Ohio History Journal

  • 1
  •  
  • 2
  •  

Editorialana

Editorialana.                       249

 

where we shall regard him with worshipful admiration and reverence.

Though decorated with all the honors a nation-a world-could bestow,

there shines through all the man-the noble spotless man.

There is no incident in history to our mind like that journey from

Washington to Canton of the funeral train. The catafalque, upon which

rested the body of the illustrious dead, occupied the center of a spacious

car-the sides of which were glass. It was brilliantly lighted at night,

so that for a long distance the interior of the car and its hallowed con-

tents were plainly visible. As that train sped on through the darkness

of night-winding its way over hill and through dale and past the busy

haunts of men-all spectators gazed silently and sadly at the strange and

solmen sight. Vast numbers in dense cities crowded to the track and in

bared heads and bated breath stood by. And in the open country-in the

gloom of midnight-and the gray of the early dawn, the begrimed miner,

the belated traveler,-the sleepless farmer,-on the hillside-in the valley,

stood motionless or fell on bended knee and uncovered in reverent sorrow

as the bright passing light of that car interior spread its rays athwart the

adjacent fields. Will not the stainless life; the honorable deeds and shining

character of that man shed their sweet influence throughout our nation,

and bring cheer and courage to generations yet unborn-not only in this

land, but throughout the wide, wide world?

"Unbounded courage and compassion joined,

Tempering each other in the victor's mind,

Alternately proclaim him good and great,

And make the hero and man complete."

 

 

ISRAEL WILLIAMS.

Hon. Israel Williams one of the earliest members of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society and for many years one of its trus-

tees, died September 9, 1901. at the St. James Hotel, Denver, Colorado,

where he was temporarily stopping, being engaged in looking after ex-

tensive mining investments in which he was interested.

Isreal Williams was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 24,

1827. His parents were William and Mary Marker Williams. Subsequent

to their settlement in Montgomery county the family removed to Cham-

paign county, where Israel, one of the nine children, spent his boyhood

days. He received his early education in the country schools until the age

of eighteen; then left the farm and taught school to obtain means to

pay for further education. Attended the high school at Springfield and the

college at Granville, now Dennison University; graduated at Farmer's

College in 1853; read law with Gunckel and Strong at Dayton, Ohio, and

graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1855 in which year he was

also admitted to the bar. In 1856 he took up his residence in Hamilton,