Obit: Peckham, William H. (1855 - 1933)

Contact:  Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: PECKHAM OLSON REYNOLDS FRITSCHE BOLLES ANDERSON KOPCHINSKI

----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 07/14/1933

Peckham, William H. (19 OCT 1855 - 5 JUL 1933)

Funeral services were held at the Peckham home Saturday afternoon at 1:30 for Wm. H. Peckham, who passed away Wednesday, July 5, 1933, with Herbert Harper and John Neuendorf officiating. Burial took place in the Memorial Cemetery with J. H. Anderson, Christ Skilbred, Wm. Wepfer, Joe Zahorka, Gust Brecklin and Frank Neuendorf acting as pallbearers. Mr. Peckham passed away after an illness of the past 10 months. Death was caused by arterio-sclerosis and chronic nephritis.

William Henry Peckham was born in Winnebago Co., Wis., Oct. 19, 1855 and was 77 years, 8 months and 16 days old at time of death. The Peckhams came to the town of Holton (Marathon Co., Wis.) in 1872 and settled on their farm 5 miles southeast of Dorchester (Clark Co., Wis.) near the old Sterling farm. In 1882 Mr. Peckham purchased the farm home 4 miles southeast of the village where he has lived ever since. On Aug. 5, 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Olson and they made their home on his farm.

Eight children were born to this happy union. Two of them preceded Mr. Peckham in death; Guy, who passed away at Camp Grant, Ill., Oct. 7, 1918, and Clara, Mrs. John Reynolds, who passed away May 2, 1920.

To the many friends of the Peckhams words cannot express the loss they feel in Mr. Peckham’s death. His kindness, generosity and honesty made him a friend to everyone and especially endeared him to his own family. Mr. Peckham was one of Dorchester’s first settlers, coming here when his father, a Civil War veteran, took over a government homestead. When they came here the railroad went only as far as Stevens Point, and the journey was continued with oxen and afoot.

Besides his wife, Mr. Peckham leaves four daughters, Cora, Mrs. Frank Fritsche, town of Mayville; Olive R. at home; Mrs. Maude Bolles, Westboro, and Mary, Mrs. Clifford Anderson, town of Holton, and two sons, Louis T. Peckham at home and Wm. R. Peckham, Medford. He also leaves eleven grandchildren, Mrs. Lawrence Kopchinski, Wausau, Harvey Reynolds, Chicago, Olive, Verona, Alfred, Elizabeth, Clarence and Ruth Fritsche, Maurice Anderson, Harriet Bolles, Westboro, and James Peckham, Medford.

Out of town relatives and friends attending the services were Mrs. Hy. Halverson, Louis and Clarence Olson, Larson, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Reynolds, Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kopchinski, Wausau, Mrs. Martin Mattson and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Olson, Neenah, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Basseman and family and Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Basseman of Wausau.

The Clarion joins the many friends in offering deepest sympathy to the mourning ones.