The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-26
Had Been III Several Weeks In a
Hospital at Hiilsdale and
Thought to be Getting
Better.
SUDDEN COLLAPSE
And He Unexpectedly Passed Away
Yesterday Afternoon, Ending
a Very Active and
Useful Life.


came by wire yesterday Of the death
OF W. H. Dolbear. former prominent
and popular citizen of Keokuk, a resi-
dent here for over forty years. Mr..
Dolbear recently suffered a collapse
and for about seven weeks had been
patient at hospital at Hillsdale,
Ill, short distance from Chicago.
Yesterday his brother Cyrus A. Dol
bear, bookkeeper at the Western
Union telegraph office. received a
message saying that his brother. w.
H. was much better which lifted the
hopes OF his family and friends for
his ANAL and early recovery. At about
$50 o'clock last evening another
message came to John H. Cole, saying
that Mr.. Dolbear had died suddenly
that afternoon. Heart disease, the
physicians pronounced as the cause of
his sudden demise.
The death Of w. H. Dolbear VIII
bring sorrow to many persons in Keo-
kuk among whom his congenial and
companionable presence was always
welcome. He worked we'll and play
ed well, but gave very little of his
time to play. Yet no man enjoyed
more fully the associations among
friends than he. Some men rust out;
others wear out Mr.. Dolbear's fixed
Ideas Of duty we'll done kept him en-
ployed in performing the duties Inn
posed upon him by his vocation. Ac-
tive, capable, energetic and thorough
" Industrious. his useful life was
worn out rather than rusted out. II
he was ever worried or care worn it
could not be read in his face. The
kindly expression and invariable smile
in greeting friends was always there.
They may have ranked in his breast
and fed an illness that fastened him
on to eternity. yet the world could
read no such story in his face or ac-
tons. He is gone; a good man has
fallen, and many friends here and
elsewhere mourn him. The details of
his death are vry meagre and no more
than is given above have been receiv-
ed. There are no indications as to
when or where the funeral will take
place.
Forty Years Herel
w. H. Dolbear was born in Yer
mont in 1851, and when baby was
brought as far west as Delaware,
Ohio by his parents, where they To-
Gated. When about fifteen years old
he entered telegraph office at Della
ware where he learned the business
of a telegrapher He gradually work
ed westward, working in railroad
offices and finally entered the employ
of the Western Union Telegraph Co.
He took charge as manager of the Of
fees of that company in Keokuk in
about 1870 and continued in the posi-
ton until about 1902, over forty yeara
in constant, conscientious service. AT
ter his retirement from this position
he removed to Chicago where he en-
gagged in the service OF large electri-
cal supply company whee he continu-
ed his earnest activities for his new
employers. He was an ambitious man
not for the paltry praise the world
could bestow, but for the satisfying
consciousness of having accomplished
what he undertook He probably
worked too strenuously to accomplish
his purposes. He was good man, a
splendid neighbor, a devoted husband
and an affectionate father. Shall more
be said of a man?
T. a
former resident OF Keokuk, but who
at the time OF her marriage was a
resident Of Alexandria, Mo, where
the marriage ceremony was perform.
ed. Mrs. Dolbear survives him with
one daughter, Miss Maude Dolbear
Since leaving Keokuk he had fire..
quently visited here and always had
cordial greeting from Keokuk PEG
pie.