The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-01
WILLIAMS OBSEQUIES
Victim OF Penn College Fire Buried
Monday Afternoon.

The Friends Meeting House was
packed Monday afternoon, for the fun
eral of the late Honorable Robert Fl
Williams, fire victim of the catastro
Pie which wiped two lives out of ex
istcnce and destr5yed Penn College
administration building Saturday
President David M ''Ed&ards and Prof
Clarence M. Chase We're in charge oil
the services.
| All of Penn College, many local citi
zens and distinguished friends from
out of the city were in attendance fol
the last rites. That the loss of the
business manager of the Quaker in
stitution was kecnly felt was seen by
the genuine sorrow of Penn faculty
and student body. Prohibition leaders
of the state of Iowa, and political
companions of the deceased were gath
cred for the funeral.
| Professor Clarence M. Case, follow
cd the reading of the obituary and
resolutions. with a short sermon. He
spoke OF that fact that the death OF
! Robert Williams, came while he was
in the act of service. When duty call
ed him, he answered the call and gave
his last full measure of devotion to
the college which he loved. The HeaV
enlv Father is to be thanked for spar
ing the lives that were in danger al
! the time of the tragedy, for many were
miracuously saved. Every student OF
Penn College, every alumnus, and ev
cry supporter of the Quaker College
and the principles for which she
stands, will have to put a shoulder
to the wheel and carry on the tasks
dropped by the late business manager
The present disaster should increase
the ardor of the Christian workers to
build the foundations of life on deep
or and stronger foundations.
President Edwards likened the death
of Mr.. Williams to that Of as+ship put
ting out to sea. AS the ship goes far
Their from the shore, the outline gets
smaller until finally it disappears
The ship has not ceased to exist, but
is only out of sight of those upon the
shore of its departure. But as II
nears the opposite shore, the size
grows larger and larger, until a full
ship is seen. From one is taken the
vision. to another vision is given.
The Penn College Male Quartette
which furnished music for the services
has the following personnel: Clarer
Coffin, Griffith Wright Chase Con
over and Loren Jones. Several beautf
full numbers were given by the quar-
tette.
The pail bearers were chosen from
the Penn faculty and included: Prof
iC. J.. Coffin, Prof. F. G. Stanley, Prof
IG. G. Hawk. Prof. w. ]. Kelsey. Prof
W. f. Berry and Dean S. M. Hadley.
Floral contributions were most beau
| tiful and fairly hid the casket from
view. Pieces from the many organiza
tons of which he was member and
from his many friends and acQuain
! tances were in abundance.
Following the services, the caske'
was opened, as in the case of the fun
eral of Harry Oakley. and the visitor:
were given a last look at the depart
ed
| Robert Henry Williams was born al
Ridgerarm, Illinois, Oct. 2, 1877, anC
departed this life May 27, 1916, at Os
! kalOosa, Iowa When he was an in
FAINT his parents moved to Parsons
Kan, in which state he lived until he
was IA years of age. When he was II
years old his mother died, and again
when IA years of age he was bereft Of
d stepmOthcr who filled the place Of
mother to the children of the family
in a most wonderful way. At this
time Robert was taken into the fam
lily of his uncle, Morton Tomlinson
who resided at Westtield, Ind. Hero
| Robert was sent to school and con
| tinucd in his education until he grad
uated from an excellent school known
as Union High school. He had high
ambitions with reference to securing
an adequate preparation for life's
Service, and Immediately after the
completion of the high school course
began to earn funds for college en-
trance. In pursuance of this intention
he went to North Dakota, where he
worked until he had saved sufficient
money to enter college.
In the fall of 1899, when % years
of age, he entered Penn college as a
freshman and continued until gradua
ton in June, 1902. In addition to earn
| ing his own way he, assisted by a
! brother, also a student in Penn col
lege, furnished funds for two years
| CuuGdIiOl vi SlolCI' lNObNAt ""p 81
very Industrious and Woodworking
student, earning his entire expenses
while in college, and yet on account
of his remarkable industry, finding
time to engage in various lines of col.
lCge activity. He was a very useful
member of the college community
while student, being used in many
responsible ways in the various asso'
ciations-and always giving to the
wor kassigned hi ma devotion which
brought good results. He formed many
friendships that have proven to be
lifelong and which have grown in
strength and blessing through the
years. The class in which he grad
uated was composed of "a members
and he is the first one to be called
from works to reward. In this class
of "a was young woman Jessie
Tandy, with whom he formed a very
beautiful friendship which ripeneo
into affection ending in their mar
riage, which occurred Nov. Is, 1902.
This union was not blessed by the
birth of children, and feeling the pres
sure of the duty of having someone
unon whnm thay might hpStOw the