Valleau, William H. 1848 – 1899

VALLEAU, HILL, GIDDINGS, ERVIN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: Decorah Republican June 1, 1899 P 2 C 3

WILLIAM H. VALLEAU.
Died in Chicago, on the 26th, Buried in Decorah the 29th.
Intelligence was wired last Friday to Mayor Adams and other friends in Decorah that William H. Valleau died at his home in Austin, a suburb of Chicago, very early in the morning of that day.
The remains were brought to Decorah, Monday, for burial. They were accompanied by a funeral party consisting of Mrs. Valleau, his brothers, J. H. and George Valleau, and his sons, John D. (and wife,) and “Will.” These were met at the depot by Mayor Adams, the city fire department in full uniform, with a concourse of old friends, and escorted to the Winnesheik House, of which, it will be remembered, Mr. Valleau was once the manager. After a brief service conducted by Rev. M. Willett, burial took place in the old Decorah cemetery beside the remains of his first wife, who died Jan. 1st, 1890.
From Alexander’s “History of Winnesheik County” we extract the following biographical sketch, as furnishing the only reliable data we have at hand. It was written in 1882, while Mr. Valleau was still mayor, and before the break-up of his family occurred. This says:
William H. Valleau, city mayor of Decorah, is one of the most stirring and enterprising men in the state of Iowa. He was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., on the 18th of November, 1848, his parents being John and Jane Hill Valleau, both natives of the Empire State. During his early years he received a fair education, but in 1864, although a mere boy, having a roving disposition, be concluded he would like to see something of this broad domain outside of his native state. He therefore went across the plains to the Rocky Mountains, where he spent one year in mining; then returned as far east as Nebraska, where he remained until 1869, at which date he went to Minnesota, and the year following came to Iowa and located at Decorah. At that time Mr. Valleau had but a very small amount of money, but he at once commenced dealing in grain, and being very successful he increased his business so that he soon ran elevators in eight different towns besides Decorah, and for several years did a business amounting to $1,000.000 annually. He then became associated as partner with Frank Teabout and under the firm name of Teabout & Valleau, did the most extensive business in the Northwest, running four large stores, six lumber yards and thirteen warehouses and elevators in Iowa and Dakota: also dealt very extensively in live stock and cultivated 6,000 acres of land in Clay and O'Brien counties, Iowa. This business was carried on successfully until the hard winter of 1880-1, when, on account of the railroads being blockaded, business was at a standstill. They also lost 3,000 acres of good corn, which could not be gathered;-350 acres of broom-corn was destroyed by storms, and 400 head of cattle and 900 hogs perished. They therefore suspended business in May, 1881. Mr. Valleau is a Democrat in politics, and his popularity as a citizen is well established by the fact that he is now serving his fourth term as mayor of Decorah, although his party is greatly in the minority. He is a man who greatly enjoys sport, such as hunting or fishing, but is a wide-awake, shrewd business man, easy to get acquainted with, and immediately makes friends wherever he goes. In 1869, at St. Charles, Minn., Mr. Valleau was united in matrimony to Miss Ella Giddings, daughter of David Giddings, and a relative of Joshua R. Giddings; they now have two children, John D. and William H., Jr.
Mr. Valleau was more or less of the time in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway up to the time when he became landlord of the Winnesheik House, and after that was frequently employed in special work for the company.
After the death of Mrs. Valleau In 1890, the family removed to Chicago, and remained there until the fall of 1892, returning to Decorah for one year. After that Mr. Valleau made his home with his son, John D. and wife, in St. Paul, until he was married to Mrs. Emma Ervin, Sept. 1st, 1895. Since then his home has been in Chicago, where he died. For several years he was much of an invalid, but his fatal Illness was of only about ten days’ duration. He was afflicted with Bright's disease, and a severe cold hastened the disease to its termination

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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