William Emery Edwards (1873-1918)

EDWARDS, KIRKENDALL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/24/2017 at 22:59:40

From Nevada Evening Journal December 6, 1918 (front page)

WILL E. EDWARDS CALLED BY DEATH

WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN VICTIM OF DREAD DISEASE ON WEDNESDAY

Will E. Edwards succumbed to the ravages of pneumonia from which he had suffered for 10 days, on Wednesday evening at about 11:00. The funeral services which will be of a private nature, will be held from the home this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock and interment will be in the Nevada cemetery after short services at the grave which may be attended by friends.

Mr. Edwards had been a very critical condition for some days and his death had been expected hourly although there had been short intervals when he appeared to be rallying and there was a slight ray of hope held out to the family and friends.

His system broken down with many years suffering from rheumatism, was not able to withstand the threats of pneumonia and throw off the ravages of the terrible affliction. One thing that doubtless contributed to his hanging on to the frail thread of life was his indomitable will and insistence that he was not going to die even in the face of the most uncertain indications of the disease. When the thread finally snapped he passed away peacefully and his soul wafted on to that better world of which he had full confidence.

The blow has been a most sad one to many concerned. It was but scarcely over six weeks ago that his aged parents had been called upon to lose their other son, who died of the same disease in a southern camp. Cadet Earl Edwards died at Dallas, Texas,, on October 22, after a long siege of pneumonia and was buried in this city October 25.

The same day that Mr. Edwards was taken ill and compelled to leave his store, his business partner, Charles E. Dreher, went down under the same disease and his life has been despaired of almost continuously since, in fact, there was reason for a day or so to think that if either of the two men were to recover it would be Mr. Edwards. Mr. Dreher, whose wife passed away on Monday evening is still in a very critical condition.

William E. Edwards has been a resident of the community since 1892 when the family moved here from Harrison county near Dunlap. He was born near Iowa City on September 26 1873, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Edwards. The family moved to Greene county when he was a small lad and later to Harrison county where they lived until coming to near Nevada.

Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Susie Kirkendall, a neighbor girl, on March 17, 1903, and to them one child was born he being Ralph, who is now 14 years of age. They lived on a farm up near McCallsburg for a time and later moved onto the Drybread farm south of the city where they lived until about six years ago. Then he same to Nevada and associated himself with his father-in-law, Eli Kirkendall, and they purchased the hardware business at the corner of Linn and First avenue north. This they conducted for a couple of years under the firm name of Edwards & Kirkendall. Mr. Kirkendall then disposed of his interest in the business to Charles E. Dreher and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Edwards and Dreher.

Mr. Edwards was a successful business man and during his association with the commercial interests of the city had won for himself a warm place in these circles.

He was honest and upright in all of his business dealings, aggressive and progressive in his business and was acknowledged as a strong factor in the commercial interest of the city.

He leaves besides his wife, who has been a loving and faithful companion, one son Ralph age about 14 years, his aged parents and one sister, Miss Carrie, now a teacher in the schools at Aberdeen, S. D. who was called here some days ago by his illness.

He was an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a trustee of the Central Iowa lodge No. 104 at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Modern Woodmen lodge.

The funeral services took place this afternoon. Short services were held at the home at 3:30 by his pastor, Rev. R. M. Shipman and at the grave the ritualistic services of the Masons were observed. The Odd Fellows had charge of the body as pall bearers.

Mr. Edwards had been a member of the Methodist church for a number of years, having become members of the congregation following the Lowrey evangelistic services a number of years ago.

In the death of Mr. Edwards the city loses a valuable and much respected citizen and one whose passing will be noted with deep regrets.