The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-07-14
WILL ]. EDWARDS DEAD

Will J. Edwards One of the Most
Popular Young Men of this City
Died Suddenly last Thursday.
Like thunderbolt from a clear sky
was the terrible shock which appalled,
the entire city when the sad news was
carried over the city Thursday after
noon that Will j. Edwards was dead,
having died from an attack of apoplexy
few minutes before o'clock at the
residence of j. j. Evans where he board
ed, the shock being the more sudden
from the fact that Mr.. Edwards had
been at work at the Exchange National
Bank as usual all forenoon, and but few
persons knew that he had been stricken
until after his death. On Friday morn
ing he appeared at the bank as usual
and was busy all morning with his du-
ties as assistant cashier, and was on the
streets considerable, talking and joking
as usual, for he was man of unusual
jolly disposition. About 1880 he left
the bank as usual to go to dinner, and
when he reached the residence of ]. J..
Evans, where he had boarded for nnm-
Der of years, washed for dinner and then
walked into the parlor and picked up a
newspaper and commenced reading, din
ner not being quite ready. While read
ing he suddenly became dizzy and arose
and took three or four steps across the
room and then fell to the floor uncon-
scious. The family saw him fall and
DIR. Bowman was at once summoned and
rendered medical assistance, and in
about ten minutes he recovered con-
sciousness. Some medicine was given
him and he appeared to be getting along
nicely and told how he became dizzy
before falling. He continued to improve
and talked and joked with those present
and about 2 o'clock was feeling SO much
better that he said he was going back
to, the bank in few minutes.
About B o'clock he was taken worse
and vomited some, complaining of a
fearful pain in his head and Drs. Bow
man and Layton were sent for. He con-
tlnued to grow worse and died few
minutes before o'clock, his death be-
ing caused from second attack of apo
plexy, the result of rupturing small
blood vessel at the base of the brain.
Will j. Edwards was born in Long
Creek township, Decatur county, Iowa,
Jan. 30, 1865, being at the time of his
death 80 years, 6 months and days old.
When he was about five years of age his
family moved from the farm to Osceola,
Iowa, whore they remained for about a
year. In 1878, the family went to Cen
terville, Iowa, and resided in that city
for some seven years, removing to Leon,
in 1880. For number of years Will
was scholar in the Leon public schools
Afters completing his education in the
public schools he attended the Baptist
college at Pella for year, and in 1884
taught the Decatur City schools. In
1885 he was elected assistant superin-
tendent of the Leon High School, which
position he resigned year later to ac-
cept employment with Harry Snow,
who had an extensive book agency in
this city. The year 1889 he spent in
Chicago as student at Bryant & STRAIT
tons business college, and after com
pleting the course was employed for a
couple of years as bookkeeper for firms
in Chicago and Des Moines. In 1891 he
returned to Leon to accept a position in
the Farmers & Traders Bank, and for the
past ten years had been the efficient as
sistant cashier of the Exchange Nation
al Bank.
Will Edwards was without question
one of the most popular young men who
ever resided in Leon. Kind and sympa-
thetic in his nature, he was at the same
time one of the most iovial persons.
No one in distress ever appealed to him
without a liberal response and in cases
of sickness and death he was always the
first to respond and do everything in
his power for those in distress. He was
a splendid singer and was ever ready
fa land hi icfo s,,t -
few funerals were held in Leon where
he was not requested to sing, and only
the afternoon before his death he was
singing at the last sad rites over the
body of Uncle Samuel Miller, one Of the
oldest residents of this city, little
thinking that in less than twenty-four
hours he himself would be cold in death.
He was favorite at every public and
social gathering, and was invariably the
life of the party. The expression has
been freely heard that there was no
man in the entire town who will be
missed more than Will Edwards.
For many years he has been an active
worker in the K. of P. lodge, serving for
years as Keeper of Records and Seal ,and
at the time of his death was Chancellor
Commander of the lodge. His death is a
sore loss to his brother knights with all
of whom he was favorite. Acting in
his official capacity only few Sundays
ago at the annual K. of P. memorial
services, during the decoration of the
graves of his departed brethren in
closing the services he used these
words: Brothers, we have finished the
duty Of the day. May the beautiful
custom we have followed never be
neglected. Perhaps when year hence
we convene again for this ceremony it
will be at the grave of one of us who
today have assisted in conducting it,"
And in just four weeks his brother
knights were performing the last sad
rites at his funeral.
He is survived by his aged father and
mother, Rev. and Mrs. r. Edwards, two
brothers, Chas. and Frank, and one
sister, Nellie, all of Osceola.
Short funeral services were held at
the residence Of J. ]. Evans on Friday
afternoon, conducted by Elder H. II.
Hubbell, pastor of the Christian church,
assisted by Rev. Woodward of the M. e.