River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-05-18
EULOGY.
At the Funeral of Rev. T. j.
Snodgrass.
BY DR.. EDGAR E. cLOUGH.

of group of personal friends to pay
their last tribute to one whom they
have loved for his intrinsic worth,
as we'll as to show their appreciation
for him who held the responsible
position of Gods minister to his fell
low men. There are several pro-
fessions that come into close and
/ sacred relations with mankind. The
physician, who knows our ills and
weaknesses and shares our physical
condolences; the teacher, who leads
our children into and through the
avenue of knowledge, and the min
lister who as pastor has our con-
fidences in our moral and spiritual
struggles and who declares unto US
the Divine will; it is he who leads
our devotions in public and often in
private and who gives unto us of his
sympathy in the supreme trials of
our lives, often strengthening us in
our conflicts for our better selves.
He that lies before us now has for
twenty years filled the office
of minister in the church OF God
and to many of you has been the
ideal and loving pastor. He was
true under-she oherd giving his life
to his flock, never counting his own
life dear unto himself that he might
win some to better and sweeter liv
ing. The outlines of his life story
are that he was born in Pendleton,
Indiana, Oct. %, IS4o; that when
he was two years old his parents
came to Wisconsin, settling in Bad
Axe county now known as Vernon,
and near the thriving little town of
Viroqua. His father was farmer
and he grew up like many another
on the farm receiving the best edu-
cational advantages that the town
afforded. He grew up reasonably
vigorous and physically capable
young man, early developing more
than ordinary mental strength and
ability, and as soon as he was quail
fled he began his career as school
teacher which he followed for sever
al years. When he was twenty-one
years old he was converted and
Joined the Methodist Episcopal
church. This was with him an
epoch in his life. 1t opened to him
new and broader career. 1t placed
him at once in the most difficult and
delicate fields of human endeavor
and one to which few men are at
tracted except in the full confidence
of a direct personal call from God.
Like others he had no realization of
how much it meant when he took
his place by the side of the Lord
Jesus Christ or that it meant the
career that followed.
October IS, 1873, was an impor-
tant event in his history, it being
the day of his marriage with Miss
Jennie, eldest daughter of Rev.
George Nuzum of the West Wis
consin Conference. He kept on
teaching school until in August,
1877, he, with his brother-in-la law, l.
F. Nuzum, and Louis Wooley, was
licensed to preach at district con-
ference held in Mansion and where
I saw him for the first time. In
September, 1873, he was received
on trial in the West Wisconsin Con-
ference at its session in Monroe and
from that day to his death has been
well-loved and honored member
of the conference. He was ap-
pointed to Pleasant Grove, from
Pleasant Grove to Merrimac, from
Merrimac after busy three years
to West Branch in Richland county,
from that circuit to Prairie du
Chen, then to First church, Bara-
boo. Here his health breaking he
was appointed to Gienwood, light
er work; from Glenwood to New
Richmond, from New Richmond to
River Falls and little over year
ago to this church in Hudson, from
which his name will pass from the
roll of the West Wisconsin Annual
Conference to the permanent roster
on high. Do not think of him as
being idle or out of work but as
transferred to permanent pastorate.
This is a splendid record, nine
charges in twenty-seven years, and
the class of charges indicates his
growth and the confidence had in
him by the powers of the church
while the length of his pastorates
shows the appreciation of the people
whom he served, because these two
things are inseparable. About six
teen years ago he joined the Free
masons both in the Blue Lodge and
in the Chapter, and was the Grand
Chaplain of the Royal Arch Masons
of Wisconsin at the time of his death.
He was also an Odd Fellow, Good
Templar and Son of Veteran.
This briefly outlines his public
career as teacher, preacher and
brother. As public man we will
study his characteristics, not all, but
a few of them.
Thorough consciousness; he
had character and took the work of
life seriously. All of his work was
honestly done, if it were on the farm
or in the school room or in the pull
pit or study. His work was done
on honor. It could not have been
better done by him. He was a great
reader, and read with care. He
/ et,,d;ad xxv;t1, !, Dear, cre,,+ c. -