Waddell, William Garner 1870 - 1937

WADDLE, WADDELL, GARNER, OTIS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/7/2011 at 16:45:19

Note: His middle name is Garner but so was his mother's maiden name. Also though the paper spells his last name as Waddell it is actually spelled Waddle.

William Garner Waddell was born near Fennimore, in Grant County, Wisconsin, June 29, 1870. He moved with his parents, William Warren Waddell and Elizabeth Garner Waddell, to Plymouth county, near Merrill, when he was four years old. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of Plymouth County and at Le Mars Normal School, Le Mars, Iowa, and graduated from the Northern Illinois College of Pen Art and Drawing, Dixon, Illinois, in 1898. He then taught penmanship and drawing at the University of South Dakota while pursuing his studies in the College of Law, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from that institution in 1904.

Mr. Waddell entered the practice of law in partnership with E. L. Sheldon at Webster, S. D., immediately after receiving his law degree. This partnership continued for two years and he then entered a partnership with Frank Anderson under the firm name of Anderson & Waddell.

When Mr. Anderson became judge of the circuit court Mr. Waddell entered a partnership with P. W. Dougherty under the firm name of Waddell & Dougherty, which continued until shortly before Mr. Dougherty's death in 1934. He then practiced law with his two sons. Garner J. Waddell and Kenneth L. Waddell under the name of Waddell, Waddell & Waddell.

During all of his residence at Webster, S. D., Mr. Waddell was actively engaged in the practice of law and in public life. He held the office of state's attorney for Day county from 1912 to 1916, was mayor of the City of Webster for two terms, served in the South Dakota legislature as Senator from Day county from 1919 to 1923, and was judge of the county court of Day county from August, 1936, until the date of his death. He was an active member of numerous fraternal, professional, civic and political organizations, and held various offices in many of them.

On July 3, 1900, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Mae Otis at Langford, S. D. To this union were born five sons, all of; whom are still living.

Mr. Waddell is survived by his widow, Eliza Mae Otis Waddell, of Webster, S. D.; five sons, William Sterling, of Luverne, Minn.; Garner Jay, of Manistique, Michigan; Kenneth Lornin, of Omaha, Nob.; Harold Haley, of Dover, Delaware, and Clayton James, of Webster, S. D.; four grandchildren, Margaret Ann, Garner Roger, Marilyn Jean, and Robert Charles; five brothers, Thomas Warren, of Tyler, Minn.; Arthur, of Webster, S. D.; Reuben, of Webster, S. D.; Frederick, of Roslyn, S. D., and Edward Dawalt, of Waubay, S. D.; and one sister, Nellie Mae Webster, S. D.

William Garner Waddell passed away at Webster, S. D., at 7:60 a. m., January 24, 1937, at the age of 66 years, 6 months and 25 days. Death came after a prolonged Illness which had confined him to the hospital in Webster for nearly two months.

Brief services were held at his home in Webster at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday, January 27, 1937, followed by, services at the Webster Community; Church at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. E. A. Folley officiated, and delivered a message of sympathy and hopefulness to the bereaved ones. Pallbearers were Rex W. Harris, I. S. Coomes, Steve Pearson, J. E. Van Camp, Andrew Hedman and E. 0. Potter.. Musical numbers were rendered by a quartet consisting of Donald McLeean, L. W. Cook, August Lutz and E. A. Folley.

Services were held Thursday morning at 11 o'clock at the United Brethren Church at Adaville conducted by Rev. Miller. Interment was made at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, January 28, 1937
Akron, Iowa