RALPH A. MILLS

MILLS

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 1/13/2002 at 21:27:48

Leon Reporter
September l9, l895

At his home in Osceola, Nebraska, on
Thursday, Sept. 5, l895, the golden
cord of life was severed and like the anthem
of a breeze the spirit of
RALPH A. MILLS passed away.

RALPH A. MILLS was born at Leon, Iowa,
Nobember 8, l875, at the time of
his demise being l9 years, 9 months and 28
days of age. He was a
graduate of the Osceola High School in the
class of l895, being the
youngest member who has ever graduated from
that educational
institution. He was a member of the Alumni,
that organization attending
the funeral in a body, and the second member
whose loss the society is
called upon to mourn.

The deceased had been troubled for some time
previous to his death with
appendicitis and while this is without doubt
the primary cause of his
death, yet the end came as a direct result of
too hard work at the
recent Osceola fire. All aid was given the
sufferer that medical
knowledge and skill and the loving attention
of friends could bestow,
but the system was too weak and after several
days of excruciating pain
the end came.

On Saturday, September 7th, at ll a.m. the
funeral services were held
from the family residence, Rev. A.B. Whitney,
of the M.E. Church,
delivered an eloquent and feeling address,
after which the remains were
conveyed to the Lawn Ridge Cemetery. They
were attended by the Osceola
Cornet band--of which deceased was a
member--the Alumni and the
sorrowing relatives and friends. The pall
bearers were all young men,
associates, members of the Alumni. With
floral decorations the casket
was covered, some of the most beautiful being
a gift from his former
school mates.

The flower of the family has gone, the
favorite of all alike; ever kind,
affectionate and considerate of the feelings
of those about him.
The brothers and sisters will miss him
equally as great as the parents,
for if there were ever any troubles or trials
it was RALPH who was
appealed to as arbitrator. He was a young
man of mature years in
judgment. In body he was not strong
especially during the past three or
four years, during which time he assisted his
father in the law office,
having entire charge of certain lines of the
business. His
individuality was stamped upon his
intelligent face and the lines of
thought and character were clearly and
strongly defined. His character
was marked and decided. He was firm and
prompt, manly and independent.
His sentiments were noble and elevated, and
everything mean or groveling
was foreign to his nature. He was easy in
his manners, and affable and
dignified. His attachments were warm and
enduring; he manifested his
affections with deep earnestness and
sincerity. He was kind, generous
and charitable; honest and frank, faithful to
every friend. He never
shrank from the performance of his duty,
however painful it might be.
He possessed pride of character in no
ordinary degree. His devotion to
the loved ones whom he leaves behind was but
the natural outburst of
such a man as he. In short, he was fitted to
be loved and respected.

The home is in mourning, the first time that
death has made its call,
but to the parents and relatives the
community offers its earnest
sympathy and most tender feelings.

--OSCEOLA, (NEB.) DEMOCRAT.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
January l3, 2002