The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-14
DEATH OF HON. WILLIAM REDDICK.

when they he chilled oy the anne ounce
ment that William Reddick had breathe
his last. lie had been sick for about yea
His illness commenced with Q bad cold
| which grew into lung fever, complicate
with Bright's disease of the kidneys The
his heart became affected, and six month
ago eczema was added to his affections
painful skin disease, covering his Who'll
body with lite boils. Not all these accumu
lated disorders, however. could who'll.
auench his indomitable spirit, and Mr.. Red
dick spent comparatively little of his tim
in the sick room, taking almost daily drive
in his carriage, and appearing frequently oil
the streets on foot. At one time last fall n
felt so well that he attended meeting OF TIT
board of trustees of the Insane Asylum
Kankakee, of which he was member, bu
it gave him setback from which he never
wholly rallied Lately, however, he imag
ined himself so much improved that he had
planned another visit to Kankakee on Mon
day, going thence to Springfield, and per-
haps from there to the Arkansas springs
lie had taken severe cold however, and his
physician, on being told his plans, shook
his head, Mr. Reddick remarking cheerfully,
1--WE will see on Monday" This was on
Saturday, his lungs being so affected that he
breathed with difficulty. He passed rest
less night, and rose as early as six o'clock
next morning, dressing himself and coming
down stairs. He went into the kitchen and
washed, and then into his sitting room,
dropping into his easy chair. About seven
o'clock he was called to breakfast, but said
he wanted none. At $40 boy went into
the room to look after the fire when he
found Mr. Reddick leaning over in his chair,
his hand touching the floor. Alarmed, the
boy called for assistance, but when Mr.. R.
was raised gently back into the chair it was
found that he was dead.
The news spread with lightning speed
over the city,-the mayor and other promi-
nent citizens hurried to the house, - the
flags over the court house and other build
ings were raised ut half mast, and before 10
o'clock the entire city had put on the sombre
hues Of mourning.
A life of William Reddick could be made
to fill an interesting and instructive volume,
though our space will admit of but very
short sketch here. He was born in Bally-
nahinch, county Down, Ireland, Oct. 81,
1912, and came to America with his parents
in 1916. They settled first in New Jersey
but soon afterwards moved to gainesville,
Ohio, where, in 1881, the the father, James
Reddick died. In 1926 William went to
Wheeling and learned to blow hollow ware. In
1927 he went to Brownsville, Pa, and learned
the window glass trade, and in 1880 married
Miss Eliza Jane Collins, of that city, who after
SO years af faithful wifehood was taken from
him July s, 1888. In 1882 the pair went
to Washington city, where Mr.. Reddick BILE W
glass until he had accumulated $1,000 with
which, in 1886, he came to Illinois, "locat.
ny' on farm in what is now Bruce town,
ship, in this county, and sustained by the
help Of a noble wife, the two made light of
he hardships ofthe early settlers. In 1888
Mr.. Rsddick was elected to the honorable
md responsible position Of sheriff and COL
ector of the county; and every two years
hereafter, until 1916, he was re- elected. The
'flice of collector in those days was Of much
more consequence than that of sheriff, and
he times being "hard," Mr. X. no doubt
aid the foundation Of much of his large
personal popularity by his kindly advances
lie had made to hard.up taxpayers. In 1S47
le was elected to the state senate, and again
N 1870, and 1t was during this last term in
hat body that le introduced and succeeded
n having adopted by both houses the noted
emperance enactment which bears his name
md is still in force in this state, the salient
eatures Of which is that it holds the liquor
eller responsible for the immediate injury
Inflicted by his trade, Other official positions
leld by Mr.. X. were those of appraiser of
anal lands in 1846 and trustee of T. G insane
asylum at Kankakee as well rs member of
If the board of supervisors, to which he was
reelected.
Having been all his life CONSTANT and
'c,ive Demo crat, his politics for the last 81
ears were no doubt the chief bar to his
higher political advancement, as he was often
mentioned in connection with congress, the
,overnership, U. s. senator, &C., positions to
which no doubt he would easily have at
aimed but for the minority condition of the
Democratic party.
As to his character, it may be said that
lie came from his Maker with remarkable
organization both of body and mind There
vas sound, healthful, vigorous body,
piece Of mechanism in itself and
happily fitted for peculiar mind. 1t was
leither petted, pampered or fondled and in
lulged, but was allowed natural devel-
pment, and had wise, sober, rational care