Westphal, William 'Will' 1854-1886

WESTPHAL, SESSIONS, VAN DYKE

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/5/2019 at 13:45:56

The sudden death of Mr. Will Westphal startled the entire community last evening by whom he was well and liked so much. That so young man as he should be taken so suddenly, and one who enjoyed such good health was a surprise to all, and at first the report was not credited because it seemed so improbable. And yet it was true.

The remarkable feature about this death is that it leaves the firm without a single male member. The eldest William Westphal, founder of the house, died in 1869. Franklin Hinds was the head of the firm until he died last May.

The late William Westphal has been at the head since, and was proving a competent and efficient business man, though only a young man of 32 years of age.

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The death of William Westphal deprives the community of a public spirited, honorable and enterprising citizen who was ever ready to aid in every project to advance the city's interest. Everybody liked Will, and it is somewhat singular that he should so soon follow the leader and founder of the firm.

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(in addition to the above notices in this paper was a lengthly obit - I have extracted only parts of it)

Mr. Will Westphal Expires While Talking to Friends
At half-past 5 o'clock last evening Mr. Will Westphal, at the head of the Westphal-Hinds hardware house, and one of the most prominent young business men of this city, expired suddenly.

He returned home Friday morning from a short business trip to Chicago .... appeared to be suffering no illness, except perhaps a slight cold

... yesterday morning he arose and dressed himself, at the same time complaining of pains in the chest .. and shoulders ... family physician summoned ... found no alarming symptoms ... Westphal felt better and had no more suffering ... [after] a light dinner sat in his parlor with Fred Kruse and Charles Scott, employes of the company, to discuss business matters ... in a few moments Westphal remarked "I have a fearful pain here" pointing to his chest and his head ... fell over upon his face onto the floor ... near relatives and intimate friends hastened to endeavor to comfort a broken-hearted wife and fatherless family ... cause of Westphal's death as stated by physicians was the rupture of a blood vessel at the base of the brain ... was no doubt superinduced by too close attention to business matters.

William Westphal was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1854, and came to this city with his father, the late William Westphal, when about a year old. Here he has resided ever since, and here he was known as one of the city's best young men. He received his education in the schools of this city, and shortly after his father's death, in 1869, he entered the hardware store of Westphal, Hinds & Co. All these years Mr. Westphal has been connected with the firm and at all times actively engaged in business.

In 1876 Mr. Westphal was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Sessions, and by this union four children blessed his household.

... a few days ago elected to position of general manager and treasurer of the newly incorporated Westphal-Hinds Hardware company

... one of the vice presidents of the Dubuque Comercial club ... was a Knight Templar

... Mrs. Westphal, the mother of deceased, is at Colorado Springs with her daughter Clara ... Mrs. Van Dyke, nee Mollie Westphal and Fred, the remaining son, are home

... funeral time not determined until relatives and friends at distant points are heard from ...

~Dubuque Daily Herald, February 7, 1886

Note: his gravestone in Linwood cemetery is engraved with dates
March 13, 1854 - Feb. 6, 1886 (March 13 could possibly be 3/10/1854)