Thomas Williams 1846-1916

WILLIAMS, LATHAM, MITCHELL, CHURCHILL, ENGLISH

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

23 August 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser
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Thomas Shelton Williams died yesterday noon at his home in West DeWitt after being in failing health for the past few years. He is survived by his wife and two children, Bruce Williams of Watertown, S.D., and Mrs. Louise Mitchell, of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Congregational church, conducted by Revs. Chapman and Kidder, followed by interment in Elwood cemetery.

Deceased was born July 23, 1846, at Schullsburg, Wis., and came when a small boy to Goose Lake, Iowa, moving soon afterward to DeWitt. He was associated for ten years with Captain Gates in the management of the hotel, and was for one year sole manager. He was married to Tillie Latham in DeWitt June 23, 1881. He was a member of DeWitt Lodge No. 34, A.F. & A.M. He lived for seven years in New Mexico, where he homesteaded a government claim, returning to DeWitt ten years ago, where he has resided ever since.

25 August 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser
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Funeral services for the late Thomas S. Williams were held at the Congregational church Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. R. K. Chapman, assisted by Rev. J. J. Kidder of the Methodist church. Mesdames W. S. Saltmarsh and F. W. Mitchell accompanied by Miss Helen Large, sang "Crossing the Bar," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Just for Today". Bearers of the pall were Messrs. H. F. Bricker, C. A. Butterfield, Ed Thompson, Harry Detlef, J. W. Howes and S. R. Peters. The service was largely attended. Mr. Williams had lived in this county nearly all of his life, and in his younger days was one of the enterprising, ambitious young business men who helped to make DeWitt the thriving town it has always been. During these years, though his work took him to other states, DeWitt has always been home to Mr. Williams and his circle of friends extended all over the county. At the conclusion of the service at the church the body was conveyed to Elmwood and there laid to rest amid a profusion of flowers.

Thomas Shelton Williams was born in Shullsburg, Wis. July 23, 1846, coming to DeWitt when a small boy. He was married to Miss Tillie F. Latham June 21, 1881. For ten years he was associated with Captain Gates in the Gates House and for many years afterward followed the hotel business as clerk or manager, in Albert Lea, Minn., Madison, Wis., Vancouver, Wash., Claisop Beach, Ore., and other places. For one year he served as conductor of the diners on the Northern Pacific railway and spent about eight years in New Mexico on a claim, finally returning to DeWitt, where he has spent the past twenty years, his death occurring at noon Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1916. He had been in failing health two years., He is survived by his widow, two children, Bruce P. Williams of Watertown, S.D. and Mrs. Louise Mitchell of Storm Lake, Ia. Two sisters, Mrs. Churchill of Arthur, Ia., and Mrs. C. A. English of Raton, N.M., and several nephews and nieces. He joined the Masonic fraternity of DeWitt in the early 70s.

Bruce Williams of Watertown, S.D., Howard Mitchell of Storm Lake, Samuel Churchill of Arthur, Ia. and Mrs. Arthur Dahn of Dubuque were here to attend the funeral.