Frederick Washburn Willey (1856-1920)

WILLEY, SPENCER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Representative June 24, 1920 (page 6)

FRED WILLEY DIES IN AMES

Frederick W. Willey, former police chief of Ames, died at 2:00 o'clock Friday morning at his home, 313 Sixth street, from heart trouble. He had been in poor health for some time, and particularly so for some little tie before his retirement from the police department last fall.

Funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. The body was taken to Delmar Saturday evening. Sunday afternoon services were held at the home of his sister, Mrs. J. C. Spencer, at Delmar, and burial made in the cemetery there.

Born at Danville, Quebec, Canada, sixty-four years ago, on May 17, 1858, he came to Iowa with his parents when about eight years of age. His parents were natives of the United States, but lived in Canada for a period of years, during which time he was born. He was raised at Delmar.

Before going to Ames in 1901, the family lived on a farm in Boone county. In 1902, during the time of the gold craze in Alaska, Fred Willey went to Alaska, going to Circle City, where he spent one year. During that time he was engaged in gold mining operations.

Later he was associated with his brother, Arthur Willey, in the produce business.

In 1904 he became city marshall under Mayor Parley Sheldon and he served in that capacity until 1908. His experience as marshall here led to his appointment as railway detective for the Chicago & Northwestern railway, in which capacity he served for a number of years. He was again appointed to head the police department in 1916 by Mayor George Baker and served under Mayor Baker and Mayor E. H. Graves, resigning his position last November. During the winter, for a short period, he acted as custodian of the club rooms of the Commercial Club.