Edward Bradberry Williams

Edward Bradberry Williams was born near Burt, Woodson County, Kansas, October 2, 1888 and departed this life at his home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, Monday morning, January 27, 1919, aged 30 years, three months and 25 days.  He was stricken with influenza on January 16th and a week later bronchial pneumonia developed, which resulted in death.  Realizing at once the seriusness of his malady he at once remained in bed and everything that loving hands, medical skill and good nursing could do was done to arrest the ravages of the disease, but he gradually grew weaker until the end came.

The deceased grew to manhood in Toronto, Kansas, and graduated from the high school in that city and later from the Salina Business College in the year 1907.  He decided on electrical engineering for his life work, and completed this course in Highland Park College in Des Moines in  1912.

He married December 20, 1914, to Rose Lillian Barnard of Toronto, KS., and to this union was born one child, Edward Barnard , on September 19, 1916.

After graduating form Highland Park College he moved to Clearfield, where he was part owner and manager of the Clearfield Light and Power Company.  After the plant was abosorbed by the Southern Iowa Utilities Co.,  he commenced work for this organization and was for a time transferred to Blockton where  he had charge of the local plant, and was later moved to Mount Ayr a year ago last spring and given complete charge of the management of this office and surrounding territory.  He has proven himself wonderfully efficient in his chosen work, and was one of the most valued employees of the company he so faithfully served.  While in Mount Ayr he has earned the friendship of many warm personal friends, who are deeply shocked and grieved at his untimely death.

He leaves besides his wife and young son, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Williams, of Toronto, KS., who arrived Sunday, also three brothers and a sister.  The father and mother are crushed with grief, as only during the holidays they were called upon to mourn the death of two daughters from the same disease.

The deceased was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church of Des Moines, having with his wife joined this church on Easter Sunday, 1915.  He is a member of the Masonic Order, having joined the order while living in Clearfield.  Upon moving to Mount Ayr he put his membership in the lodge here.

He will be laid to rest in the family lot in the cemetery at Toronto, KS.