Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-22
Services Held at Residence and Inter.
ment at Forest Lawn.
PARLoR BANKED WITH FLOWERS
Tributes from Far and Near Are
Profuse and Beautiful.
REV. t. ]. MACKAY LAUDs DEAD
Refers In Sermon TO BiE-Hearted
Qualities and ForcefuIness OF
Character and KindIinesa
of His Heart.

All that was earthly of william A. Pax
ton, that rugged old pioneer whose name
and achievements are a part Of the history
of Omaha and the west. was laid In its
eternal resting place Sunday. Mr.. Paxton
was buried in Forest Lawn cemetery
mourned by hundreds who were present at
the funeral service, and by other thou
sands far and near to whom his great heart
had endeared him.
The funeral was held at o'clock Sunday
afternoon at the Paxton home, 9O6 South
| Twenty-hfth avenue.
The body lay in the big front parlor
which was literally banked and walled with
flowers, So many floral tributes there were
some OF them coming from afar-from Chi
cago, Kansas City and Denver-that not all
could have been placed in view had they
not been arranged In the corners in pyra-
mids reaching almost to the ceiling
wealth OF roses and other beautiful flowers
brought by the relatives OF the dead were
placed on the casket and about 1t.
Wreathed in flowers, on easel, stood a
portrait of the deceased as he appeared a
good many years ago, Mr.. Paxton's favor
lite picture OF himself. 1t was Of a man in
middle hfe in the best of health with sue
cess stamped upon the features.
MOurnera View the Body.
Not long after 2 the mourners began to
arrive They passed in solemn file before
the bier and took a last look at the silent
face, calm and peaceful as in a sleep. Those
for whom seating arrangements had been
made in the house. including, besides the
relatives, Mr.. Paxtons dearest friends.
were ushered to seats. The others passed
out again to the porch and the shaded part
of the lawn, where hundreds stayed
throughout the services, though they were
unable to get close enough to hear the
words of the preacher.
| On the opposite side of the street the
porches OF the houses were crowded with
people who had not known Mr.. Paxton, ex-
cept perhaps by sight, but who had been
interested time and again by the story OF
his life. The coachmen left their horses
and came up to the lawn while hymns were
! being sung in honor of the dead.
Rev. T. ]. Mackay conducted the service,
the beautiful and impressive service OF
the Episcopal church. Lead Kindly Light"
was sung at the opening and abide with
Me- at the close of the service by quar-
tet consisting of Messrs J. H. Sims, Will
lam Rigdon. Charles Haverstock and Gerke
These hymns were Mr.. Paxtons favortes
Tells of Good Qualities.
| In a masterful way Rev. Mr.. Mackay
noted the noble qualities of Mr.. Paxton
touching chiefly on the kindness and demo-
cratic fellowship which made him loved
by thousands, and more widely mourned,
said the speaker, than any man of Omaha,
with one exception. He was rich. a mill
lionaire, but II he had owned fifteen mill
lions he would have been the good friend
alike of rich and poor; he never refused
to see a poor man and wealth was no bar
to his regard.
HE lowered above the shoulders Of men" ="
said the speaker. He was mighty, not
In body alone, but in character. His heart
was big as the world. He reminded me OF
a ragged peak rising high above the rest
of our western mountains"
That he had deep esthetic nature which
delighted in poetry and all manner of
beauty and delicate sentiment could not
long be doubted by one who came to know
him, said Mr.. Mackay.
When the benediction had been said. the
honorary pallbearers filed slowly from the
house and lined the walk to the street.
J. Ogden Armour of Chicago, whose name
had been placed on the list, could not leave
Chicago and Colonel ]. II. Pratt was un-
able TO be present. The honorary pail