Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-09-30

HOLD BIG PICNIC
Annual Horticultural Picnic at CITY
Park on Sunday Brought Out
Big Crowd.
HELD IN
HONOR DEPARTED MEMBERS
Prominent Speakers Delivered En-
cellent Addresses, and the Con
gregatiOnal Church Choir
Rendered Pleasing
Vocal Selections.
Continued from first page)

anu beautiful GROUNDS MADE his
home the wonder and admiration of
old and young. Our acquaintance
ripened into an intimate friendship
when he Joined the Horticultural
Society some years ago, of which
he was valued member until his
death. 1t was CHIEFLY through his
suggestion that we held those great
Horticultural Expositions which
will be remembered as the greatest
and most magnificent display of
farm, garden and orchard products
ever exhibited in this locality Mr..
Paine as a member always proved
himself to be a contentious and
thoughtful advisor and the place va
Gated by him will not easily be fill
ed. We recall to mind the pleasant
entertainment he rendered the So
ciety a few years ago at his beauti-
full home. He loved and respected
the Society and in one of the last
conversations / had with him he Of
fered his home and grounds for the
free use of the Societies summer
gatherings any time desired, and we
bow with grateful hearts to this
standing invitation. 1t proved with
out a doubt that Mr.. Paine admired
the Society, that he was pleased to
be a member, and we mourn the
loss of him whose home was such
a typical Horticultural home, the
grandest of its kind we know of,
and to his bereaved relatives we DIS
Horticulturists, extend our deepest
heartfelt sympathy.
My acquaintance with Mr.. Blake
man covers a period of about 20
years and it was our lot to meet and
work together on many occasions.
Nearly 90 years ago when several
Of us fruit growers met to organize
this Society, Mr.. Brakeman was
called to the chair. He was elected
it's first President and he can truly
be called the Father Of the Winnie
shiek County Horticultural Society.
He was reelected its President ev-
cry year since and always discharg-
ed the duties of his office with mark
ed ability and forethought, always
cheerful, always among the first
ones to pay his annual dues, wor-
tn example and always present.
No duties at home, no weather
no friend, nor any thing else,
(health eXcepted) could prevent him
from attending the meetings and
performing his duties as President
and it is a serious question with us
now, where we can find one to take
his place.
He loved and admired the Socie-
ty and done all in his power to pro-
utation and we have truly lost our
leader. which was a severe blow and
not easily healed.
We also met on the Township
School Board. He became a mem
Der of the School Board as sNb-di-
rector in 1903 and served his Sub
District as it's director ever since
Nm the spring of 1894, ten years
ago last spring, he was elected
President of the School Board and
was reelected every year since. In
this capacity Mr.. Brakeman exercis.
ed the same punctua1ity and
thoughfulness which always char
acterized his official career. In all
these years Mr.. Brakeman never
missed a meeting, whether il was
annual, semi-annual or special, a
truly remarkable record. We al
ways found him on the economical
side of all financial questions and
a staunch friend of the tax payer
1t seemed as il he was possessed OF
a marked ability as presiding Off
Ger, as he was at the time of his
death, president of four different
organizations, namely the North
Eastern Iowa Horticultural Society
the Winneshiek County Horticultur,
al Society, the DEBORAH Township
School Board and the DEBORAH Ice
Cave Farmers Creamery Company
His presence was desired and his
counsel and advice sought by hi!
fellow citizens.
Again we met as co workers Of
the Winneshiek County Fair. He
done all he could to support the
Winneshiek County Fair, Away:
serving the fair association in some
capacity, either as it's Vice-Presi
dent, Secretary or superintendent
of some Department.
Mr.. Brakeman was a supporter
and true friend of any public en-
terprise or plan, which had a ten
dency to improve the condition Of
reputation of his locality or fellow
citizens. He did not belong to tina
class Of men who can never turf
their finger or lend helping hant
TO any public plan or advice unless
they see dollars and cents back o
Lit. Financial compensation neve
prevented him from tenderins hi
services. AS we can readily SET
most of the work and duties con
nected with the positions of TRUST
Mr.. Brakeman filed, had no imam
cial compensation attached to then
whatever, but that part OF 1t neve
caused Mr.. Brakeman to shEk ina
confidence which he could not raj
to see his eountrymen had in him
He rests from his labors, but the re
suits and fruits OF his generosity
thoughtfulness and advices remain
with us as lasting monuments. w
miss his presence and mourn our loss
and as Horticulturists, neighDor
and conntrymen we extend to IN
bereaved relatives and friends on
deepest heartfelt sympathy.
Since it was our lot to be thu
deprived of our leaders, it woul
be well for us in the interest OF til