This just in, from the bore the fuck out of you department. Of course, if you come here, you know what you are in for.
My mom just sent me the obit of my great uncle. There is some kind of interesting stuff in it. Let's just say that I would have gotten along with him just fine.
THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN -- CAPTAIN NATHAN WILLARD IS NO MORE
We have passed a day by the bedside of a dying man and have seen his eyes closed in a last long sleep.
Captain Nathan Willard has gone. He died yesterday afternoon at four oclock, surrounded by many sorrowing friends.
Captain Willard was born in Crawford County, Illinois, near the town of Dudley, on the 14th of October, 1822. His childhood and youth and early manhood were passed in the county of his birth, devoted to the rough and hardy toil of a farmers life, incident to the past generation, which thoroughly developed his physique; and when he grew to manhoods estate, we have heard it said he was the handsomest man in Illinois.
He was married in the county of his birth to a most estimable lady, who has been a helpmeed to him in life and who survives him.
Mr. Willard devoted much of his early reading to legal works, and recited after a time to Judge McDougall, one of the first lawyers in Illinois, afterwards senator in Congress from California, under whose tuition Mr. Willard was admitted to the bar. He removed, soon after his marriage, to the adjoining county of Clark, when he engaged in the practice of his profession. He at once took a high rank as a practitioner, particularly as a criminal lawyer, seeming to have a splendid talent for that branch of the profession.
In 1848 he began the publication of the Illinois State Democrat, at Marshall, which soon ranked among the leading papers of that state. He continued the publication till 1856, when he sold the establishment to S. S. Whitehead.
In 1856 Mr. Willard was elected to the legislature of Illinois, from Clark County, and distinguished himself in the session of the following winter, and among other achievements secured the passage of the charter of the Eagle Insurance Company, with banking privileges, of which he was an original incorporator. It is now one of the most useful institutions in that state.
In the winter of 1860 Mr. Willard removed to Evansville and in conjunction with Mr. S. S. Whitehead, purchased the Evansville Enquirer from the present editor of this paper. He continued the publication till after the presidential election of 1860, in which he was an ardent supporter of the lamented Stephen A. Douglas, when the publication suspended.
Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, in the spring of 1861, Mr. Willard was one of the first men to enlist in the union army. In conjunction with Captain Noah S. Thompson, he raised the first volunteer company which went out of Vanderburgh County. It was attached to the Fourteenth Regiment. Thompson was made captain and Willard, first lieutenant. Captain Thompson soon resigned his commission, and Willard succeeded to the command of the company. Although beloved and almost idolized by the soldiers, Captain Willard never attained a higher rank, Governor Morton refusing to give him a commission because he was an unflinching democrat.
But he fought gallantly at the head of his company, commanding at Cheat Mountain, Green Brier, Winchester, Antietam, Gettysburg, and finally was severely wounded in the battle of the Winderness, which wound disabled him for life. He was shortly afterward discharged from the service.
After the expiration of his term of service, President Lincoln, who had known him in Illinois, commissioned him as brigade commissary of subsistence, and he was assigned to service with the Nineteenth Army Corps, under Sherman, and followed that officer in his famous march to the sea. Although retired from the service at Goldsboro, North Carolina, (by request of Morton), he was not disturbed, but continued with his brigade to Louisville, Ky., where all were mustered out of service, the war being over. The disgraceful order, obtained by Morton, was afterward set aside and Captain Willard honorably discharged from service.
In the summer of 1864, Captain Willard was at home, and was nominated by his democratic friends for judge of the common pleas court. He was elected in October, but being then with Shermans army, could not qualify for the office, and a vacancy was declared to exist which was filled by the appointment of Judge Pitcher.
In the spring of 1868, Captain Willard was nominated by the democracy and elected police judge of this city. He acquitted himself in a manner to win the highest praise from men of all parties. He raised the recorders court to an honorable distinction.
Judge Willard leaves behind him a widow and five children three sons and two daughters. All except the youngest son have grown to the estate of manhood and womanhood. None are married. The deep sorrow the survivors manifested at the fathers deathbed was the highest praise that could be bestowed upon the memory of the departed.
In private life, Judge Willard was a kind friend, and earnestly devoted to his family. As a public man, he was a working democrat and an upright magistrate. We cannot say enough in his praise.
Society has lost in his demise, a worthy member. His family has lost more than they realize, though they are in deep affliction. To his memory we may personally say,
Green be the turf above thee,
Kind friend of former days;
None knew thee but to love thee.
None named thee but in praise.
