William Boyles (d. 1910)

BOYLES

Posted By: John Evan Davis (email)
Date: 11/9/2014 at 11:33:54

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, December 17, 1910
DROPPED DEAD WHILE AT WORK
WILLIAM BOYLES VETERAN EMPLOYE OF STREET CAR COMPANY SUCCUMBED SUDDENLY WAS GREASING TRACKS
Men on Street Car Saw Him Throw up Hands and Fall to Ground—
Wife Becomes Hysterical Upon Learning of Husband's Death.

From Friday's Daily.
While greasing the curve of the street railway tracks at the corner of Ward and Keota streets this morning William Boyles, aged 49, residing at 309 Park Avenue, a veteran employee of the company, dropped dead. It is thought that his death was caused by heart failure although he had never suffered from the disease. In fact Mr. Boyle had not been ill since a mere boy. His death occurred about 8:45 o'clock and Marion Smith, a rural mail carrier and Lawrence Moss were the first, to reach the dead man. An examination by physicians revealed the fact that life was extinct, although the body was still warm. The remains were removed to the office of the street car company where physicians again made an examination.

Wife Becomes Hysterical.
Mrs. Boyle was immediately communicated with and when she arrived at the office and saw the remains of her husband, she immediately became hysterical. Frantic cries to him to come back to life touched the hearts of
all who heard them. For a time the bereaved woman would not allow the physicians to touch the body. The remains were later removed to the C. T. Sullivan morgue and prepared for burial. Coroner A. W. Slaught was summoned. He will hold an Inquest tonight at 7 o'clock at which time an effort will be made to learn the cause
of death. Mr. Boyles had greased one side of the curve and was starting to work on the other track. The Ward street car passed while he was at work and he waived his hand at the motorman and conductor. When the car got two blocks away, the men on the rear plat form saw Mr. Boyles throw up his hands and fall backward to the ground. Smith and Moss rushed to his assistance but death had been instantaneous.

Was Veteran Employee.
The deceased was a veteran employee of the Ottumwa Railway & Light company, having been in their employee for nine years. He had the care of the tracks. He was a familiar figure to men who never knew him by any other name than "Bill." He always called the cars on circus and on baseball days and his long connection with the company made him well known to hundreds of Ottumwans. He was of a good disposition and numbered his
friends by the legion. The news of his death came as a great shock to his coworkers and to his numerous
friends.

Worked for Burlington.
The deceased formerly resided at Mt. Pleasant and had hosts of friends and relatives there. For many years he was baggage man for the Burlington at the Ottumwa station and he also worked in other capacities for the railroad. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Miss Gladys Boyles. Following his sudden death this morning, the report was circulated about the city that he had been electrocuted but this report was denied by the company officials who inspected the tracks at the scene of his death. It is the general belief that heart failure caused his death.
Many friends attended the obsequies over the remains of William J. Boyles who died suddenly Friday of heart failure. The services were held at the family residence, 309 West Park Avenue, and the home, and yard could not
accommodate the hundreds of friends of the deceased who came to pay their last respects to his memory. Members of the A. O. U. W. Odd Fellows and Rebekah lodges attended in body while his co-workers the street car men, attended the service in large numbers. The wishes of the deceased that the Odd Fellows ritualistic services be used were carried out. Rev. B. F. Patt, pastor of the First Baptist church, pronounced the benediction at the grave in the Ottumwa cemetery.