TRACY, Florizell - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The following tribute from the Attica Ledger-Tribune will be read with interest by many of our older readers. The news conveying the intelligence that Florizell Tracy, superintendent of the Ledger-Tribune printing plant had passed away in the Lutheran hospital at St. Louis, came as a shock and has spread sadness throughout the entire community. So far as earthly records will show, he has passed beyond the precipice which divides the known from the unknown world, but such record is only for the information of future generations. In the hearts and minds of the people living in this community, he still lives, because his work is enduring; his kindly counsel and advice, his genuine sympathy and help which have always been extended to those in sorrow and his optomistic views of life, will live as long as his friends live. Those who knew Zell Tracy, and enjoyed his friendship, need no obituary to acquaint them with his fine qualities. For many years assistant editor of this paper, Mr. Tracy was not only a skilled and faithful workman, but an influence for good on all those with whom he came in contact. He was, in truth, an institutuion. A man of clean life, high ideals and sensitive conscience, he was ever loyal to duty, believing as he firmly did that the call of duty was the call of God. One could not think of him as slighting a task as ever doing anything but his best. He was one of the cheeriest of souls, the possessor of a fine and true sense of humor, hopeful and optomistic and the best of company. He would be the last to wish any obtruding of his religious life on the public, but no notice of him would even approach adequacy which did not include some reference to his inner life. That he was a man of unquestioning faith all who really knew him will testify. Mr. Tracy was a Christian, not merely by profession, but in his daily life. He was always helping other people. For years he had charge of this paper's Good Fellowship fund as treasurer and worked hard and diligently for its success and that the worthy were well cared for and likewise his work as a member of the Board of Childrens' Guardians of Fountain County in which he took a great interest....Florizell Tracy, son of Joseph and Maria Tracy was born at Eaton, Ohio Dec 2, 1859. His mother died when he was two years old and shortly after the father moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana where Zell grew to manhood. He then moved to Waveland where in 1881 and with Charles Crowder published the Waveland Call. Mr. Tracy was married in Waveland in 1882 to Miss Elizabeth Foley and in 1883 moved to Wabash, Indiana where he worked at the printing business until 1885 when they moved to Paris, Ill where Mr. Tracy became foreman of the Paris Beacon, a position he held until 1916 when they moved to Attica, Mr. Tracy having acquired the JC Hegler Print Shop. In the fall of 1917 Mr. Tracy sold the shop to the writer and took over the formanship of Ledger and Tribune. His education was received in schools of Montgomery County. He was a devout member of the Methodist Church and was zealous in its welfare. Fraternally he was a member of the IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] and the Modern Woodman. He departed this life Wednesday evening, October 9th at the Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by his wife and 4 children, namely Mrs. James B. Curry St. Louis; Mrs. Frank Baker, Attica; Mrs. V.E. Mullins of Shelbyville, Ill; and Paul H. of Urbana Ill and several grandchildren, one half sister, Mrs. EE Foley of Cleveland, Ohio. As I look back through the 12 years we have worked together, as I recall the tenderness of heart so often shown in cases of misfortune; as I remember how he often braved public opinion to say a kind word for those whom he believed were oppressed; as I review the fine qualities well-hidden, as I bring to mind the perfect confidence and happy hours spent with him. Then I feel more his dues. But I know his wish. Goodbye, Zell, dear old friend, may the new mystery be happily cleared for you and the assurances given of renewal of the cherished friendships." -- kbz