CHINN, W. T. 1852-1930

CHINN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/8/2015 at 09:13:35

Wellsburg's First Mayor Dies At Ia. Falls Hospital

End Comes For Dr. W. T. Chinn Following An Operation For Kidney Trouble

Was Four Times Mayor Of Wellsburg

Came to Wellsburg 36 Years Ago and For Many Years Had Extensive Practice

Dr. W. T. Chinn, first mayor of Wellsburg, died at Ellsworth hospital at Iowa Falls Sunday afternoon where he went the week before for treatment for gall and kidney trouble. He submitted to an operation last Wednesday but received no relief. His remains were brought to his home in Wellsburg. After a short funeral service held at nine o'clock yesterday the body was taken to Des Moines where it was laid by the side of the wife who died two years ago.

Dr. Chinn was 78 years old. He came to Wellsburg from Scott county 36 years ago. He entered into the practice of his profession there at once and for many years he was the outstanding physician in northwest Grundy.

Following the incorporation of the town, Dr. Chinn was chosen as the first mayor. That was in 1896. He served for four years during his first term as mayor. In 1904 he became a candidate for the mayorship and was elected again. His service as the town's chief during the second period of his official career was from 1904 to 1908. In 1916 he was again chosen as mayor and served for a period of two years. His last election to the mayorship was in 1926. He assumed office in that year in April and continued until September, 1927, when he resigned. His resignation resulted because he was unable to get a harmonious relationship between himself and the the town council.

Dr. Chinn was in failing health for many years and he practically gave up his practice some five years ago. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. H. C. Franke from Des Moines. There are two grandchildren, Mrs. Allen Crather and Mrs. Clyde Gray of Des Moines. One sister, Mrs. Rickett, from Douglas, No. Dak., survives.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 October 1930, pg 1

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Dr. Wm. T. Chinn

Long Time Physician at Wellsburg, Dead; Not Well for Months

The death of Dr. W. T. Chinn occurred at his home at Wellsburg, the early part of the past week; he had not been well during the past several years, but continued to be up and about until a short time prior to his death. Dr. Chinn became a resident of the village when there were very few families there and perhaps a half-dozen business concerns--before there were schools or churches; Herman Koohlman, Martin & Faust, the Lusch elevator, with John Tjaden then employed there, Joe Doyen, Klaas Primus, Liebsohn Brothers in a little frame shack, and a few others making up the place; that section south of the one Main street--east and west--still a part of the George Wells farm. Dr. Chinn lived in a house that stood alone then, the only one along the street, opposite the present public school building.

He had been elected mayor of the village several times; was a man who did not shirk to take hold of community responsibilities; perhaps not as successful as he might have been, with accumulation the thought in mind. He was born in Illinois, passed his 78th year, and is survived by a daughter and two sisters. Interment was at Des Moines, home of several of his relatives.

--Ackley World-Journal (Ackley, Iowa), 16 October 1930, pg 3

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Dr. W. T. Chinn, Aged Pioneer of Wellsburg, Dies After Operation

Unable to Rally Sufficient Strength to Recover--Burial at Des Moines

Dr. Chinn is dead. The man who for several terms as mayor, years of service as a justice of the peace and for the first score of his thirty-five years of residence in Wellsburg was engaged in active medical practice, died from the effects of an operation at Iowa Falls last Sunday afternoon.

Dr. Chinn had been ailing for more than a year, and last Monday went to Iowa Falls for examination. The attending physicians, it is said, advised delay in operating, but the deceased is said to have demanded an immediate operation. But his strength was not equal to his will and the end came on Sunday, after the operation on Wednesday. Death occurred about 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

The body was brought to Wellsburg and the funeral was held Wednesday morning at the Beving & Flessner store, the services being in charge of Rev. William Landsiedel of the Wellsburg Reformed church.

The pallbearers were six members of the local Legion post--who marched in with their military caps--as a token of the fact that Dr. Chinn was a comrade in arms, the dead man being a veteran of army service in the Indian wars of the southwest.

These pallbearers were Dr. Fauth, S. L. Dilly, C. W. Ross, Herman Haack, H. W. Ross, and Jos. Schachtlie.

After the services, the remains were taken to Des Moines, where they were placed in a mausoleum in Glendale cemetery, where crypts for Dr. Chinn and his wife had been secured years ago, and in which Mrs. Chinn was laid to rest in 1928.

Dr. Chinn was born in Illinois, and was about 78 years of age at the time of his death. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. A. C. Franke, and two granddaughters, Mrs. Allen Prather and Mrs. Clyde Ray, all of Des Moines.

Two sisters also survive: Mrs. George Ricketts, Douglas, North Dakota, and Mrs. Ruth Sattle, Newton, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Franke, and Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Prather were here for the funeral and accompanied the body to Des Moines. Rev. Landsiedel also accompanied the body to Des Moines.

Dr. Chinn left no will and his entire estate, consisting of the house and lot in which he lived, together with his personal property, will go to his daughter, Mrs. Mabel Franke of Des Moines, who has been made administrix of the estates of both her mother and father. The real estate was on record as the property of Mrs. Jennie Chinn.

--newspaper clipping, source unknown (likely the Wellsburg Herald, Wellsburg, Iowa)