Williams, Joseph 1885 - 1906

WILLIAMS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/14/2017 at 08:33:59

Elkader Register, Thur., 8 Nov. 1906. From the Postville Review, undated.

No sorrier or more surprising news has reached this community in a long time than the telegraph message received Wednesday forenoon, conveying to F. L. Williams, of Grand Meadow township, the sad intelligence of the death of his son Joseph at Ames that morning. The cause of his death was heart trouble, to which he has been subject since a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism some years ago. His latest illness began about a month ago, though he kept up his studies until a week ago last Monday, when the members of his boarding club - among whom were Gilbert Sanders and Josie Nicolay, of this city, and Harry Orr, of Waukon, insisted so strongly on his going to the hospital that he consented to do so. Not wishing to cause anxiety at home he did not inform his parents of his condition, the first intelligence of his illness reaching here through a letter written by Gilbert Sanders to his mother on Thursday of last week. Mrs. Sanders at once communicated the news by phone to the Williams home, and Mrs. Williams left Saturday morning for Ames, where she remained until sometime Monday, when Joseph's condition seemed so much better she left for Grinnell to visit her daughter, Miss Rachel. Hearing no unfavorable report from her son, Mrs. Williams started for home Wednesday morning, but at Cedar Rapids a forwarded message reached her with the sad news that Joseph had passed away about 9 o'clock that morning. Lester Williams left on the afternoon train for Ames and last evening on the Rock Island came home with his brother's body, and the large gathering at the station shows how deeply this young man's death has touched our people's hearts.

Joseph Williams was born in Grand Meadow township, Clayton County, 21 years ago last Friday, and was completing a four years course in Agriculture at Ames when the summons came.

He was an industrious and upright young man in every way whose friends were legion. The heartfelt sympathy of all is with the family whose hearts are heavy with a grief which humanity is frail to help them bear.

The funeral was held from the Congregational church at 1:30 today, Rev. C. E. Smith, pastor of the M.E. church, officiating. Interment in the Postville cemetery.- Postville Review.