The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-14

the Grand Junction. Colo. News:
The most remarkable tribute ever
paid TO the memory Of any man on
the Western Slope was the funeral of
William z. Pabor. founder of Fruita
which was held at the Methodist
church in that city yesterday and
which was attended by young and old
alike. The heads Of all were bowed
and the church room was hushed when
the last words of eu1ogy had been
spoken over the remains Of this once
noted man. Dozens Of Grand Valley
pioneers who went through the strug-
giles of the early frontier days in Mesa
county with Mr.. Pabor and who learn
ed to love and reverence him for his
gentle, winning personality and charm.
brushed away a silent tear as the la
rite and final touch OF friendship had
been consummated over all that was
mortal of the man.
The funeral was held al 10 o'clock
and over two hundred fifty of the
leading residents of the entire Grand
Valley were in attendance. In a short
address Rev. J. J. Lace, district super
intendent of the Methodist church of
fciated in the church rituals. Former
Senator Horace I. belong delivered
one of the finest addresses of his life
in eulogzing the deceased. His tri-
butte to the beloved man will linger
long in the minds of those who silent
ly applauded him in his efforts to set
forth the reverence and respect ten
dered to Fruita's founder by residents
of the Grand Valley. He entered into
the life of the man and in strong
ringing words gave a brief history of
his life as a true empire builder.
Former Senator James W. Bucklin.
an old friend of the deceased, delivered
another eulogy which was simple and
beautiful and which helped the sor-
rowing friends feel less keenly the
loss of the hardy pioneer. Mr.. Buck
lin spoke as follows:
I'VE come to pay our last token OF
respect to the beloved shell that for
nearly four score years was occupied
by the soul of William f. Pabor. When
tomorrow's sun shall gid the crown
of Mount Garfield with its golden hale
it will shine for the first time upon
the new made grave of one of Col
orado's most noted men. Mr. Pabor
was a pioneer, a poet, an idealst, a
builder: a builder of bitches. a builder
of cities: builder of manhood.
THE pioneer in either thought or
action lays his course through a rough
and untrodden country. 1t is part Of
his life to be misunderstood and mis-
represented, but with a lofty spirit and
a sublime faith. he hews out a trail
destined in after years to become a
broad level highway over which mil
lions of human beings shall journey
through a happy and prosperous life
Not for long years after the clods have
rested above the coffin lid of such a
man, is he fully understood and APP
preciated. Then, when his mortal
ears can no longer hear, and his NOR
tai eyes can no longer see, we build
monuments to his memory, and sing
poems of praise to his achievements
'Mr. Pabor's songs were full OF
idealism and of kindly human brother
hood. For years he was the poet 1au-
reate of the Press Associa ton of the
United States and as such made a ma
tional reputation.
I'm the summer of 1882, when west
ern Colorado was a dream and Grand
Valley unknown, Matt Arch came upon
the scene and commenced the con-
struction of the Grand River ditch. I,
valley from a desert of alkali and sage
brush to one of the most beautiful
and productive fruit gardens of the
world. 1t was my privilege to be as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Arch in this enter
prise as the first secretary of this
ditch company. Afterwards, when Mr.
Arch reached the limit of his ability
to further carry on this enterprise, T
nd tn oh II ~
to finish it. Mr.. Pabor then became its
secretary as my successor and it was
under him that the ditch was compIet-
ed and operated for a number of years
1T was while he was connected
with this construction work that Mr.
Pabor founded this thriving and beau
tiful city of Fruita. On his recent
visit to Grand Junction, he was asked
why he did not name the place Pabor
instead of Fruita, His answer was
that he was endeavoring to emphasize
his idea. then but a dream, that this
was great fruit country. The innate
modesty of the man also doubtless in
tiuenced him. Mr. Pabor's often ex-
pressed wish was TO finally rest near
this city which he founded.
when founded. Fruita was a from
tier town, but Mr.. Pabor anticipated
by a quarter of a century the public
sentiment of this county in favor OF
prohibiting the liquor traffic and plac-
ed in every deed the prohibitory liquor
clause. copied from the deeds Of
Greeley and Colorado Springs. with the
early history of which places Mr.. Pa
Dor had been connected.
But Mr.. Pab has now left US His
cheerful face and kindly greeting viii
be known among uS no more. ! have
long ceased to look upon death, espe-
cial1y the death of the ged as an evil
Without death there could be no hui
man progress. and consequently ne
civilization. Without death, the human
spirit. enslaved by the chains of NOR
tai flesh, could never hope for free
dom, for an enfranchised resurrection
Death is as natural as life. Death Is
the natural law, and all of natures
laws are just, wise and beneficient
Sooner or later we must all meet hin
with a smile, in the supreme faith thar
the great Architect of the Universe ha.
made no mistake, Death. what is i
| ter into greater life, the life thar
| shall never end"
| Following the ceremony the funera
| procession wendell its way to the Gem
etery through double ranks of schoo
| children, who We're lined up on either
side Of the street for two blocks be-
low the church. The procession wa
the longest in the history Of Mesa
county.
One of the notable features Of tn.