Brush - William Tell - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

William Tell Brush died yesterday morning at 8 o’clock at his residence on south Water street. At 1 o’clock in the morning those who were with him perceived that the end of his long suffering was very near and his relatives were called to his side. He sank quite easily and when death came it came upon him as a gentle sleep to one long worn by a weary contest. It had been known for several months that he could not recover and he knew it, but so strong and withal so cheerful was the struggle he made against the progress of the diseases besetting him that at times he appeared the conqueror of the inevitable. For the last few days, however, his death was expected to occur at any hour. Mr. Brush’s health began to fail him about a year ago but it was not until after his return from his annual camping out at the Pine Hills in August that his condition became at all alarming. In September he made a trip to West Baden trusting that the waters there would result in his relief, he being troubled with a disease of the kidneys and an organic affliction of the heart. He soon returned, however, unrelieved and continued to grow worse although he went about the pursuit of his business as usual. On December 17 he first settled down at his home to engage in the weary and fruitless contest for his life which followed. After that day he never left home, but sat most of the time in his great arm chair in which he died. The funeral will occur from the family residence on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the services to be conducted by Rev. Dr. Leech and Rev. Dr. Thomson. The interment will take place at Oak Hill cemetery, under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias, of which order he was a member. William Tell Brush was born at Waveland, March 23, 1844, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Blakely Brush. He attended the schools of that place and in 1865 was graduated from the Waveland Collegiate Institute. Before his graduation he had served for some time in the Union army in Company G, 133rd Indiana Regiment, and as a soldier made an excellent record. In 1866 Mr. Brush came to Crawfordsville and began studying law with Thomson & Ristine, being admitted to the bar that same year. He was soon thereafter elected as prosecutor of the common pleas court. From 1869 to 1872 he was city attorney and also from 1888 to 1892. He had an enviable reputation as an aggressive and successful lawyer and was at different times associated in the practice with P.S. Kennedy, R.B.F. Pierce and E.C. Snyder. At the time of his death he was attorney for the Vandalia Railroad, the Citizens Bank, the Hoosier Building Association and the Indiana and Ohio Live Stock Insurance Company. In politics Mr. Brush was an ardent Republican and was always a hard worker. He served as a member of the Republican State Central Committee and his advice was always regarded as an authority. Mr. Brush was married to Miss Julia Powers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Powers, September 8, 1867. Mrs. Brush died two years ago next November. No children were born to them, but they raised with parental care Mrs. George Thomson, of Chicago, and Miss Ella Brewer who resided with her uncle at the time of his death. He leaves two sisters and one brother, J.C. Brush of Chicago, Mrs. S. M. Low of Indianapolis and Mrs. Henry S. Kritz of Waveland. In his home and social life Mr. Brush was at his best. Kind, genial and frank he attracted and held warm friends and his society was courted. He was a leading member of the Kingfisher Camping Club and was the life of that organization. He was a strong man in every sphere of action he entered and was a man whose characteristic fairness and fearlessness made him respected and admired. Hon. P. S. Kennedy with whom he was so long associated in the practice of the law this morning said of him: “As a business lawyer William T. Brush had few equals anywhere. He was always prompt, painstaking and reliable; and while his knowledge of the book was not so great as that of many others, he had an innate sense of justice and right that usually lead him to correct conclusions without the aid of precedents. In business affairs was always genial and pleasant but especially when acting for others. In the preparation and trial of causes, he was always regarded by those engaged with him as tactical, full of resources and highly useful. His word with his brethren of the bar in the practice was as good as a bond, for no one ever knew of his failure to abide strictly by any arrangement he had agreed to. During the last twenty years he has been engaged in many important cases, both in this and adjoining counties, as well as in the Supreme Court and it is the uniform judgment of his compeers that his work was always done well.” -- Thanks muches to Sue P.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday 30 April 1897