The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-07
STATE IS LOSING
Recent Deaths Rob Kansas OF
Early Settlers.
Address by DR.. Embree at
Knowles Funeral.

The funeral of Albert w. Knowles.
pioneer banker and capitalist, was
held Friday afternoon at the home,
S19 Topeka avenue. The services were
in charge of Lincoln Post, G. A. r.
Topeka lodge No. II, A. F. and A. M,
conducted a ceremony at the grave.
The burial took place in Topeka ceme-
terry. In his address at the funeral
the Rev. A. S. Embree spoke in part
as follows:
with the going away of Mr..
knowles this community is again re-
minded that it has reached that point
in its history when ii is rapidly los
ing those men and women who came
here when Kansas was not yet
state, who assumed the burdens of
pioneer condition and men first and
foremost in laying the foundation OF
ell our existing eXcellences.
Pioneers ordinarily are of this kind
the first and ltast does remain
long, accomplishes no particular good
while it stays, is frequently more ad-
venturous than otherwise in its dis
)sition and sometimes criminal in it
4 Instincts.
The other and best is a happy
blending of the greater virtues such
as courage, industry and faith in the
unseen.
Courage dares what cowardice will
not attempt, industry makes most of
the hour and the circumstances and
faith, as always, maintains. Without
have been sailed or continents ex-
! plored. Nearly all worthy growth is
indebted to them fer it's impulse: they
constitute the very soul OF achieve
ment and have been and will continue
to be the master forces of civilization.
The United States and in turn the sew
erai states owe their settlement to the
| pioneers. 1t was about their homes
and in the strength of their testimony
that others gathered. They not only
/ u
mould and make.
They put mind and muscle against
the natural obstacles, compelled the
desert to perform miracles, tanned the
| wilderness, carved out states. endowed
them with governments, built high
ways, established churches and
schools and all the ct cetera of civili-
cation. Those of us who came along
/ later may have done well, but between
us and them there is an ineffaceable
difference; we found paths for travel
! ing which they made and tasks begun
that needed only the work of mans
hands.
These two men, Albert Knowles
and his brother. Charles, came here
at an early date, the one a stone
! mason, the otheE a blacksmith, and
were exactly what a new and strug-
Cling community needs. One built
| houses to shelter the homeless, the
other sharpened plows that the family
might have the necessities of life.
Each in his way was a prophet
a seer of the unseen, for without men
of this kind bank would not have
arisen or the city been esta bIished.
Each of them illustrates the i'm
portance of the individual in the
building up of things desirable.
THE two are gone. They lived, we
| are all happy to remember, to enjoy
| the fruits of their labors. They passed
from this to the other life within two
weeks of each other. with multitude
of friends to mourn their departure
and feel a manly part in the making
OF great state-the Strengthening of
| a great nation
| without being churchmen they
stood for the things which Christ
| taught as essential to peace on earth
ana good will towards and among
men. !helr going away is loss. The
world IN general and this community
In particular has lost a valuable part
OF Its working capital. Let me ask a
SOBER and very serious question-these
are days of large enterprise. We build
nigher than former generations
dreamed and dig deeper than they
thought possible; we have compassed
/ land and sea in the interests of trade
we multiply churches and enlarge edu-.
cational facilities. but do we think as
/ much and as cheerfully as we should
about raising men and women to take
the place of those who fall by the way
side and who may be trusted to pre-
serve the march of moral and intelli-
/ gent progress?
L have been in Topeka good
] many years. The passing of two
brothers within so short a period, who
have been so closely and so long iden-
! titled with the city is exceptional and
very justly excites more than usual
comment 1t is pleasure to say that
men and women generally seem eager
and indeed relieved to indulge in ex-
pressions of high admiration of the
| life and character of Albert and
| Charles Knowles
| They were the opposite in tempera-