William James Mead (1861-1924)

MEAD, SMAY, HOLCOMB, LUDVIG, LETHWAITE, TISDALE, SNELLING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/8/2024 at 12:23:53

From The Nevada Evening Journal July 2, 1924 (page 4)

FERNALD MAN DIED VERY SUDDENLY

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR WILL J. MEAD HELD AT JOHNSON GROVE.

William J. Mead, age 63, died very suddenly at his home in Fernald, Sunday forenoon about 11 o'clock, following a stroke of paralysis which he had suffered at an earlier hour that morning. When Mrs. Mead awoke in the morning she found her husband in an unconscious condition and at once called for help and a doctor was summoned but he never regained consciousness and passed away about 11 o'clock.

The funeral party left the home this morning at 10 o'clock and the services were held at Johnson Grove Methodist church at 11 o'clock, after which interment was in the nearby cemetery.

Mr. Mead leaves his wife and two daughters, the daughter being Mrs. Beth Ludvig at Colorado and Mrs. Ruth Holcomb of northern Iowa.

He leaves numerous other relatives among them being cousins, W. T. Mead of Fernald, John Mead of Colo, Mrs. J. P. Tisdale of Zearing and Mrs. F. B. Snelling of this city and possibly others.

He had not been well for some time and suffered a slight stroke of paralysis about two weeks ago, but had practically recovered from that.

William James Mead was a native of Canada, being born at Blenheim, Kent county, Canada, August 3, 1861. He passed away at his home in Fernald, Story county, Iowa, june 23, 1924.

It was in the spring of 1883 that he came down to the states and located in Story county, near other relatives in the Johnson Grove neighborhood. He was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Smay March 31, 1889, and to this union two daughters were born. Both are now married their names being Ruth Holcomb of Howard county, Iowa and Beth Ludvig of Boulder, Colo.

He leaves to mourn his sudden death his wife, his two daughters, three grandchildren, and two sisters. The sisters are Laura Mead and Arabelle Lethwaite, both of Blenheim, Canada.

Mr. Mead united with the Methodist church at Johnson Grove in 1887 and continued strong in that faith until the end.

He was a family of sons and 5 sisters of which but the two sisters survive.

Will J. Mead was a man of sterling worth and fine character and his death will be most sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends and neighbors who will extend the hand of sympathy to the wife and daughters in their hours of sad bereavement.