The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-22
Tributes Paid Attorneys Who
Have Passed Away.
Judge Buck, w B. Torrey and
Sheldon F. Barney.
Appropriate ResoIu'ionsAddopt'
ed in Their Behalf.

From Mondays Daily
A special term of the district court
was held this afternoon, beginning at
two o'clock The distinguishing feature
of the session was the presentation of
resolutions and memorials regarding the
deaths of Judge Daniel Buck, S. F. Barn
ey and Judge w. B. Torrey.
As soon as court convened, A. r. Pau
ST.. president of the Blue Earth County
Bar association, said that the association
had passed resolutions which it desired to
present to the court.
Thomas Hughes presented the follow
ing report:
William b. Torrey the bar of Blue Earth
county mourns an old and respected set
tier of this community, brave and pa
triotic citizen, whose very life was free
" laid upon his countrys altar in her
hour of need, an honest and impartial
administrator of the law, both as one
of the justices of the city of Mankato
and as probate Judge of this county;
whose decisions were ALWAYS conscien-
tiously rendered in spirit of equity
and fairness, and whose services as clerk
of this court were discharged with fdel-
ity and efficiency.
Resolved. Further, That this resolution
DE extended upon the records of this
court as token of our appreciation of
our worthy and estimable friend.
THOMAS HUGHES,
w. E. YOUNG,
w. w. SMITH,
w. L. COMSTOCK
Mr.. Hughes, moving the resolutions,
said that his acquaintance with the de-
ceased had dated back twenty five years,
when he was justice. He had come
west from New York in the early days
years and Judge of probate four years.
He had tried conscientiously to do his
duty. He was a man of strong convic-
lions and stood for them, but he was
honest and upright and had native abil-
ity that aided him to discharge well the
duties of his different offices. He was
a man worthy of these few words.
Judge Cray ordered the resolutions
spread at length upon the records OF
the court.
Judge Severance presented the follow
ing memorial for the late Mr.. Barney:
Sheldon +. Barney, a member of the
bar of the county, died on the Goth day
of April. 1905. He became member
of this bar in May, 1856, and some
years ago he retired from the practice
of his profession and removed to farm
Just out of this city. where he resided
up to the time of his death. He was
during all the time of his residence in
lllS Guilty anu up W tHt IIlIS vi Hlc
death, active in the performance of
civic duties such as the state, his
county and city demanded of one who
always recognized his obligations of
citizenship.
He saw Mankato when it was mere
hamlet and kept step with its progress
until it became the pride of southern
Minnesota. 1t will not be necessary
in this memorial to repeat his complete
biography and cucumber the records OF
this court with it, since it has been
accurately written and published in the
history of this county and city. This
memorial will concern itself mostly
with the marked characteristics and
conduct of the deceased during his
eventful life among us.
The living are always more than will
ing to do ample justice to the dead. and
this they do not only at the inspiration
of friendship, but in answer to the call OF
duty which demands lasting record OF
the virtues of those who have wrought
well in life and then ceased to live
leaving behind them an example worthy
of imitation. General history disdains
to notice the lives of those who Law the
foundation of social and national life
but it does delight in parading before
the world the names of those who have
presented some startling spectacle,
whether of veal or woe.
Tacitus, the great Roman historian
says that the purpose of history is to
rescue true merits from oblivion. and
to hold up the base actions of mankind
to the Reproduction of posterity.
An eulogy upon a single life is a
history adapted to and to be read with
in the sphere i'll which the actor moved.
Every stratum of national life should
be illuminated by history of its pc