Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-25
From the Madison Democrat.

Of the best men,-good, not only In
having been union soldiers, but in all
those qualities that make men strong
In character and of real value to the
community in which they live. We
lost one of the best of these good men
when Comrade George S. Martin
dropped out of the ranks. Until
within a short time before he was
4 taken from us we expected him soon to
be well enough to be with US again.
When we new the sad fact of his
death, we could hardly realize how
great was our loss. Now that he
rests over yJnder in the silent city of
the dead, We are becoming conscious
Of our sad bereavement; and we won
der how v e can do without him. We
are coming to understand something
of how roIch he was to US,
I haze during the past week seen
men standing here and there by
twos and threes, and in larger groups,
talking in subdued tones about Com
rade Martin. / heard a comrade say
today: do you now, I never came to
be so well acquainted with Martin as
I now wish I had Not long ago l
sat an hour alone with him in his of.
fee. In the talk of that hour I got
4 something of a knowledge of the
strength of his manhood. have been
hoping since then to get nearer to
: him in friendship. and to enjoy more
J of his comradeship. But now he is
gone He was in his grave before
knew of his death, for I was out "
the city. He was a good man and one
of the best of our comrades"
Another said, For some tiIae back
Comrade Martin and have had sew
eral walks together around the cap
itol park. Nothing could be better
than his good conversation and com
partnership. As I think of it now, be
,, tieve he was then much of the time
in physical suffering, but he never
made mention of the fact. Some men
are apt to tell everybody they meet
all about their ailments but Comrade
Martin suffered in silence and was al
the time cheerful in appearance. dc
was a good man"
And still another said, "Comrade
Martin was exceedingly modest. he
was not apt 10 intrude his ideas anc
oDinions though he was a man o.
strongest convictions. When he dc
: tell what he thought he spoke. usual
v. in a quiet manner He did no.
ike to sir up strife, and so was con
,iliatorv in spirit. l say he was usu
,lv quiet and conciiiatory, yet
ave nown him on two or three occa
sions to speak his mind with all the
;orce of his strong nature. He hello
stoutly to what his conscience tolc
aim was right, and, when it came u
matter of principle, he knew n'
such thing as compromise.
.Comrade Martini said anothel
one of his old friends, had just ne
sham at all about him. He never
aid ANYTHING for effect. He was the
soul of sincerity and honor. Some
peopbe tell pleasant lies to please
others. and so one can never D.
sure inst when they are telling the
truth. hut Comrade Martin was toe
straightforward man ever to wan
to please people in that way YET
no one was more pleasing ana gen
Dinelv courteous than he"
And tnen don't you remember
said regular attendant at our posi-
meetings chow sure we were-be
fore his sickness-to find Comrade
Martin at the hall in time for a
short visit with all of us before the
hour of calling to order? And ne
made it a point to go around and
shake hands with all the comrades
present. especially with any VINO
might be strangers there. And how
good his hearty laugh sounded as
he passed from one to another we
shall miss that laugh.
SO | could go on and tell much
more of the good l have heard con
corning Comrade Martin. l will close
with one of the tributes paid him
bv Comrade T. c. Richmond, our
EOSt CCUtUlduuSls WhAiC hN "ssS 49,
lducting the burial service at Fores'
INN. Looking down into the open
grave. and deeply moved in spirit
he said Il have known our good
lcomrade George S. Martin many
Years. / have known him as min
ister of the gospel, as a lawyer. as
a friend and comrade. | have met
him among men of all sorts, and
under varying circumstances, yet
have never heard one profane, oh
scene or indecent word come from
his lips. His conversation has been
clean. as his life has been upright
and homes
would not say that Comrade
Martin was without faults. He was
a man. and so was. in nature, like
1.-The rest Of us. He knew more about
Ibis own faults than any one else.
/ Moreover. he was a man Of very
strong nature and ! doubt not he
mad % fight down some tendencies
common to men like him. What.
;, h.. Z ~