The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-21

Hugo Bernhardt Kohl, after many
years of service in the rugged warfare
of life, with varying fortunes, wa:
called upon finally to lay down his arms
to be mustered out-by the Great Com
mander He willingly obeyed. Weak
, ened in body, he was no longer able tC
continue the unequal conflict and gladly
did he leave the tented field.
DIR. Kohl was one of the oldest citi
zens of Hays, in point of residence He
has filled important and responsible
positions during his life. He attended
faithfully the meetings of the Schoo
Board, of which he was for long time
a member, even though his physical in
/ firmities in late years made the effort q
dangerous one. He was member OF
Vance Post, No. 2, G. A. R., and OF
the various local Masonic orders, which
he rather intermittently attended on
account of i'll health. 1t had been his
desire for years that Providence might
intervene to take him out of his suffer
ings and release him from service to
his family, his fraternities, and his
community, which he was no longer
able to render. Although he could not
hope to win in the fight with death, as
he well knew, he made a brave effort
and, sometimes overestimating his
strength, he retired, not beaten, but
just a little weaker for the struggle.
Finally the respite came after weary
night of waiting.
From his obituary, written by his
own hand before his death and enclosed
in an envelope containing this instruc-
ton: ''To be opened after my demise
from this EARTH - we gather the follow
ing facts about his history:
On June %, 1874, he made his en-
ony, was the place of his birth. In in
fancy he was baptized in the faith of
his forbears in the Lutheran church.
His great grandfather was Lutheran
minister. At the age of fourteen DIR.
Kohl received confirmation. Losing
both his parents before he was fourteen,
life to him was struggle. He was
graduated from Fletcher Seminary in
1859. Then he went to work in a drug
store, and later went to school until
1872. The death of some near relation
or friend again changed his fortunes.
Late in 1868 he came to the United
States and got employment in drug
store in Boston. In 1864 he Joined
Company G, 32nd Massachusetts, End
Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps.
After an honorable discharge he enlist
ed in the regular army in 1866. Ap-
pointed hospital steward, he served in
that office until 1879. Since that time
he has called Hays, Kansas, his home
He closes his autobiography with these
words; cit has been my effort through
! life to be useful and do good TO all man
kind
On January 28.. 1875, at Portland
Maine. he was married tc Ida Amelia
Fuller, who. with three children, sur
| Yive him.
| He was buried from the Lutheran
church, of which he has been a member
since April 1, 1888. Vance Post, No.
and the Knights Templar, including
many Sir Knights from Ellis, ATTENDED
the service in a body. The bier was
continuously in charge of an escort OF
Sir Knights. The last funeral rites al
the grave were conducted by Aleppc
Commandary and concluded by his few
surviving comrades of Vance Post
This was according to his last request
Many beautiful flowers, brought by
the friends and orders, shed their frag,
rance to make his burial sweet; tokens
Of respect for the dead and sympathy
for the living.
| May the God of the widow and of the
orphan keep his pledged word and care
for His own in the day of their be-
reavement.