The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-03-04
Passed Away As lie Lived, Peacefully.

On last Saturday morning the golden
key of death opened the palace of eterni-
ty and our old and respected friend and
neighbor, William Krauss, entered at
noontide. For the past few weeks it was
known that the earthly tabernacle of an
intensely active spirit was wearing out,
but it was scarcely thought possible that
the dissolution would be a rapid one.
However. the body, weary with its more
than six and seventy years of greatest
activity, suddenly collapsed and the
spirit took its flight before many of our
citizens were aware that death was near.
William Krauss was the son of gentle
man of high standing, and was born in
the city of Dresden, the capital of Saxo-
ny, Germany, August 10, 1926, He was
one OF three brothers who received care
ful domestic training and were afterwards
students at the University of Leipsig.
Two OF the brothers became ministers of
the Lutheran church, while the subject of
our sketch, in addition to his study of
science and the classics, devoted himself
to the fine arts, especially music. The
city of Dresden, with its celebrated acad-
emy of art and its mu ,ical choir, afforded
him excellent opportunities for the cult
vation of his tastes, while the charming
valley OF the Elbe enriched his aesthetic
nature, and enabled him to become a stu
dent and lover of natural history as long
as he lived.
Dresden being the home city of the
duke of Sake Coburg- Gotha, William
Krauss, from knowledge that can be
CLEANED of his early life, attended and
was afterwards converted in the same
church in which Prince Albert, consort
of Queen Victoria, was a communicant.
Becoming proficient in music he was also
a composer, and had the honor OF playing
before the crowned heads of Europe. But
the glowing accounts of the splendid op-
pOrtunities America afforded induced
Mr.. Krauss to seek his fortune in the me-
tropolis of our country in 1852. In 1872
he became resident for the first time of
Tionesta, where he had large classes in
vocal and instrumental music Leaving
our town for ether locations, he returned
in 1887 and again assumed his vocation.
Later he took up his residence in Tidioute
but returned to our town in July, 1900,
which has been his place of residence
ever since. The only member of his
family in this country, alone in the
world at his advanced age,
"By foreign hands his dying eyes were
closed.
By foreign hands his humble grave
adorned,
By strangers honored and by straners
mourned."
But the "human heart is kind" and
when it came to be known how he strug-
gled to the last TO live honestly and not
become charge or burden to anyone,
many kind acts were extended this elder
lY gentleman which were all appreciated
by him. Although deprived of many of
the necessities of life he never complain
ed but acted well his part. He was re-
markably economical and Industrious
never idle-and if he did not have work
that brought him money, he would study
and analyze tie flowers of the forest,
practice, read or write. He was never
known to say an unkind word, or 10 do
an unkind act towards any person, and he
was more kind and thoughtful of the
feathered creatures of the air than most
of our citizens. Even after he was all
ing he purchased, out of his meagre in
come, food for the birds and, when the
days were coolest and snow deepest, he
waded out to fill the window sill of his
little cottage with food for the chicadees.
And surely He, who careth for the spar
rows, took notice and dealt tenderly with
His servant, granting his wish that he go
to Him without being charge, and
crowning him with the honor and respect
of his fellow citizens.
On Sabbath afternoon funeral services
were held at o'clock, conducted by
Rev. b. +. Feitt. and the body was laid
to rest in Riverside cemetery.