In: Delphos Republican

Gone to His Reward
David Millard Blanchard, or Uncle Millard, as he was familiarly called, was born at Whitingham, Vermont, August 5, 1837, and passed to the higher life at Delphos, Kansas, January 8, 1922, at the age of 84 years, five months and three days.

His mother died when he was five years of age, after which he went with the family to Reedsboro, Vermont.

At the age of 23 he went to Wisconsin, and was married to Emma Rilla Ferrand, at Auburn, Fond DuLac County, Wisconsin, in November of the same year.

To this union were born eight children, six daughters and two sons. Four daughters and two sons preceded him to the better land.

The loved companion of his earthly life and two daughters, Mrs. Celia Scheffer of Puyallup, Washington, and Mrs. Cora Thurston of Delphos, Kansas, are left to mourn the loss of a very loving and indulgent husband and father.

In 1864 he enlisted in the 22nd regiment of Wisconsin Vol. Inf., returning to his home and loved ones at the close of the war.

He, with his family, moved from Wisconsin to Delphos, Kansas, in November, 1876, where he has resided until the time of his demise.

He was always a staunch advocate of the temperance cause and never allowed an opportunity to pass that gave him a chance to help the cause he loved.

He was a charter member of the First Society of Spiritualists and Liberals of Delphos, Kans., which was organized soon after he came to Kansas. Which was also the first State Spiritualist Association ever chartered in Kansas.

He has ever been a very active worker in the cause, being firmly convinced of its truthfulness, and the highest ideals of a true Christian life which it fully advocates.

He was generous to a fault, depriving himself of luxuries that he might assist those less fortunate that himself.

He was a firm believer in the power of brotherly love, to make of this work an ideal place in which to live. He was always anxious to do and lend a helping hand for the uplifting and the betterment of mankind.

He passed from mortal life in harmony with his oft-repeated with – that without being a burden very long to anyone- and his loved one are comforted in the knowledge that suffering was supplanted by a peaceful calm as the silken curtain rose and dear loving hands outstretched grasped him to their home.

Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

In Memoriam of Millard Blanchard
Another summons has been issued
Another called to spirit lands
Our dear one has cast off earth's troubles,
And gone to join the angel band

And his spirit home is builded
By his deeds done here on earth
Comforting the sick, the blind, the crippled;
Of love for them he knew no dearth.

Not his reward is waiting for him
To be with loved ones gone before –
To reach and help those left in earth life
Through the partly opened door.

He will reach across the threshold
As the door is opened wide
And help to prove unto earth's children
That there is no "Great Divide"

And I seem to hear his voice repeating
As in earth life o'er and o'er,
He loved so well to prove to us
They are not dead, but gone before.

I seem to see his face a-lighting
With a radiance born of love,
As he is welcomed by his loved ones
From the spheres beyond-above.

Then let us one and all endeavor
As we lay his form away
To do our part, as did our beloved one,
To hasten the dawn of that fair day.

When the veil shall be uplifted;
When the mists have cleared away,
And we walk and talk with spirits
As with earth friends here today.

For that glad day he labored always
Giving others of his store
Of knowledge gathered from the teachers,
Reaching from the other shore.