y56 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



age of the soil. After a few years he became florist and seedsman in 

 Kansas City, and later, took the more active field of horticulture, and 

 achieved success with gardening — making small fruits a specialty. When 

 the growing city extended her arms around his property, he sold out 

 and removed to Springfield, in Greene County, where the last years of 

 life have passed in real content and comparative ease. 



He was a man well known and never forgotten wherever he lived, 

 and highly appreciated by all who recognize merit. Among the strong- 

 est characteristics of his life, was an uncompromising honesty, which 

 made him the noblest workmanship of God. He, too, was an active, 

 valuable and esteemed member of the horticultural societies — our Mis- 

 souri State Horticultural Society, the Missouri Valley and Greene Coun- 

 ty Horticultural Society, at the time of his death. He was proverbial 

 for promptness, conciseness, and the absence of superfluity in all work 

 for these societies. He was a man who lived for the future as well as 

 the present, and full of large, sure hope of eternal life. He left us in 

 September last, and while we trust he has a rest and rich reward," we 

 shall long miss him, but never forget him, in the business and social re- 

 lations of this Society. 



Resolved, That in the history of our Society it has been rare that 

 two of its best workers have gone out from us nearly together, and when 

 we could so poorly spare them, and that it is with the most profound re- 

 gret and sorrow of our hearts we part with such friends and brothers we 

 loved so well, and yet, with gratitude equally sincere, we thank the Great 

 Giver of such men, that we had them so long. 



Resolved, 2nd, That this Society will ever cherish in dearest mem- 

 ories, the names, life work and sweet friendships of Maj. Z. S. Ragan and 

 W. M. Hopkins among us, and that their example as rare meh shall in- 

 fluence our lives of work and association toward the highest possible 

 imitation of all that was good, noble and pure in their example. 



Resolved, jd. That in token of perpetual memory in this Society, a 

 page of its record shall be dedicated to each of our departed friends. 



D. S. HOLMAN, 



Chairman of Committee. 



