Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-24
A SAD BLOW.
Sudden Death of George Williams
Yesterday at 4 o'clock p. NJ.
a Loss to keokuk Of One Of Her
Most Public-8pirited Citizens.


Most Public-8pirited Citizens.
1t is difficult to imagine anything
that would have shocked the commu-
nifty more or been received with
greater sregret than the news of the
death Of George Williams, which was
announced yesterday afternoon at A
O'Clock. So eudden and unexpected
was it, and so much was it to be de-
plored, that those who heard Of 1t
first waited for confirmation of the
intelligence before they were willing
to believe it.
About two months ago Mr.. Viii.
liams left Alabama where he was en-
gagged in carrying on q Government
contract ON the Muscle Shoals Canal.
While there he contracted malarial
chile and fever. He went to Wash
ingtOn and was under treatment
there for five weeks, at the expiration
Of which time he had recovered suffi-
GENTLY to be able to come home, ar
irving here about the Goth of june
Tho treatment was continued here
and the chills were broken up so that
Mr.. Williams was able to come down
town once or twice. About q week
or 30 ago he was taken sick, this time
from kidney trouble and general
prostration, the malaria, however,
still sho wing itself in his blood. His
condition was not considered at all
dangerous until 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, when he was seized with
congestion, and at o'clock, died.
The event was . sad and severe
blow to his family, and left them
fairly frantic with grief. His son, G.
L. Williams, was absentat ChattanoO-
ga, having gone there to attend to
some business for his father. He was
notified by telegraph and LETT for
home last evening. A dispatch was
also sent to Sidney Williams, of Chi
cago, and he and other friends in that
city will arrive this morning. A
number of Mr.. Williams relatives
elsewhere were like wise informed OF
his death by telegraph and several OF
them are expected here to attend the
funeral, the time for which has not
vet been fixed.
Mr.. Williams came to Keokuk In
1860 to accept the position of Super.
intendent of the Des Moines Valley
Railway, . position he occupied unit
October Let, 1868, winning q wild,
reputation as most energetic and
successful railroad officer. For fiv,
years previous to coming here he wa
Superintendent of the Logansport
Burlington r. r and prior to tina
Division Superintendent Of the Mich
igan Central.
| After retiring from the Superinten
dency of the d. NJ. v. r. r. Mr.. Viii
liams secured contract on the Rap
. ids Improvement at this place, ant
was engaged in that for several years
Here the same activity and pusl
which characterized his efforts else
where were manifested, and he dis
played admirable executive abilit
for enterprise of that kind. Sine
then he has been identified with Gov
, eminent contracts at Rock Island an,
, elsewhere, and latterly has bee
carrying on an extensive contract o.
the Muscle Shoals in Alabama. ]
was during his visits to this wor
. that he contracted the malarial poiso
I which no doubt greatly fastened,
it was not the direct cause of hi
: death.
. Mr.. Williams was universally rec
4 ognized as one of our most enterpris
, ing and public spirited citizens an
successful business men, and his los
will be sincerely regretted by al
8 He took personal interest and prid
/. in every public and private enter
prise, and contributed largely to ev
cry thing that was calculated to pre-
mote the interests of KeOkuk.
: He was largely instrumental in &c
curing the construction of the Keo
: kuk Elevator and was President Q
0 the Company. He was also principa
stockholder and President of tn
3 Iowa Coal Company.
He was q man of remarkable phys
ical and mental vigor, and, althoug
he was past sixty at the time of hi
. death, he was still engaged in activ
! business pursuits, managing his al
: fairs with his accustomed tireless en-
r ergy.
He was Q friend of the poor an
rich alike, q valued citizen and q pub
lie benefactor, and the news of hi
. death will be received with univel
sal sorrow and regret.-Gate City
, 18th.
Il Mr.. Williams was large propert
, owner in this city, and had an exter
, sive acquaintance here who will sir
cerely regret his death.