Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-08-06
DIES OF HEART FAILURE.
Former Wausau Resident Passes
Away in California.


The following taken from the San
francisco Chronicle of the date given,
will be of interest to Wausau people,
lnasmuch as the gentleman mentioned
vas formerly principal of our city
schools
OAKLAND, July 2S.-WiIlis Guy Wit
ter, well-known attorney of this city,
was Stricken with heart failure at a
restaurant at Ninth and Broadway at
IL o'clock this morning, and died while
being removed in the ambulance to the
Receiving hospital
Mr.. Witter was appointed Assistant
United States Attorney for the Northern
district of California in 1895, and held
the office for several years. He then
took up the matter of reclaiming tule
lands along the San Joaquin river, and,
securing a number of dredgers, re.
claimed what is now Roberts island, as
we'll as several other important tracts,
which have grown very valuable for
Agricultural purposes. He owned many
ranches throughout the state, and also
The valuable block at Ninth and Broad
way. His estate is worth overhaul a
million dollars.
The deceased leaves widow ard six
children, the two eldest, Dean and
Margaret, being students at the Cali
fornia university. He was 46 years old.
and was member of the Masonic fra
ternity and the order of Elks. He was
p nephew of the late Congressman
Timothy Guy Phelps, and was widely
known in legal and business circles
throughout the state.
Mr.. Witter had large acquaintance
fhip in this city. He came to Wausau
ln the fall of 1884 10 assume the super
Entendency of The Wausau public
schools and filled that position with
fredit for two years. When he came
here he had just been graduated from
he University of Wisconsin. He was
then in young manhood and took up
bis work with a vim which characterized
bis work through life and stamped him
as man of untiring energy and per-
severance. While engaged in his work
here he was offered a more remunera-
tive position as superintendent of
schools in Menominee, Mich, which he
accepted. Later he re-entered the Uni
verslty OF Wisconsin and completed
law course, and believing that the West
held out opportunities for the young
man OF his profession, he went to San
francisco. He was successful from the
start and built up large and remuner-
alive practice, as is attested by the
estate left his family.
He made his home in Berkeley. but
had his law office in San Francisco. At 1
the time of the earthquake his Office
was destroyed and his loss was heavy
one. He did not sit down and mourn
over it, but opened wide the doors
Of his home to receive the distrcsscd--it
was this character which won him
friends throughout his career.
Since leaving Wausau abous twenty
years ago he never found time to visit
here since, but that did Lot separate
him from his Wausaufriends, and there
are many here who mourn his early
and sudden demise when in the prime
of life and a promising future before
him.
Mr.. Witter was forty-five years of age
and son of DIR. Witter of Grand
Rapids, who at present is living in San
Jose, Cal. In the summer of 1886 he
was united in marriage to Miss Eliza
beth Gooding, daughter of Mrs. M. A
Gooding, then resident of Wausau,
but who now resides in Berkeley. Six
were born to them, all living.
The eldest, Dean, was born in Wausau
and is at present attending the Univer-
sity of California.
Besides the above relatives he leaves
a sister, Mrs. w. ID. Connor of Marsh
field and brother George, who resides
in the West. &. w. Witter of this city,
was distantly related to him. Friends
here were not apprised of the time of
holding funeral services.
In the death of Mr.. Witter California
has lost one of its foremost citizens.
The sympathy of friends il Wausau 60
out to the bereaved family, which so
suddenly was deprived of a kind and
loving husband and father.