Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-26
AGED PIONEER IS
| CALLED BY DEATH
WILLIAM TRoTTER PASSES
AWAY IN WEST; DROVE
STAGES FOR MANY YEARS.
HAD EXCITING CAREER
Was a Companion of Buffalo Bill and
Is Well Known as Hotel
Keeper in Western
Cities.
HAD EXCITING CAREER

T. B. Trotter, 424 North Fifth street,
received letter Tuesday telling him
Of the death of his brother, william
Trotter, at Boulder, Montana, Janu-
airy II. William Trotter, who will be
remembered by the older residents
of Iowa, was one of the most pic
turesque characters west of the Mis-
sissippi. For many years he was a
stage driver going from Keokuk to
the coast 1.-THE Overland Stage to
California a book devoted to the
characters and stirring incidents of
the west in It's earliest days. carries
large story of this mans career.
Following Is the story of Mr.. Trotter
taken from the Boulder Monitor:
Monday evening of this week mark
ed the passing OF one Of the vests
Oldest and best known pioneers, Will
liam Trotter. He succumbed at the
home of his daughter here, Mrs. Hat
tie A. Holmes, after lingering illness
which extended over period Of six
years. The deceased was IS years of
age
In the death of William Trotter the
west lost one of its picturesque from
tiersmen and pioneer stage driver
of several states. He freighted be-
tween Keokuk and Des Moines, Iowa,
Fort Leavenworth and Fort Laramie
and finally located at the Boulder Hot
Springs in 1875 before there was any
hotel other than primitive log cabin.
He conducted the Windsor hotel In
Boulder for many years and finally
removed to White Sulphur Springs
and Lewiston. When his health be-
gan to fail he, in company, with his
wife, returned to Boulder, where they
have made their home with their
past three years.
During the early sixties Mr.. Trotter
was in company with Colonel William
Cody buffalo Bill and his narratives
of their exploits were interesting. He
was an exceptionally vivid story tell,
er and always had an audience around
him. His friends were many as he
had wide circle of acquaintances
throughout the state.
| In 1877 he was married to Mrs. Sar-
ali Stafford who survives him, with
three daughters, Mrs. Hattie A.
Holmes of Boulder, Mrs. Thomas Berk.
| lin of Lewiston and Mrs. Eldon Ander'
son Of White Sulphur Springs.
The funeral of William Ttrotter was
held from the Methodist church Wed.
nesday afternoon and interment was
made in the Boulder cemetery, The
funeral was perhaps one of the largest
ever held in Boulder and showed the
high esteem In which the deceased
'. was held by his many friends.
William Trotter, in the latter six
ties was known from the east to the
west end of the overland line and
was perhaps better known than any
other driver employed He was born
lin Cannonsburg, Pa, November 20,
1885. He was the eldest Of family
of six sons and began life on his own
account at the age of sixteen years.
The family moved first to Ohio, thence
to Iowa, and the subject of this
sketch came to Kansas when it was
yet but a territory during the later
fifties After two years residence
west of the Missouri river he returned
to Iowa, and for time was in the en-
ploy of the Western Stage company,
whose main line extended across the
state from the Mississippi to the Mis-
souri,. Later he was employed by the
Central Overland California and Pixies
Peak Express Co. and still later on the
same route by the overland stage line.
At intervals he has driven in different
sections almost the entire length OF
the noted historic route. For his long,
faithful and efficient service he was
promoted to the responsible position
of division agent on the line from old
I,,1 RI Fort Kn9rnaV
In the rapid construction of the
! Union Pacific railroad, and while the