WILLFORD, Albert Clinton 1877-1937

WILLFORD, HENKLE, THARP, SMOUSE

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/5/2013 at 18:38:05

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Wednesday, March 10, 1937]

Albert Clinton Willford September 21, 1877-March 10, 1937

A. C. WILLFORD DIES; FORMER CONGRESSMAN

Albert Clinton Willford, former congressman and a Waterloo business man and prominent in public affairs for many years, died at 7:35 a. m. Wednesday at his home, 826 Lafayette street. He
was 59 years old. Death was due to heart disease. He had been critically ill since he suffered a severe attack Feb. 15. He had suffered two previous attacks.

The Democratic, candidate, he was elected to congress from the Third Iowa district in. 1932, serving one term. He was a candidate also in 1934 and 1936.

Born at Vinton. Mr. Willford was born in Vinton, la., Sept. 21, 1877. His parents were Samuel and Rebecka Henkle Willford. After attending high school and Tilford academy at Vinton. he married Miss, Edna Tharp of Vinton Sept. 15, 1898.

At the age of 23, Willford became chief engineer of the Electric Light, Power & Water Co. at Vinton. holding that position until he moved to Waterloo in. 1907. Here he organized the Artificial Ice company, and remained its superintendent until 1910. In 1910 he founded the Willford Seed & Feed Co., which he continued to operate until his death, with the assistance of his only son, Berl C. Albert Clinton Willford, former congressman and a Waterloo business man and prominent in public affairs for many years, died at 7:35 a. m. Wednesday at his home, 826 Lafayette Street. He was 59 years old. Death was due to heart disease. He had been critically ill since he suffered a severe attack Feb. 15. He had suffered two previous attacks.

Mr. Willford was born in Vinton, la., Sept. 21, 1877. His parents were Samuel and Rebecka Henkle Willford. After attending high school and Tilford academy at Vinton. he married Miss, Edna Tharp of Vinton Sept. 15, 1898. At the age of 23, Willford became chief engineer of the Electric Light, Power & Water Co. at Vinton. holding that position until he moved to Waterloo in 1907. Here he organized the Artificial Ice company, and remained its superintendent until 1910. In 1910 he founded the Willford Seed & Feed Co., which he continued to operate until his death, with the assistance of his only son, Berl C.

Interested in sports and outdoor life, he was president of the Waterloo Baseball club for four years in the middle twenties, and was president of the Iowa district Izaak Walton league from 1927 to 1929. He served several terms as national and state director of the I. league. He was a member of the ; Boy Scout court of honor here from 1917 to 1933. For 12 years, from 1918 to 1930, j Mr. Willford was a member of the Waterloo board of library trustees. He served on the Black Hawk County jury commission for six years. He was a Thirty-second degree Mason, and was a former president of the Consistory club

Survivors, besides the widow and the son Berl, who lives in the Hillcrest apartments, are a grandson,
Berl, jr., and a brother, Carl Willford, of Urbana, la. A sister, Mrs. Carl Smouse, postmistress at Vinton, died Jan. 8.

The body will be taken at 10 a.m. Friday from the O'Keefe & Towne funeral home to the Masonic temple, where it will lie in I state until noon.

Masonic funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Friday at the Masonic temple by Truman DeRoame, secretary, of Waterloo lodge No. 105, assisted by Rev. Ernest B. Mounsey of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Ralph B. Slippy, worshipful master of Martin lodge No. 624, of which Willford was a member, was assisting in making plans for the funeral. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.