REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBITUAAY, I9O4. I69 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBITUARY, 1904. 



O. F. BRAND^ CHAIRMAN. 



Resolved, That now we pause for a moment from the rush- 

 ing activities of commercialism to pay a deserved tribute of re- 

 spect to three of our life members, who, since our last meeting, 

 have laid down the burden of this existence and passed onward 

 to the higher life. We will not say that any of them are dead, 

 for there is no death. 



L. M. Ford passed over at his home in San Diego, Cal., in 

 the early part of 1904. Bro. Ford came to St. Paul in an early 

 day and started a nursery and greenhouse very soon after. It 

 may be said that he was the pioneer in horticulture in Ramsey 

 county. At a very early day he became agricultural editor of the 

 St. Paul Press, and later of the Pioneer-Press. He was truly a 

 leading horticulturist of our state from thirty to forty-five years 

 ago. In 1874 he was secretary of this society and contributed 

 his full share toward its usefulness. Visiting him at his home 

 about five years ago we found him— old and alone — anxiously 

 awaiting the summons to join his life partner on the other 

 shore. To help pass away the lonely hours he was dealing in 

 cactus, of which he had every variety he could hear of on the face 

 of the earth. In his case we cannot say that we believe "kindly 

 nature did him wrong to" softly disengage the vital cord." He 

 has joined the rapidly growing band of Minnesota horticultur- 

 ists on the other side of the River of Life. 



Hon. Wm. S. Dedon passed to the higher life at his home at 

 Taylor's Falls, Nov. 28th, 1904, aged sixty-one years. He be- 

 came a life member of this society in 1896. A great lover of the 

 good and beautiful in nature his home and its surroundings al- 

 ways gave evidence that its owner was one of the noble ones of 

 earth. Brother Dedon was born in Sweden, and came to this 

 country with his parents when very young. In 1862, at the age of 

 eighteen, he enlisted in the 7th Minn. Vol. Inf. and never missed 

 a march, skirmish or battle till the war closed. He was for many 

 years in the employ of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad as 

 cruiser and land examiner. From 1890 to 1894 he served his 

 county as state senator. Then followed his work of re-assess- 

 ment of Itasca county and conducting the Pine Land Investiga- 

 tion. He was then appointed state cruiser and pine land exam- 

 iner. His work while so acting was considered the best ever 

 done for the state. He was married July 4, 1878, to Miss Louise 

 Anderson, who, with two daughters, three sons and one adopted 



