116. MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
OBITUARIES FOR 1897. 
(REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON OBITUARIES, J. S. HARRIS, Ch’n.) 
In the year that has passed since the last annual meeting, our 
society has sustained greater losses, in the death of our associates 
and prominent members, than in any former like period since its 
organization. Among those we are called upon to chronicle at this 
time are, Martin W. Cook and M. J. Hoag, of Rochester, George W. 
Clark, of Winona, Wm. E. Brimhall, of California, (formerly of St, 
Paul, Minn.), Wm. Urie, of Minneapolis, Warren W. Pendergast, of 
Hutchinson, E. J. Cutts, of Howard Lake, M. Pearce, of Chowan, and 
Wm. Danforth, of Red Wing. These worthy friends, like many 
others who have devoted time, talent and labor, and many of them 
the best years of their lives, in aiding in the building up of this 
society, until it has become one of the strongest and most influen- 
tial and useful institutions of the state, who have so ably aided in 
the development of the fruit interests of the northwest and trans- 
forming a wilderness into gardens of fruits and flowers, have fin- 
ished their labors and gone to receive their reward. Thus one after 
another of the old veterans who have stood with us bravely battling 
against discouragements and disasters, often defeated but never 
conquered, are passing away, and ere long all of the founders and 
early supporters of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society will 
have finished their work and joined the countless millions of the 
departed. While we mourn their loss,and sorrow that we can no 
more look into their faces or feel the joyful thrill of the cordial 
handshake, and we miss them inour councils, we trust they are par- 
taking of the fruits from the tree of life that perish not with use. 
We point with pride to the noble works of these brave, self-denying 
men, who have labored so faithfully to make the world better, and 
the farm and village homes beautiful with horticultural adornments 
and happy in the enjoyment of an abundance of the best fruits of 
the earth. They have laid the foundations broad and deep upon 
which a structure is being built that shall endure through all time, 
In the midst of our sorrow we rejoice in their works that do live after 
them. 
Martin W. Cook became a member of the society about 1877, and 
died at his home in Rochester, March 6th, 1897, aged 70 years. (See. 
Report of 1897, page 133, for biography and obituary notice). 
Geo. W. Clark became a member in 1875, and died at Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he was receiving medical treatment, August 3rd, 1897, 
aged about 71 years. Geo. W. Clark was one of the pioneer settlers 
of Winona county, and opened the first farm in the town of Winona, 
in the spring of 1852, and planted one of the first apple orchards in 
the state, and was for a number of years a prominent exhibitor of 
fruit at our state fairs. His residence during the later years of his 
life was in the city of Winona. 
Wm. E. Brimhall became a member of the society in 1868, and died 
in California in July, 1897,aged 72 years. (For biography, see report 
of 1897, pages 253 and 338.) 
M. J. Hoag became a member in 1876, and died at his home on 
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