William Farnsworth
| Date of Interment or Death | 09/20/1949 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | C |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 2-5-1s |
Obituary
W. A. Farnsworth Dies Monday in Beverley Hills
Beloved Pioneer of City Leaves Wife and Three Children
Monday afternoon about 4 p.m. a wire from Beverly Hills, Calif, announce that on that morning at California Hospital there occurred the death of one of Wahpeton’s oldest resident and well-beloved citizens, William Allan Farnsworth.
In recent years because of ill health Mr. Farnsworth has not been able to pursue his usual activities and a few months ago, Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth sold their fine Sixth St. home, where they had long resided with the intent that after a visit of a month in the home of his sister, Mrs. H. H. Day of Hudson, Wis. They would make their home in California where both of their sons are now living. Having made this visit in Wisc. They went on to Beverley Hills, Calif., as contemplated, but shortly after their arrival Mr. Farnsworth became suddenly worse and his death occurred Sept. 20, 1948. Further plans are that following cremation of the remains, interment will be in Fairview Cemetery here in Wahpeton, Odd Fellows service early in the coming summer, Mrs. Farnsworth returning at that time.
Mr. Farnsworth was one of Wahpeton’s early residents, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus K Farnsworth with their children, Irvin Will A. and Ms. Dee coming in 1879, and Mr. Farnsworth, has often told that the only sleeping space available for the family on their first night in Wahpeton was the loft of the building still standing at 214 Dakota Ave, now occupied by the Wahpeton Monument Co., this loft then being reached by ladder. Following attendance at the Public School Mr. Farnsworth went to work for R. W. Beatty, merchant, then located on the site of the present Citizens National Bank. After a couple of years there he was successively with the People’s State Bank, then a term of employment in the office of the
Register of Deeds, Asst. Cashier of the Citizen’s National Bank leaving this later position to enter the insurance business which he successfully pursued for many years, being the representative of the Travelers Life Ins. O. for more than forty years, at one time having the State Agency of that o. in company with F. E. Ford, of St. Paul.
Will Farnsworth gave much time to the various activities of his home town, President of the Richland Co. Fair Assn., Secy. Of the Red Cross during the period of World War I, County Draft Board, World War II Commercial Club, and many other similar activities.
Recently and just before the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth for California at the local Odd Fellows Lodge there was a celebration honoring Mr. Farnsworth’s Fiftieth year as a member of that Lodge and he has been presented with a jeweled pin from the Grand Lodge as a reminder of his faithfulness to the Order for fifty years.
Mr. Farnsworth is survived by his wife and younger son, Will Allan both of Beverley Hill, Calif., and elder son, Donald K. Farnsworth, Stockton, Calif., and an only daughter Donna, Mrs. Gervin Yeon, of Havre, Mont., and an only sister MaDee Day, wife of H.H. Day, Hudson, Wis.
W. A. Farnsworth Rites Wednesday from Vertin’s
Pioneer Resident Died in September In California
Memorial rites for W. A. Farnsworth, who died September 20th in Beverley Hills, Calif., will be held Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock from Vertin Chapel. The ashes will be buried in the family lot at Fairview Cemetery.
Wahpeton Odd Fellow Lodge of which Mr. Farnsworth was a member over fifty years, will be in charge of the service. The family request that no flowers be sent.
Honorary pallbearers will be R. T. Barber, C. M. Comstock, Al Bader, S. H. Murray, A. Torguson, Charles Glasser, Wallace Morden, J. G. Forbes, J. H. Dietz, Harry Stern, Joseph Stern, Donald Lum, Dan Swank, Allen Taylor and Ed Dagel. The family will arrive this week from the west coast for the last rites.
Will Alan Farnsworth was a pioneer resident of Wahpeton. He came here with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus K. Farnsworth and his sister and brother Irvin and MaDee in 1879. He attended school here and worked for two years in the Beatty store.
He was associated for many years with the People’s State Bank, worked in the Register of Deeds office one term and was in the Citizens National Bank, leaving to enter the insurance business. He was associated with the Travelers Insurance Company for over forty years. Active in community affairs he was at one time president of the Fair association, was secretary of the county Red Cross during World War I, on the county draft board in World War II.
His family consists of his wife and sons Will Alan, of Beverly Hills and Donald K. of Stockton and daughter, Mrs. Gervin Yeon of Havre. There’s one sister Mrs. H. H. Day of Hudson, Wis.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.