Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-29

The last Offices to good citizen were
paid when ON Thursdav last the NOR
tai remains of Rudson II. Drake were
laid to rest beside his pioneer parents
and other kindred in Sugar Grove
cemetery. AT the home in this city,
in the morning. the residence was I'LL
ed to attend the brief services and
look upon the familiar features AZ
ter prayer and scripture reading by
Rev J. II. Bullock the Christian church
revival choir sang. A funeral party
made up of ten or twelve automobile
loads drove to Sugar Grove home
church, which was crowded by old
neig hbors and friends and the regu-
lar services and internent were con-
Quoted by Rev. Bullock
The following tribute and sketch of
the life of Mr.. Drake, prepared by an
intimate friend of the deceased, was
read:
Rudson Horace Drake was the son
of pioneers. He was born in Ellenbo-
70, Grant county, Wisconsin in 1850.
and passed away at his home in Viro-
qua on August %. 1917, after linger-
ing illness. When a boy of twelve
years he moved with his parents to
Sugar Grove, Vernon county. There
the responsibilities and hard work of
life came to him for he was called up
on to do mans part at home while
his two older brothers gave their SER
vices, and at last sacrificed their
young lives to preserve the unity of
our country Mr.. Drake was first mar
ried TO Emma Taylor, and to them two
children were born: Lewey, who was
drowned when young lad land Oscar,
who lives in Minneapolis. After the
death of his first wife he was united
in marriage TO May HinkSt and TO
them four children were born: Inez
Koch of Sylvan, Ethel Sterling of
Eastman, Edith Lind of Newry and
Winifred Drake at home. To mourn
his going and miss as&ioving care he
leaves his beloved wife, May Hinkst-
Drake, whose name was the last word
he ever spoke, and upon whom he
called for his last earthly need his
five children, three grandchildren,
Leona and Loren Sterling and Horace
Drake, one brother, Frank Drake Of
Sioux City, Iowa.
Mr.. Drake resided at Sugar Grove
for many years where he was engag-
ed in farming and conducted a gener-
al store He retired from business
and moved to Niroqua in order to give
his daughters better educational adj
vantages, and had been 4 resident
here for several years. In whatever
community he lived he was a man
whose earnest desire was to make the
world better, and he ever inspired
d e p and sincere affection in all
who knew him we'll In spite of the
sorrows that came into his life, iu
spite of long months of illness, he
kept his spirit ever youthful and buoy
ant. Faithful, generous, kindly and
frank, he was true friend, a worthy
citizen, a Christian gentleman. He
became a member of the Christian
church in his youth and in his church
and his community, he was ever a pow
er for right living and right thinking.
In every good work he was willing to
assist with his time and money. Mis-
fortunes never daunted him; delay
him they might, but never discourage
ed him. He was ever fighting, pray
ing and hoping for better things.
Few men of his generation gave more
time and energy to creating and main
tanning tt conditions in the world.
Such live -a'.not fail to leave a wide
influence. His personality and char
acter will, indeed, long continue to be
sources of inspiration to those who
have been fortunate enough to know
him. His enthusiasm. energy and
faith in the future of christianity we're
wonderful. To the last he was pro-
gressive man: interested in the world:
possessing strong convictions, but open
minded TO new truths. His strong
and manly life is past but his memory
will not die. a life full of good deeds
is a story that can never be fully told
THE faults of our brothers, we write
upon the sands, their virtues upon the
tablets of love and memory" FO'
this brother there will be few faults
written upon the sand: but. oh, how
beautiful will be the inscriptions up
on the tablets Of love and memory.
ROBERT MELLEM