My mom just sent me the obit of my great uncle. There is some kind of interesting stuff in it. Let's just say that I would have gotten along with him just fine.
THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN -- CAPTAIN NATHAN WILLARD IS NO MORE
We have passed a day by the bedside of a dying man and have seen his eyes closed in a last long sleep.
Captain Nathan Willard has gone. He died yesterday afternoon at four oclock, surrounded by many sorrowing friends.
Captain Willard was born in Crawford County, Illinois, near the town of Dudley, on the 14th of October, 1822. His childhood and youth and early manhood were passed in the county of his birth, devoted to the rough and hardy toil of a farmers life, incident to the past generation, which thoroughly developed his physique; and when he grew to manhoods estate, we have heard it said he was the handsomest man in Illinois.
He was married in the county of his birth to a most estimable lady, who has been a helpmeed to him in life and who survives him.
Mr. Willard devoted much of his early reading to legal works, and recited after a time to Judge McDougall, one of the first lawyers in Illinois, afterwards senator in Congress from California, under whose tuition Mr. Willard was admitted to the bar. He removed, soon after his marriage, to the adjoining county of Clark, when he engaged in the practice of his profession. He at once took a high rank as a practitioner, particularly as a criminal lawyer, seeming to have a splendid talent for that branch of the profession.
In 1848 he began the publication of the Illinois State Democrat, at Marshall, which soon ranked among the leading papers of that state. He continued the publication till 1856, when he sold the establishment to S. S. Whitehead.
In 1856 Mr. Willard was elected to the legislature of Illinois, from Clark County, and distinguished himself in the session of the following winter, and among other achievements secured the passage of the charter of the Eagle Insurance Company, with banking privileges, of which he was an original incorporator. It is now one of the most useful institutions in that state.
In the winter of 1860 Mr. Willard removed to Evansville and in conjunction with Mr. S. S. Whitehead, purchased the Evansville Enquirer from the present editor of this paper. He continued the publication till after the presidential election of 1860, in which he was an ardent supporter of the lamented Stephen A. Douglas, when the publication suspended.
Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, in the spring of 1861, Mr. Willard was one of the first men to enlist in the union army. In conjunction with Captain Noah S. Thompson, he raised the first volunteer company which went out of Vanderburgh County. It was attached to the Fourteenth Regiment. Thompson was made captain and Willard, first lieutenant. Captain Thompson soon resigned his commission, and Willard succeeded to the command of the company. Although beloved and almost idolized by the soldiers, Captain Willard never attained a higher rank, Governor Morton refusing to give him a commission because he was an unflinching democrat.
But he fought gallantly at the head of his company, commanding at Cheat Mountain, Green Brier, Winchester, Antietam, Gettysburg, and finally was severely wounded in the battle of the Winderness, which wound disabled him for life. He was shortly afterward discharged from the service.
After the expiration of his term of service, President Lincoln, who had known him in Illinois, commissioned him as brigade commissary of subsistence, and he was assigned to service with the Nineteenth Army Corps, under Sherman, and followed that officer in his famous march to the sea. Although retired from the service at Goldsboro, North Carolina, (by request of Morton), he was not disturbed, but continued with his brigade to Louisville, Ky., where all were mustered out of service, the war being over. The disgraceful order, obtained by Morton, was afterward set aside and Captain Willard honorably discharged from service.
In the summer of 1864, Captain Willard was at home, and was nominated by his democratic friends for judge of the common pleas court. He was elected in October, but being then with Shermans army, could not qualify for the office, and a vacancy was declared to exist which was filled by the appointment of Judge Pitcher.
In the spring of 1868, Captain Willard was nominated by the democracy and elected police judge of this city. He acquitted himself in a manner to win the highest praise from men of all parties. He raised the recorders court to an honorable distinction.
Judge Willard leaves behind him a widow and five children three sons and two daughters. All except the youngest son have grown to the estate of manhood and womanhood. None are married. The deep sorrow the survivors manifested at the fathers deathbed was the highest praise that could be bestowed upon the memory of the departed.
In private life, Judge Willard was a kind friend, and earnestly devoted to his family. As a public man, he was a working democrat and an upright magistrate. We cannot say enough in his praise.
Society has lost in his demise, a worthy member. His family has lost more than they realize, though they are in deep affliction. To his memory we may personally say,
Green be the turf above thee,
Kind friend of former days;
None knew thee but to love thee.
None named thee but in praise.
neodrunk:
to many words... why don't you put all that into a one sentence synopsis, and i'll consider reading then. my attention span is short.
