Obituary.

Joseph Emmerson McKitrick was born at Tilden, Illinois (near Sparta) April 16th, 1876. He died at Olathe, Kan.. March 1st, 1894. Aged 17 years, 10 months and 14 days.

Emerson lived with his parents in Knoxville and Coin, Iowa also in Idana, Kansas, at which places his father served as pastor of the United Presbyterian church.

When twelve years of age, while living in Idana, Kansas, Emmerson made a public profession of faith in Christ and united with the church of which his father  was pastor.

Owing to ill health, his father returned to Iowa with his family, and while there Emmerson attended and graduated from the public schools at Coin, Iowa, receiving words of high commendation from his teachers.

Returning to Kansas, Emmerson entered the employ of Mr. Wolfe, in his laundry corner of 6th and State streets, Kansas City, Kansas. He remained in his employ more than a year and only resigned that he might enter school to prepare himself to become a minister of the gospel.

Mr. Wolfe regretted much to let Emmerson go, for he found him to be a person In whom he could place the utmost confidence.

On November 7th, 1893, Emmerson entered the Olathe Academy to prepare to enter the college at Sterling, Kansas the following fall.

He remained in the academy until the time of his last illness. He stood well in his classes, being bright, accurate and painstaking.

During my acquaintance with him, both in the class room and elsewhere, I always found him to a careful and industrious student, a perfect gentleman, and a christian of the highest character for truth, modest estimate of himself and conscientious devotion to duty. He was loved and respected by both classmates and teachers.

I feel that not only has the school lost a good scholar but that I have personally lost a true friend. We have given but a brief sketch of the life of Emmerson McKitrick. All who have met him, to know him, will ever bear towards him the kindness rememberance.

He was always cheerful, ready to give a kindly word and lend a helping hand whenever, by so doing, he could aid and lighten, or make pleasant the life of any of his friends.

At home he was kind and helpful, ready at all times to do all in his power to render home the pleasantest spot on earth to his mother, brothers and sister. He was the oldest member of a family of five, and dearly beloved. He was not quite 18 years old when his young life ended, while the grand hopes and high ambitious he cherished for the future were yet unfullllled. But God saw lit to call him home. He had finished the work that had been allotted him to do.

When the call of death came it found him ready.

His trust in the Christ was firm and steadfast. How few of us ever expected that of all our friends Emmerson would be the first to be called home. How few would have been prepared to go. Oh,  that all who are unsaved might take warning. "For In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

 Let us then put our trust in the Lord, that when the summons comes to us, it may find us as well prepared to enter in and share the blessings of our Master as was Emmerson McKitrick. – M.R. Holt

Olathe Mirror
March 15, 1894
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