Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-11-20
PIONEER WILLMAR
EDITOR PASSES
Continued from page IL

q
busy life. very synoptically set down
for it is not the aim of this apprecia-
ton to recount in detail the business
career Of it's subject-but rather to pay
who thru fifteen heeting years Of the
sunshine and shadow Of daily life, 1t
was my privilege to know and COM
mune with as a dear and valued friend,
and thru such intercourse grew to love
and value as brother. Friendship
and friend in real sense, are inter-
changeable terms. A friend is one who
knows all your faults and failings and
answering.
Such friendship, lucid. luminous and
inspiring, is sometimes granted us, as
great boon and blessing in the general
selfish trend Of worldly life and strife,
and when such rare privileges can be
ours, neither time nor separation nor the
Great Leveler can dim nor diminish nor
make small or Of no account it's eter-
nal value and imperishable worth.
1t was thru such a rare medium that
the writer knew and loved Alton Crosby,
my relation to him both as his rector
and personal friend, affording me an
we all possess, but alas, so rarely can
exercise or use in the fullness Of it's
God given privileges.
But from this vantage point I can
the, many fine traits of generosity,
kindness unlimited, courage and endur-
ance under adversely: tenacity Of pur-
pose, and deep devotion to principle,
their free exercise by worrying circum-
stances, from the deep footings of all
true manhood, and mate integrity. To
have pass out of our life such daily
contact with qualities we admire and
draw courage from is a great personal
loss, even tho in the natural course, it
be but temporary.
But, we know, no man lives in vain.
we all from the least to the greatest,
leave an influence of personality some
where and with some one when we de-
part to the truer and freer life await
ing US.
pective. 1t both tends to comfort here,
while we await our own summons and
it gives us the certainty of a sane,
holy and valid hope. 1t makes strong
and prepares our own weak humanity
for Drawer efforts in time. and trains
us to higher aspirations and exercises
of the Spiritual vision.
We know, as a great thinker has said
that the Dead want from us Love-
not Lamentation; that to wear our per-
sonal bereavements on our sleeves, in
suits them who have passed, and makes
us nuisance to our kind"
So l can say to my friend who has
proceeded me, you leave no despair in
our hearts, rather a rejoicing in your
advancement-in your release from the
cares and anxieties which still Cypress
US who await; yours is the peace, and
the fullness of possession and eternal
advancement. In the memory of all
that was good and beautiful, kind and
generous, is our stronghold; in your
clean manhood and self sacrifices; in
your absolute forgetfulness of self, in
your devotion to friendship in it's high
est sense, in all these and more, you
have left us an heritage worth WHILE
and for yourself the truest epitaph that
Fare thee we'll, dear friend, for lit
tie while.
HoRAT1o GATES.
Willmar, Nov. IS, 1918.
the past thirty-five years have had
the pleasure of knowing Mr. Alton
Crosby and have frequently been asso-
ciated with him in various activities,
ana | always found him public spirit
ed citizen and a courteous gentleman
AS his successor in the post office, I can
testify from frst-hand knowledge that
ne made a very efficient and painstaking
loss to the community in which he has
spent almost his entire working life
Senator P. A. Gandrud.-Alton Crosby
was one of my best and truest friends
MS truthfulness, honor, frankness, in
dustry, Kindness, good cheer and spirit
OF loyalty to his friends will ever re-
main pleasing heritage to those who
knew him. AS newspaper editor it
always seemed to me that he was alb
solutely clean and honorable.
W. M: Chase.-My first impressions of
Alton Crosby were never changed in
my fourteen years Of business associa-
tiQn with him. In fact they were only
strengthened and verified.
man of sterling integrity deep sin
cerity, generous almost to a fault and
an ardent lover of honor
Gov. A. E. Rice-Alton Crosby as a
man and citizen was by nature and
habit courteous, kind, generous, sympa-
thetic. charitable, just.
sive rather than imperative. A kind
neighbor, a good citizen and a splendid
public official.
There is reaper whose name is death.
- And with his sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain at breath,
And the flowers that grew between"
M. D. Manning.-I have known Alton
Crosby for the past. forty years. He
was man of cheerful genial DISPOSE
ton, generous and charitable In his
death, Willmar looses pioneer and
patriotic citizen his family kind hus-
band and father.
Mayor E. c. Wellin-The late Alton
Crosby was a typical good fellow and a
good citizen. Always ready to do his
share for a worthy cause, active and
enterprising in all civic affairs. In him
the community has lost good man.
Judge T. o. Gilbert.--Alton Crosby
is with US no more. Another of the
pioneers, whose names are so intimately
cnnOeCted with the early history of our
city and county, and whose ranks are
so rapidly diminishing, has passed away
They rest from their labors, but their
accomplishments, whether in the material
progress or in the moulding of the senti-
ment of the community, will ever be
remembered and is an inseparable part
Of the history of the county. Alton
Crosby was no financier and he leaves
no fortune; but he leaves that which
is worth infinitely more: The fond mem
DRY of a loyal friend, good citizen anC
| big-heartedneSs that was exceptional
AS such he will be sadly missed.
Russell Spicer.-A real and sincere
expression of regret and sympathy pre-
| walls by reason of Mr.. Crosby's death
| This is not mere sentimentalism but fol
| his real worth and. value as a man.
His generous disposition and deeI
sincerity coupled with his many many
acts of real human character will b.
| long remembered.
| B. Qvale-The late Mr. Alton eros
by will be greatly missed by all Of oul