Williams, Edward James 1854 - 1936

WILLIAMS, MORGAN, DAHL, HUGHES

Posted By: Kay Gavin (email)
Date: 6/1/2009 at 21:22:33

OBITUARY: Howard County Times, June 24, 1936.

FORMER CRESCO MAN DIES IN NORTH DAK. E. J. Williams Passed Away June 19--Burial at Lime Springs.

E. J. Williams, a former resident of Howard county, died at his farm home near Ellendale, N.D. Friday, June 19, following an illness of only two days. Mr. Williams lived on a farm in the Foreston neighborhood for many years. He moved to Cresco in 1896 when he was elected county auditor, serving four years. Later he became manager of the Alliance store. He moved to North Dakota 28 years ago.

Mr. Williams was a highly respected citizen who contributed of his time and means to activities for the betterment of the community in which he lived. He retained an interest in the community where he lived for so many years, and only a week before his death in renewing his subscription to The Times he wrote a lengthy letter reviewing events of a quarter century ago.

Services at Lime Springs:

The body was brought to Lime Springs and funeral services were held in the Welsh church Monday afternoon. Three hymns were sung by a quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. W. Thomas, Mrs. E.S. Parry, and Mr. Thos. Price. An appropriate and comforting sermon was delivered by the pastor the Rev. S. E. Prytherch. Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery. The following obituary was read as part of the service.

Edward James Williams was born at Utica, New York, October 21, 1854, and passed away June 19, 1936, at Ellendale, N.D. at the age of 81 years, 8 months and 28 days.

When a small child he moved with his parents to Oshkosh, Wis., where he grew to manhood.

He attended Ripon College at Ripon, Wis.

In 1877 he moved to Lime Springs, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and taught school during the winter months.

Served as Elder:

He joined the Calvinistic Methodist church when a small boy, and continued his membership in the Presbyterian church. For twenty five years he served as Elder in the Ellendale Presbyterian church.

On May 22, 1890, he was united in marriage to Sarah Morgan at Minneapolis, Minn. To this union was born five children: Elmer James, Melvin Morgan, Estella, Lewis Earl and Alice Helen. Two children and his wife preceded him in death. Mrs. Williams passed away Feb. 11, 1925.

On Wednesday evening, June 17, Mr. Williams suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he failed to rally and passed away peacefully Friday morning, June 19, at six o'clock.

He is survived by three children, Lewis of Waverly, Iowa, Melvin and Alice (Mrs. Maynard Dahl) at home. He also leaves three grandsons and one sister, Mrs. Hugh Hughes of Storm Lake, Iowa.