William Francis McLees (1918)

GAMBLE, HUNTER, MCDONALD, MCLEES, WADE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/4/2006 at 09:28:43

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, July 31, 1918
Page 1, Column 2

KILLED BY LIGHTNING

Wm. McLees, Former Winterset Man, Instantly Killed at Home Near Lisbon, N. D.

Madison county people were greatly shocked to learn of the death of William Francis McLees of Lisbon, N. D., from a stroke of lightning. Mr. McLees had been in the harvest field Wednesday morning. About 10:30 he unhitched his horses from the binder and started for shelter, as a storm came up. His teams came in alone, the housekeeper noting his non-appearance, told the men of the fact. Going out to look for him, they found him a quarter of a mile from the house, dead, instantly killed by lightning.

Mr. McLees was born in Crawford township 57 years ago, living in this county until fourteen years ago when he moved to a farm near Lisbon. He came of a widely known family, two sisters and a brother remaining, Mrs. M. Gamble and Mrs. T. B. Hunter of Winterset and Mrs. Anderson McLees, who lives near Lisbon. Two daughters, Mrs. Wilma Wade of Kansas and Miss Jessie, survive their father. The body was brought here for burial on Saturday with services on Sunday, conducted by Rev. W. J. Stewart, with burial in Winterset cemetery, beside his wife, who died a year ago in March.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, August 07, 1918
Page 7, Column 3

Mortuary

William Francis McLees, son of Anderson and Sarah McLees, was born in Crawford township, Madison county, Iowa, Feb. 12, 1861 and died at his home near Lisbon, N. D., July 24, 1918, the next to the youngest of a family of seven children, three of whom survive him: Mrs. Michael Gamble and Mrs. T. B. Hunter of Winterset and Anderson McLees of Sanborn, N. D. He lived in Madison county for forty three years.

He united with the United Presbyterian church of Winterset in early youth.

He was married to Rebecca McDonald, Sept. 12, 1883, who passed away March 22, 1917. To this union was born six children: Mrs. Wilma Wade, Theo, Frank, Wallace, Leah and Jessie. Four of these passed away in early childhood, Wilma and Jessie being left to mourn the loss of their parents.

He was a loving husband and father, kind and generous, and numbered his friends by his acquaintances.

Gravesite
 

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