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Joel Spring - part 1
transcribers note: this is a full page newspaper article and has been divided into 3 parts for easier downloading

HUGO HAS LOST A FAITHFUL FRIEND 
Joel Spring Passes Away Friday Morning
The Hugo Husonian February 27, 1908 - transcribed by Ron Henson

    Seldom in history have cities been called upon to bear so great and such a heart-felt loss as that sustained by Hugo last Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock, in the death of Joel Spring. His Family and loved ones have suffered a sorrow untold and unmeasured by words, but Hugo mourns the passing of its most loyal citizen and wisest counselor; and thousands of people throughout this country now feel that that man of all men whose friendship, once won, was unerring and steadfast to the end, regardless of the buffeting of the cruel billows of fate and the rise and fall of human endeavor, is no more.
    Joel Springs was a man of few words but a man of affairs. Rarely did he appear in a public meeting, never did he attempt to grow eloquent and sway public sentiment, but his counsel was sought on all measures for the good of the many and his wisdom was unerring and based on a just consideration of all concerned. He was outspoken in all his views but was above the petty prejudices and hatreds of factionalism. Regardless of a conflict of opinion, he recognized the rights of all and was the same genial, charitable friend always. He had in his personality all the manly attributes of the natural born leader of men, a man all could respect and in whom all could trust.
    As a town builder and as a developing force, he was without a peer in Southern Oklahoma. He was a person of wealth and resource and owned much property in this city and during the past five years build seven large brick buildings here, all of the very best and constructed with a view of permanency, majestically beautiful, and an ornamentation to a city of many thousand people. As are all great men, was at times subjected to unjust criticism but when a task was completed no fault could be found and it was a matter of universal admiration. He was charitable and liberal in his donation to any cause, giving freely to the construction and maintenance of the churches and other moral institutions. At one time several years ago the Methodist church was advertised for sale to liquidate indebtedness and it was Joel Springs who came to the rescue. He made a large donation and placed the then struggling band upon their feet, and that with only an expression of regret that they had not made him fully conversant with conditions before they had been reduced to such extreme measures.
    It was he who is responsible for the remark that we have so often heard from the lips of strangers, "Hugo is resplendent with some of the finest buildings I have seen in Indian Territory, including those to be found in Ardmore, Muskogee and McAlester." By spending his money so freely to develop the town, he encouraged others to do so and he was indeed and in truth the "Father of Hugo." However great it may become in the future will be due to his efforts in its struggling, pioneer days. Some day when Hugo shall have become a large city, we wish to stand on one of our principal streets, with uncovered head, before an imperishable statue, dedicated to the memory of this tireless man who was such a great factor when the town was in its infancy.

continue with part 2