The Late Nelson Sutherland

In the demise of Nelson Sutherland, whose death was announced in last Friday's Argus, the city of Ann Arbor has sustained an irreparable loss. Under his masterly hand, the streets and sidewalks of Ann Arbor have itnproved more in the past five or six years than ever before in its history. The street funds have been carefully and economically expended and the iraprovements have been largely of a permanent character. In whatever public capacity he was called upon to act, he was thorough in execution. As a deputy sheriff, he was always the one called upon by the lawyers to act when difflcult cases were to be handled, recognizing that he knew no such word as fail. As an alderman of the city, without compensation, he gave his time and his intelligent energies to the city work. As a street j sioner he worked in season and out, j often getting up in the night to cover up some work with Lhis own hands because a rain had set in. Nelson Sutherland was born in the township of Pittsfield, August i8, 1840 and was married to Miss Gebie Drake, of York, November 22, 1866, who, with two children, survives him. His children are Mrs. Ada A., wife of Rev. Louis P. Jocelyn, and Frank Sutherland, both of this city. Mr. Sutherland was engaged in farming until the year 1878 and also in the iuilk business in Pittsfield. During that year he removed to Ann Arbor, where he has since resided. He was several times elected constable of the first ward by large majorities and served for a number of years as deputy sheriff. In the spring of 1887 he was elected alderman of the first ward by a very large majority and the first year of his term had the expenditure ot the street fund in that ward. So well and cally was it expended on permanent iraprovements that when the new mayor in the spring of 1888 looked over the council to select a chairman of the street committee who should reform the hitherto slip shod manner of conducting street work, Nelson Sutherland was the logical choice. So well did he do the work that when the office of street commissioner was created the following year, Mr. Sutherland was chosen to that position, which he held during the succeeding administrations. He devoted himself wholly to the city's interests and declined other less laborious and more remunerstive positions. He was a man who was thoroughly loyal to his friends but who never followed an enemy. He possessed a clear judgment, quick decisión and great executive abüity. Honest, upright and fearless, he was also kindly and companionable, a man of intelligence who will be raissed by all who knew him, and more especially by those who knew him best. The funeral was held at his residence on División street on Sunday afternoon and was very largely attended. Rev. Mr. Bradshaw in his remarks paid a feeling tribute to his meraory. The pall bearers were E. B. Hall, W. [. Miller, Dr. J. A. Dell, E. K. Frueauff, T. J. Keech and G. Frank Allmendinger. The Knights of Maccabees attended the funeral in a body.