Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-04-01
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF
MAJOR FRED II. REED.
Extracts from Remarks of Guy Elem
ner at Memorial Exercises, Cham
Der Of Commerce, Boise March
25, 1921

y
poor powers of speech would permi
= me to express and no tribute of min
T. would add to your minds singl,
beautiful sentiment respecting our de
parted friend. So the thought | hat
) in mind was to briefly and informally
\ give YOU some personal touches from
s the vast store house Of memories as
precious as any that ever warmed the
, heart or entrenched themselves in the
r mind OF snan.
Major Reed was very close to me
, For many years we have been in al
most constant contact. AS high as ]
held him in esteem az friend of
mine. | held him in still higher regard
because he was the friend of all who
struggled TO better their conditions and
build up their communities and their
state We had some business matters
3 In common. Of more concern however
as development for the public than
! to us personally that were discussed
In my office with the Major on Friday
preceding his death the following
! Monday night He was in good spirits.
He told me that the silver lining was
showing for him and that he felt no
longer concerned as to his personal
needs and could devote his time to
aiding in the upbuilding of Idaho and
the west And permit me to digress to
say that Major Reed had not always
been so comfortable as to his personal
needs He presented at all times a
front Of prosperity that was often a
fiction honestly dealt in because he
did not want people to be concerned
about him but about what he was doing
Few ever knew, ever will know the
privations to which he subjected him
self the hardships he underwent. the
demands he met at such great cost. |
vet without n complaint, while cheer |
fully enthusiastically performing mis-
sions for the public and for individuals
-unselfishly devoting his great ener-
gies to monumental service for others
while neglecting himself screening his
personal circumstances from view and
rejecting every offer, and they were
many and tempting, that would have
directed him to new friends and de-
prived the public of the benefits of his
efforts although lining with velvet his
own nest.
HIS LIVING MONUMENT
More free, then, to go on with his
IN New York the major was in fine
iettic' II was in connection, i'm part,
with some matters we discussed that
leit almost Immediately on a trip
ina whlle gone received a wire on the
ram telling me of his passage It was.
hueeo, blow. With bowed head and
le'rt benumed read the message
iSain and again. AS my eyes lifted
rom the terrible words TO the outdoors
so chanced that the train was pass II
ns through new territory. New l.
md being brought under cultivation. In
ouses were being built here and there OF
citing another irrigation project. X
IN an instant my keen grief was ~
'ssened. The tears dried up on the ~
Yields. The deep gloom that had =,
xed itself upon my mind was dis ~
elled as I looked upon that picture III
nd realized that | witnessed the ful- vi
liment in part of the life work of NV
ear friend and comrade and 'pard"-
IS living monument; new homes for
hers. although he had none homes a,
" inc restless and discontinued and -
homes. the MULTIPLICATION y,
whlch he knew meant the best
curity for the foundation OF Ameri- Oh
m civilization and American govern ri
ent ba
II was his deathless devotion 10 Sa
is task of making homes that en- hi,
AIRED MS all to him for through IL all ar
ere was disclosed the loyal heart In
active brain. the unselfish soul. fol
@ sterling man the hand OF true
endshir. Surely a grand character
III none has ever risen in Idaho. at
ISL VINO held so securely the affec-
ms OF the peblic. / can recall the WI
ssinS OF no man in this statewhose wa
: mas been so Universally regretted Pc
TO whom higher tribute has been hu
Id at the Preside and in public places a.,
II was in such localities as the -.
rth Side Twin Falls Tract. for in "
nee. that Major Reeds worth an thu III
End OF the Individual and his state 30
: so splenddly manifested. IL was WI
Iiscouraeing proposition. There had mo
n delays in water delivery. Brave val
ana women had lost heart ana sup
re- ready to give II up and go back
'he old life. Major Reed moved
onS them constantly. He took food +,
clothing and magazines and to-
co--ond his wonderful optimism and con
fiAuihess- ltS tough, folks, / h'c
W. he told them but stick. You'i ado
= And those who stuck. and most abl,
them did. won--won because of ing
or Reeds timely and helpful coun- poe
and practical aid wiz
GOD BLESS YOU nr,s
ist one OF many Illustrations OF his 80
stentationus pesonal service. An -
1 woman budding at night beside ''''
'or sagebrush f;lc. The 'mcn folks"
tod the major and myself, who had
sht refuge there from the storm haj ct
returned. sac was poorly clad. 10.
complained bitterly Of conditions.
heir hard lot ma the cherries. Illus
ouilo,S. The major NOR
T.r6 into the tdioiiino rom, 80 Loul
rs warm und srvear and handed
~ woman Pct en- on mother"
aid. She reluctantly accepted the
/. retired AM came lack TO re
7.ih. The major rode back to Jc 'eeh
chilled to The hone. The ncxt md
ht sent the poor woman a couple ,een
Al faf f.f. \