Scharff, William Ernest 1885-1911

SCHARF, SMITH

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 5/31/2016 at 13:20:21

Alton Democrat September 16, 1911

We are pained to chronicle the death of William Ernest Scharff, which occurred at the Home of E. J. Smith Sunday morning September 10th , of infantile paralysis. He contracted the disease at Steen Minnesota Minnesota where he was engaged us assistant cashier in a bank, which disqualified him for duty in the bank and he came to Rock Valley for treatment by Christian Scientists healers, of which church he was a devout member, but which was of no avail and he succumbed to the inevitable.

The subject of this sketch was born at South McGregor Clayton county Iowa March 24th, 1885 and was twenty six years, five months and sixteen days old. He came to this community with his parents sixteen years ago, when but a boy, where he grew to manhood. He attended the public school and in 1906 he graduated with honors, after which he taught several successful terms of school and to the several positions of trust he held he devoted himself with fidelity and zeal. He was married to Miss Jennie E, Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eliza J. Smith, July 7, 1909 and this union was blessed with a daughter who survives him.

We are aware of the tendency to eulogize the departed, to exaggerate their virtues and deify that which Is mortal and full of weakness, but we cannot speak in fulsome terms when we say that he possessed a loving nature, a true heart and a pure conscience. We have great admiration for his character and high esteem of him as a man. There was a knightly courtesy in his manner which was as charming as it is rare. There was a chasteness of expression, a refinement of speech in his conversation that unconsciously challenged admiration. He was of a jovial disposition with a pleasant smile and a kind word for others.

The funeral service occurred at the home of E. J. Smith conducted by Emerson De Voe, reader of the Christian Science church, in the presence of a few friends, after which he was laid to rest in Valley View cemetery. He leaves a father and mother, one brother and three sisters, a wife and babe, and a host of friends to mourn his untimely death. Peace to his sleeping dust.