William Hawthorne

16 November 1918

William Hawthorne was born near Roberts, Illinois, September 18, 1870, and died at the Jefferson Hospital in Chicago, Saturday, November 16, 1918, aged 48 years, 1 month 29 and days.
The deceased, who was commonly know as "Sam", grew to manhood here. He then went to Kankakee where he held a position in the State Hospital for almost five years. For two years after that he conducted a restaurant in Roberts and then went to Chicago to work for the Chicago City Railway Company, for which company he has worked since, a little more than twenty years.
Mr. Hawthorne has not been very strong for several years but his death came as a surprise. He had been suffering with influenze but had recovered. His brother Robert, visited him Thursday before his death and found him apparently well again Saturday, a telegram announced that he was much worse and had gone to the hospital. This message was followed in a short time by another stating that he was dead.
He leaves to mourn his untimely death three brothers, Hugh of Piper City, John of Chatsworth and Robert of Roberts; three sisters, Mrs. Rebecca Woolsoncroft, Mrs. Jannette Bressie, and Mrs. Mary White of Roberts; besides a large circle of other relatives and many friends who join the bereaved family in sorrow. He has visited here frequently and the younger knew him only slightly, but the older people with whom he grew up, knew him and respected and honored his memory. To them the news of his death came as a shock.
The funeral was held at the home of his brother, Robert, Monday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. D. G. DuBois officiating. The remains were then laid to rest in Lyman Cemetery.

--Roberts Herald.  20 November 1918.

 

--Gibson City Courier.  28 November 1918.