pass away, but the glory OF
honest manhood shall endure beyond sun
and stars. on into the ageless life Of God and
his redeemed children!
We think OF William f. Llndemanu as dead;
but be Ia living and must live. YirOqua Ia
better city because he has lived here. We
ought TO have nobler merchants. stronger
bankers, better citizens and purer and
manlieF community because he lived among
us 50 nodestty, 50 honestly aud 30 friendlyi
20 have but one more word 10 say: he be-
longs TO US who live On these high lands Of