Obit: Wilms, Boyce A. (1833 - 1901)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: WILMS DUNHAM SHEAN BEVIER

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/11/1901

Wilms, Boyce A. (OCT 1833 - 6 JUL 1901)

Died, at his home just south of the city limits (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.), Saturday night, July 6th, 1901, of heart failure, B.A. Wilms, in the 68th year of his age.

The people of Colby and vicinity were deeply shocked, Sunday morning, to learn of the death of Mr. Wilms, and especially those who saw him at his store as late as half past nine. He locked his store about 9:45 and went home; shortly after arriving there he complained of a pain and heaviness about the heart and expressed a wish for a certain medicine in the store, that he had used occasionally for heart trouble. His granddaughter, Miss Nina BeVier, came to the store after the medicine, but in returning met Mrs. Dunham, who told her to summon a physician. She came back and called Dr. Freeman, but when he reached the house Mr. Wilms was past earthly aid.

The relatives were notified and Tuesday afternoon set for the funeral, which was held from the M.E. Church, Rev. E.G. Vischer officiating.

The funeral was attended by the G.A.R. delegation, of which acted as pallbearers.

Boyce August Wilms was born in Schleiswig, Germany, in October 1833; came to America with his parents in 1852, and located at Racine, but later removed to Manitowoc; he has learned the barber trade and after reaching his majority he worked at that trade in Appleton, Waupaca and Fond du Lac. He was united in marriage while at Appleton, but his wife only lived a short time; in 1859 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Catharine Dunham, who survives him.

Aug. 14th, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 21st Vol. Inf., from Waupaca, and served until Jan. 4th, 1864, when he was discharged for disability from disease contracted in a rebel prison. After his discharge he again took up the barber trade, running shops in Waupaca and Fond du Lac, until in Aug. 1872, when he came to Colby and took up a homestead on Section 24, town of Hull, Marathon Co., and shortly after erected a building on the site of his present store, putting in a stock of drugs in connection with his barber shop. This has been his home since, with the exception of a couple of years that he resided at Park Falls.

"Doc" Wilms, as he came to be called by his many acquaintances, was a strictly honest and upright man in all his dealings, giving and exacting to the penny; was very peculiar in some of his ideas, strong in his own beliefs and always ready to accord to others their right of opinion.

Besides the faithful wife, who has journeyed down the pathway of life with him for more than forty years, he leaves to mourn his death, two sons, William of Menasha, Frank of Abbotsford, one daughter, Mrs. M.J. Shean of Ladysmith, a granddaughter, Miss Nina BeVier, who has, all her life, been as a daughter to him, two stepsons, Alfred and T.H. Dunham, and two brothers, P.H. of Holland, Mich., and H.C. of San Jacinto, Cal., all of whom have the full sympathy of the community.