Potosi journal., 1909-08-25
Capt. Frederick Will Dead.

This community was inexpressibly |
shocked and profoundly moved last |
Thursday evening between four and
five o'clock when Capt. Frederick
Will, one of Potosi's Oldest and most |
esteemed citizens, was brought home |
10 surrey dead. He had been to
Hopewell to attend the funeral of his
brother-in-law, the late r. H. Evans.
and was returning home in surrey in |
company with Nessrs. Andrew Link
Of this place, and John Evans Of Min
eral Point. As they we're proceeding
through New Diggings, about three
miles east OF town, Mr.. Link, who
was occupying the rear seat with
Capt. viii, observed the latter take
out his watch and note the time. He
had hardly replaced the timepiece 10
hispocket when he suddenly collapsed,
gave two or three deep gasps and was
still forevermore. His companions
thinking that he might only have be-
come unconscious, supported the body
10 the vehicle and hurriedly complet-
ed the journey home. On arriving
here he was conveyed to his room in
the Austin Hotel, and physician
summoned, who pronounced him
dead.
His funeral took place last Sunday
at II o'clock at Hopewell, where SER
vices were conducted by Rev. J. E.
Martin of De Soto. The obsequies
were conducted by the Masonic Lodge
OF Potosi, OF which the deceased was
one of the oldest members. assisted by
visiting Masons from De Soto, Bel
grade, Caledonia and other points, and
the body was laid to rest in the Hope
we'll cemetery. The funeral was at
tended by concourse of several hum
dred people, who had come to pay the
tribute of respect and love to the
memory of good man.
Capt. Frederick Will was born in
the city Of Rhine, Bavaria, Germany.
on March l, 1883, and he was there
fore IS years, S months and 10 days of
age at the time of his death. He was
educated in the schools of his native
land in the profession of a civil engi-
neer. He immigrated to this coun-
try in 1856, and shortly after landing
came to Missouri. At that time the
Iron Mountain railroad was being
build through this part Of Missouri,
aud the yoa6g engineer accepted a
position with that company as one of
its constructing engineers. working
in that capacity until 1858. About
that time he was married to Mrs.
Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of the
late John Eveus of HopewelI, and To-
Gated on farm on Wallen Creek, in
Concord township. His wife died in
1868, leaving him daughter, who is
now Mrs. w. H. Leavenworth, of Los
Animas, Colo. A step.daughter, Mrs.
Lucy Hull Of Chicago, also survives
him.
! During the war he was a strong
Union man, and while he did not en-.
list in the regular army, he organized
company Of home guards, known as
the "pawpaw militia" and was active
10 this section in protecting Union ia.
terests. In this way he acquired the
title OF captain. 10 politics he was
always Republican and had held the
: elective offices OF county surveyor
public administrator aud cou nty treas
urer at various times He was also
2 postmaster in Potosi for two terms
voluntarily resigning that Office il
1901. In that year. on the appeal OF q
sister living 10 Germany. he went
| back to his native land with the iD
( tention Of spending the balance OF hi:
days there, but the Call OF his adopt
ed land, the tugging Of long associa
, tions and friendships, brought hin
, back to US after an absence Of yea
/ or so, determined to round out his lift
, here.
, Now that that life is ended the
benediction that falls upon it is uni
.. versal. May his rest be peaceful.