Guy, Charles Bertram 1813 - 1894

GUY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/24/2013 at 21:26:19

Postville Review, Sat., 23 June 1894.

Charles Bertram Guy died June 16th, 1894. He was born in Peacham, Caledonia Co., VT., March 24th, 1813. He had four brothers and four sisters. His father was a mechanic of ordinary skill, his mother being a very ingenius woman. From her he claimed to have inherited his genius rather than from his father. When about 18 years of age he heard of steamboats and engines, and having a strong desire to see them and learn something of the world, he, with the consent of his parents, left his home (to which he never returned) went to Boston, worked in a machine shop four years, went to Pittsburg, worked in a foundry a while, later enlisted in the Florida war, was a government employee for a time during the Mexican war, but not mustered in as a soldier. He lived in Clayton and Allamakee counties all the years since 1848. He was married to Sarah Ann Saucer Oct. 13th, 1865, who survives him.

The Review desires to say a parting word of its old friend of 19 years. He was not endowed with this world's goods, but tuday he is as rich as Jay Gould. We do not believe that Postville has a kindlier, more patriotic, upright man by nature than C. B. Guy. It was his misfortune financially that he was endowed with a measure of inventive genius, as he gave all his time and means in that direction and some sharper and less honest financier beat him out of the fruits of his genius and toil. He was a slave to the infatuation to the last and could not throw it off. But death has come to his relief in the fullness of years, and has entered upon the dreamless sleep, wherein we trust he will find that rest and peace that the world knows not of. May the great inventer of the universe give him pleasurable employment through unending ages. And so goodbye.

The funeral was held from the Congregational church on Monday afternoon, Rev. B. D. Smith officiating.

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Notes:

Below are a few news items found in the Postville Review of various dates concerning Charles Bertram Guy, and perhaps explaining the editors comments in his obituary;

23 June 1894...A sufficient fund was raised to give Mr. Guy as good a burial as anyone need desire.

23 July 1892...C. B. Guy's latest invention is a mop wringer. It is simple and cheap, and if it works all right it ought to be a good thing.

2 Feb. 1889...BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, January Session...The following bills were allowed to people of Post township...Skelton & McEwen, supplies for pauper C. B. Guy, $21.68; Skelton & McEwen, supplies for pauper C. B. Guy, $25.27.

31 Dec. 1887...One of the most laudable Christmas presents that we have heard of was that originated by Charley Abel and John Havirland. Saturday evening they spent a few minutes and raised $20.00, with which they purchased flour, groceries, etc. and presented, together with a small sum of money, to C. B. Guy, who has been laid up with rheumatism all winter and was in straightened circumstances. It is living in such a community, where mankind has a care for his brother man, that causes us to think that life is not all dreary waste, and that there is a little of the milk of human kindness in humanity after all. Warren Stiles and Enos Ervin had provided wood, and now the old people will be enabled to get through the winter comparitively comfortable. And all will realize that is more blessed to give than to receive.

See the death notice/obit of Mrs. C. B. Guy died 1913.

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Submitter is not related.

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