Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-08-14
IN MEMORIAM.

Last week another of the older resi-
dents of the village was called home.
On Monday, the Sd inst, Mr.. Sewall
p. Tolman died in his eighty-first year.
We often say of the departed, "he was
loved and respected by all who knew
him." Frequently the expression
is merely conventional, though kind
ly, and is prompted by the impulse
which leads us to speak only good of
the dead. In this case it speaks moth
ing but the truth. At the age of four
score he left behind him life, every
year of which bore the stamp of pur
ity, integrity and fidelity. However
far we may fall short of such record
ourselves, we sincerely admire and
love the man who has it.
Mr.. Tolman came to Perrysburg
thirty two years ago, in the prime of
life, with family which was ideal in
all that makes for true domestic hap.
| piness. He Immediately engaged in
manufacturing which he continued
until the feebleness of age told him he
could no longer bear the stress and
strain of business life. In his busi-
ness he was model of integrity. Hon
est, frank, manly, with him there was
no deception or double dealing, and
he would not permit it in others when
he could prevent it, even when his
acquiescence would cause neither loss
nor inconvenience to himself. The
writer recalls an instance. A person
engaged in raising berries for market
gave Mr.. Tolman an order for berry
boxes, with instructions to slightly
raise their bottoms so that the guam
| titNy nf hnrrinc WOill hp short oltbn11 OH
the box would appear to contain a
full quart. Mr. Tolman Indignantly
declined the order, stating to his Gus,
toner that nothing in the nature of a
false pretense should come from his
factory. If he had a weakness, it lay
in his confidence in the integrity of
others. He was so entirely free from
guile himself that he could not suspect
it in other people. He thus became oc-
casionally a victim of dishonesty.
When it happened, he was shocked,
not by the loss he sustained, but by
the lapse from duty of the one who
had wronged him.
In his domestic life Mr.. Tolman was
the head of his family in the highest
and best sense. That is to say, in
every vicissitude he was it's strength
anu SuDpOII. ~ uduSIISi just
ing into beautiful young womanhood
was instantly killed. He loved heI
as only father can love an affection
ate and dutiful daughter He was
heart-broken by the afhiction, but
scarcely sign of disturbance appear
ed on the surface. He devoted his
strength to comforting and sustaining
the bereaved mother and sister of his
beloved dead.
When he was compelled by the fee
bleness of age to retire from business
life, he did SO with the quiet resigna
ton of which only the we'll balanced
mind is capable, and devoted his re
naming years to the tender care of ar
invalid wife who preceded him about
six months in the journey to the Other
shore.
Mr.. Tolman manifested an intelli
gent and keen interest in public af
fairs, but always shrank from the no
toriety incident to active public life
He was intelligently, deeply and prac
tically religious. To him God was {
real father and Christ a real elder
brother whose example and precept'
he earnestly stroye to follow. Ant
so, when the end approached, there
were no disturbing doubts or fears
He was leaving behind him {
clean, wholesome life, which is the
best preparation for whatever lies
beyond the dark valley.