Oakland, Edward R. (1880-1904)

OAKLAND

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Webster City Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, February 4, 1904

Obituary of Edward Oakland

"Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud,
Like a swift flying meteor, a fast flying cloud.
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passeth from life to his rest in the grave."

The truth of the above stanza has once more been realized in the death of Edward Oakland who passed away in the strength of his young manhood. He was born in De Kalb county, Ill., Jan. 13, 1879 [his headstone reads Jan. 13, 1880], but spent the greater part of his life near Blairsburg. He had completed a course in the Blairsburg high school, and was pursuing a course in the Iowa State college at Ames. While spending his vacation at home, he was taken sick with the measles which resulted in pneumonia and other fatal complications. He passed away Friday Jan. 22 at 9:30 in the evening. He was buried from the Congregational church in the Blairsburg cemetery to wait the summons of the judgment day.

Edward Oakland was a model young man in every respect. He was a careful and painstaking student. He was, withal, a pure and clean young man. His life was white. He never knew ought but virtue. No evil habits ever found harbor with him. He was a member of the Congregational church. In his last sickness he sang "Rock of Ages, cleft for me" and "Just as I am". He urged all the members of the family to read the bible more, and remember their need of Christ in their life. His sad and untimely death cast a dark shadow upon the entire community. He will be deeply missed by his many young friends, but most of all by his mother and father, his brothers and sisters.

We ask "was his life a failure?" It was not. In the sight of God it has been a good success. It accomplished what God intended it should. He has been an example, and others will want to emulate his noble and pure life. It is not length of days that determines the true value of a life.

"We live in deeds, not years,
"In thoughts not breaths
In feelings not in figures on a dial
We should count time by heart throbs
He most lives, who thinks most, fells the noblest, acts the best."

Any life that is noble is a success, however short and his was noble, pure and virtuous, and worthy of emulation. His many sterling qualities, his fine morals, his noble face, his strong intellect, his manly integrity, and his upright christian character will ever be fresh in the memory of his associates, and will stir them up to nobler and purer living.

[son of Enock Oakland]