Miami Union

CHEEVER, REV. WILLIAM M. - Death of Dr. Wm. M. Cheever - Dr. William M. Cheever, formerly pastor of the Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, Troy--before the union of the old and new school churches--died at his home in Kansas City, Mo., last Sabbath morning. The following from the Evening Mail , of Monday, is an account of his death. At half past three o'clock yesterday, Sunday morning, Rev. Wm. M. Cheever died at his residence on Tenth Street after months of poignant but most patient suffering. He was about fifty-seven of age and had labored among the people of this city for nearly five years. He was born, reared and attended college in Indiana. Memorial services will be held next Tuesday at the Second Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Timothy Hill, an intimate and reported friend of Dr. Cheever will preside. At this solemn commemorative service the interesting incidents of his life will be recounted. His biography was commenced a short time ago and given in charge of Jonathan Ford, Esq. A short time before his last illness, Dr. Cheever asked Mr. Ford for the manuscript and thought best not to proceed with it at once. A reporter called upon Mr. Ford this morning, knowing that he was intimate with the lamented pastor during his life and that gentleman told of the work of his beloved friend in the following words: "Mr. Cheever's work was characterized by the most intense earnestness, and his flock at the Second Presbyterian Church has been more than doubled during his ministrations here. He possessed a wonderful familiarity with every member of his society, even with the little children. To call him a pulpit orator would fall far above of the reality, for outbursts of eloquent, an interweaving of illustrations, brining in a literature, scientific research and biblical knowledge made his discourse far more rich and valuable than what would be described by the term "pulpit eloquence". Probably no minister in our city ever drew around him such an endeared crowd of listeners. To know that he was appreciated elsewhere, ministers at the east expostulated with him when coming here, for said they, " you can have many fine fields of labor at home". His motto seemed to be, "To do and endure," for he continued his work for many weeks after he should have stopped. His last sermon was preached some time in early February, in evident pale, and at the close he said, with great earnestness "My dear people, I can preach no more until I get rid of this pain the this world or the next". He went to New York soon after, and his face was operated upon by the best of surgeons. They gave him some encouragement that he might recover. He left New York City too soon, for a severe hemorriage of the wound attacked him on his way home. Some weeks elapsed, and it became evident that disease was doing the deadly work. The best medical skill of our city assured him that a second operation might prolong life for a time, but by no means would they insure recovery. It may with truth he said that he even urged on the operation, which involved the loss of one eye, a portion of the jaw and nearly the whole framework of one side of the face. All this he bore without a murmur, and the whole of his last sickness has shown that the Christian character triumphed. The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon at half-past two o'clock, and the service will be conducted by the Ministers' Alliance of tis city. Rev. Timothy Hill has been telegraphed to be present, and take the leading part in the ceremonies. He has not yet been consulted us to the memorial services next Sunday, but it is the universal wish that he should conduct those services, and it is to be hoped that he will acquiesce.