The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-02-13

more imam a chronology. capt. Lea
vas in almost every aspect a remar-
man. In stature he stood six
and four inches and. his nobil-
ty of nature was as far above that
Of the average man as he exceeded
in stature. For more than a
quarter of a century he was a citi-
zen of Roswell. He came here when
this was simply a wayside poStOf-
fee on a star route. He saw the place
bud into a village and blossom into
a city. n to his aid more than to
any one or dozen is the growth of
his home. and to him there was no
place like home. Every nail that has
been driven in Roswell has been a
source of joy to him. At one time
he owned all the Ian upon which
the town is built and had he been
a selfish gain-seeker he could hive
been n of the wealthiest men in
all the land, but such was the
breadth of his charity that he died
comparatively a poor man. No
thy person ever applied to him in
vain, and as he was a stranger to
guile and discrimination it is easy to
understand that he was many times
imposed upon by the unworthy. He
possessed in a remarkable degree
the three God given graces of Faith
Hope and Charity, and his charity
was of hat kind that made him do
good to those that hated him and
make apologies for them that des-
~pitefully used" him. In the early
eighties he was engaged in the cat
tie business and when the crash of
34-5 came. like thousands of others
in the southwest he was caught in
the whirlpool and left with a load
that few men would have attempted
to carry. With a moral courage that
knew no wavering or faltering he
took up his burden and with a sub
lime faith, strengthened by the rec
titude of his purpose he conquered.
Even when most burdened with his
own affairs he was constantly work
ing for the general good of his town
and country. The New Mexico Mill
tarv Institute, the leading school of
it's class in the entire southwest,
owes it's inception to him. He was
is staunchest advocate and oldest
friend, and it will stand as a monu
ment to his memory. Like all truly
good men, Captain Joseph c. Lea
was exceedingly modest, and the on
ly person on earth that he could not
hear praised without blushing was
himself. He was more active than
any other in securing the creation
Of this county, and when it was sug-
gested that the county be named in
his honor he blushingly demurred.
He steadfastly declined all public
honors, and when last fall Roswell.
was incorporated as a city it was
only at the almost unanimous de-
mand of the people that he consent
ed to become its first mayer his
first public office.
Captain Lea had I kI'd word and
FOR every one. No Ia ever had
higher ideals Of manhood and wu-
manhood than he. To the young
men he was a father and elder bro
Their, and there are hundreds today
who feel a personal obligation to
him for his kindness and advice.
such a hold upon the affections of a
people as he had. and when the
word was passed that he had gone,
it was done with tear filed eyes
and choking voice. Every one felt
a personal loss that can never be
supplied.
The stranger within our gates felt
surprised that in a community of
this size two thousand people should
attend a funeral. To the citizens this
was but natural for everyone in that
vast cortege was a mourner.
To his wife. Mrs. Mabel Lea, to
his son and daughter and his step
daughter Miss Willie Day, and his
brothers and sisters. the Roswell
public extends far more than the us
ual sympathy, for each and every one
feels that "it is a loss to me; how
much greater must De ours"
He fought a good fight, he finish
ed the course, he kept the faith and
surely there will be meted out to
him on the further shore that re-
ward that is due to them that do
the right as God gay it them to e
the right"