Pvt. William P. Blakesly

BLAKESLY

Posted By: Lynn Diemer-Mathews (email)
Date: 11/25/2020 at 19:27:20

Special to The Daily Nonpareil.
Wednesday, September 28, 1898
Centerville, Ia., Sept. 27. - All Centerville mourns today, and business was suspended from 8 to 6 o'clock out of respect to Private William P. Blakesly of Company E, who died at Camp McKinley yesterday and was buried here at 5 o'clock this evening. The funeral was the largest ever seen in this county. Over five thousand people witnessed it at the home, along the line of march or at Oakland cemetery. Company E acted as an escort to the body and the usual military details were rendered at the grave. Mr. Blakesly was just 20 years old, the idol of his parents and a friend to every one who knew him. He was engaged in the laundry business previous to his enlistment, and was a bright young business man, whom Centerville mourns with sorrow.