428 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



"He was a man whom bis students could respect without fearing, and 

 whom they loved for his own sake. The thought that we shall not look 

 into those kindly e.yes again nor feel the hand clasp of our friend bring* 

 up so many recollections of his merit and goodness that the pen fails to 

 keep pace with memory." 



I recall one sentence from a sermon of his, "Tell me what a young man 

 does with his leisure and I will tell you whether the blazes along his 

 life's pathway lead to the pestilential sw^amp or the mountain height." 

 This is a characteristic statement; yet I think the lines apply to him — 



"His life w'as gentle; and the elements 

 !So mixed in him that nature might 

 Stand up and say, This was a man." 



Edwin Willits by the grace of God was a Christian gentleman. His 

 memory is sweet. Remembering the beauty and goodness and blessing of 

 his life, who may not with reverence exclaim of it, "What God hath 

 wrought." 



LETTER FROM CYRUS G. LUCE. 



I am in receipt of your invitation to attend the exercises to be held at 

 the College in memory of Hon. Edwin Willits on the 19th inst. It would 

 afford me a melancholy pleasure to join with others who knew the worth 

 of our departed friend in doing honor to his memory-. 



Some men do well in some one line of life's work. Mr. Willits did well 

 in all lines. He was a success as an attorney. As a member of congress 

 he won high rank. At the Normal School his memory is treasured for his 

 many excellencies. At the Agricultural College he w'on high renown. 

 But the best work of his life was performed in the department at AVash- 

 ington. He brought to a discharge of his duties all of his powers of body 

 and mind. He walked here in untrodden paths. He was the strong man 

 who upheld the arms of the secretary. 



Largely through his diligence, skill and ability the new department 

 was made a success. Mr. Willits was not only a great man, but in all the 

 relations of life he was a good man. He w^as, in the broadest and best 

 sense, a Christian. 



He is gone, but his friends can well rejoice that his many good works 

 will live after him. 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF EDWIN WILLITS. 



DR. R. C. KEDZIE. 



My acquaintance with Edwin Willits began by letter in the latter part 

 of the sixties. 



I made his personal acquaintance in 1873 when he was a member of the 

 commission of eighteen appointed by Governor Bagley to revise the 

 State constitution, said revision to be submitted to the next legislature 

 for their approval, to be submitted by them to the vote of the people for 

 ratification or rejection. In this commission Mr. Willits was made chair- 

 man of the committee on education. He had been so long time a mem- 



