Merrill, William N. (1862-1933)

MERRILL, MASON, WINDORF, JOHNSON, MCARTHUR, BRITSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/24/2016 at 12:38:49

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, June 22, 1933

Two Widely Known Webster City Residents Die Today

W.N. MERRILL DIES AT HOME OF DAUGHTER

Miss Katheryn Schropfer Dead at Farm home North of City

MERRILL WAS 71

Funeral of Miss Schropfer, 65, to Be Held Saturday

Death today took two widely known and long time residents of Webster City. They were W.N. Merrill, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Phillip Merrill, 916 Division street, at noon, and Miss Katheryn Schropfer, who died at 11:25 o'clock this morning at the Schropfer farm home north of this city.

Mr. Merrill's death followed a brief illness, while Miss Schropfer had been ill for about two months. Mr. Merrill enjoyed fair health until about a month ago when he was taken ill, but apparently recovered and had been up and about. Tuesday, however, he was taken with a sinking spell and continued to grow worse until he died.

Mr. Merrill was 71 years old. He had been a resident of Webster City for 45 years, for some 25 of which he was proprietor of the Willson hotel. He was born in Schoolcraft, Mich.

Mrs. Merrill [Sophia] died several years ago in [unreadable] children survive: Mrs. Phillip Merrill and William jr., of this city; Mrs. Leonard Mason, Blanford, Mass.; Marris Merrill, Borup, Minn., Mrs. Carl Windorf, Mrs. Norman Johnson, Mrs. Barbara McArthur and Miss Gladys, all of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Grace Britson, Glendale, Calif.

Mr. Merrill, from the time he came to Webster City in 1888 until he retired from the hotel business, had been an outstanding factor in the business life of this city. He was prominently identified with the old Northwestern Felt Shoe company, prior to which he had been interested in other local ventures, including radiator works, Brown Skate company and others.

Since leaving the hotel, much of his time had been spent as an appraiser for the county and during his latter years when less active, he spent much time about the Elks club of which he had been a member for many years. He had served many years on its board of directors and had been prominent in its upbuilding ever since the lodge was instituted here. For several years he had been a daily visitor at the club, where he will be much missed by those close friends who knew him best.

Funeral arrangements are held up pending word from his daughter in the west. Burial, however, will be made in Graceland cemetery by the side of his wife. Fosters in charge.