Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Staley, Charles W. 1909
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net March 28, 2011, 11:20 am

Lyons Herald, 29 Apr 1909

Charles W. Staley was born at Stafford, Genesee county, New York, March 24, 
1832, and died at Lyons April 23, 1909.  His parents were Valentine and Mary 
Hamilton Staley.  He moved with his mother to Lyons in 1856.  His mother died 
in 1882 at Muir.

Mr. Staley was united in marriage to Lucinda M. Bander November 25, 1863.  Of 
this union four children were born, W. Eugene of Carnegie, Pa., Wm. Fay, of 
Portland, Oregon, Geo. W. of Lyons and Mrs. Thos. Ferguson of Little Falls, N.Y.

Deceased has been a resident of Lyons for over fifty-three years, during all of 
which time he was held in the highest esteem by every person with whom he came 
in contact.  He was a man of unimpeachable integrity and any man could count it 
an honor to have him for a friend.  Except for his last illness of several 
weeks he has always been as rugged as an oak and one of the most industrious 
men in the community.

His every duty was performed with unselfish devotion to the right and his 
life’s work is the grandest monument that can be erected to his memory.

The following tribute was written by Henry Hitchcock, a long time friend of 
deceased.

“In the death of our neighbor and townsman, Charles W. Staley, the family are 
bereft a kind father, cheerful companion and one whose counsels were of 
greatest value.  His lifetime was devoted to those whom he loved; his beautiful 
home was carved out of the primeval forest by himself, and for a period of half 
a century it has been his steady aim to build up and beautify it, and the happy 
home-coming of his children, who were devoted to their parents and delighted 
with their home, suffer an irreparable loss.  His neighbors and friends have 
lost a genial companion and a hospitality that will long be remembered.  The 
highest encomium that can be pronounced is that he was a good citizen and an 
honest man, but death, the great harvester, has removed him from our midst 
after having rounded out an honorable life of over 77 years, and he has now 
entered into the mystery of death. 

As was said by another:  ‘In the democracy of death all men at least are 
equal.  There is neither rank or station nor prerogative in the republic of the 
grave.  At their fatal threshold the philosopher ceased to be wise and the song 
of the poet is silent.  At that fatal threshold Dives? relinquishes his 
millions and Lazarus his rags.  The poor man is as rich as the richest and the 
rich man is as poor as the pauper.  The creditor loses his usury and the debtor 
is acquitted of his obligation.  The great man surrenders his dignity, the 
politician his honors, the worldling his pleasures.  Here the invalid needs no 
physician and the laborer rests from toil.  Here, at least, is nature’s final 
decree in equity.  The wrongs of time are redressed and injustice is expiated.  
The unequal distribution of wealth, of honor, capacity for pleasure, and 
opportunity, which makes life so cruel and inexplicable a tragedy, ceases, in 
the realm of death.  The strongest has there no supremacy, and the weakest 
needs no defense.  The mightiest captain succumbs to that inevitable adversary 
who disarms alike the victor and the vanquished.’”
	
The funeral was held at the house Monday afternoon and was largely attended.  
Rev. W. W. Hurd and Rev. Wm. Judd officiated.  The floral offerings were many 
and in their silence and beauty testified to the love his many friends had for 
him.  The pall bearers were W. C. Hawley, E. B. Hale, L. H. Hale, J. P. Brown, 
M. E. Brown and C. J. VanEllen.  Interment in Lyons cemetery.


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