In Memoriam

Charles Mortimer Banfield, son of W. S. Banfield, died at the home of his parents in this city on Tuesday, Sept. 19, after an illness of four weeks, from typhoid fever in its most malignant form. He was born in this city March 13, 1878, and was therefore at the time of his death 21 years and 8 months of age. He had spent his life almost entirely in Ann Arbor, was a student of the Ann Arbor high school and was preparing to enter the university this fall. He was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal church, well known and well beloved by all who knew him. He made a brave and hopeful struglge for his life, and for a time it seemed that his splendid vitality would win victory for him, but in spite of all possible care and attention he was finally obliged to succumb. He maintained a cheerful demeanor and never lost courage throughout all his sickness and suffering, but in the midst of pain and even in the last few hours, when he must have been convinced that there was no hope, he suppressed any sign of fear or despair, and for the sake of his heart-broken loved ones he bravely kept up the struggle.

Charley Banfield was thoroughly clean, pure and good, naturally thoughtful and considerate of others, kind-hearted and generous, honest and upright. He was innately a true gentleman and gave promise of a noble, useful manhood. At the beginning of the Spanish-American war he volunteered early and became a member of Co. C, 31st Mich. Vols., and remained in the service until discharged on account of disability incurred in the service. He freely and bravely offered his life to his country and it is thought that an injury he received while in the service caused the most dangerous complications in connection with his illness. Returning home after being mustered out, he lost no time but secured employment at once, and was at work in Jackson, Mich., with the expectation of being prepared to begin a professional course in the university, when the summons came to enter that school "where he no longer needs our poor protection and Christ Himself doth rule. Just at the outset of a promising career, of fine character and splendid ideas, fully determined to make the most of himself and develop most thoroughly his natural talents, it is difficult to comprehend why he should be removed from earthly life. But to the sorrowing parents and sister the memory of that bright, beautiful life will always be a blessing and a benediction. Even now they know that he has but passed into the "life Elysian," whose portal we call death."