William Henry Whiteside (1856 - 1919)

.....IS DEAD AFTER LONG SICKNESS. County Treasurer's Demise Occurs at the Summer Home of His Son on Rock River. William H. Whiteside, aged 63 years, twice elected Rock Island county treasurer, died at the summer home of his son, William E. Whiteside, on Rock river at 2:30 yesterday afternoon. Mr. Whiteside was a highly respected citizen of this community. Although his death was not unexpected by relatives and close friends, the entire county will be shocked at the news. The county treasurer was born and reared in Moline and was the son of one of the earliest settlers in this locality. He was elected as treasurer of Rock Island county in 1904 and served a full term. He was reelected to that position last fall. William Whiteside was a prominent member in fraternal orders of Rock Island and Moline. He was affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, Court of Honor, and the A.F.&AM. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church of Moline. Mr. Whiteside was born in Moline February 7, 1856. His father and mother, William and Elizabeth Whiteside were among the early settlers of the upper end of the county. He married Mary Allen of Rapids City. William Whiteside, Sr. came to Moline in 1852 and established one of the first cracker bakeries west of Chicago. A few years after the birth of the late county treasurer the Whitesides commenced farming in Zuma township. William H. Whiteside was educated in the country schools of the upper end of the county. He went to school in the winter and devoted the remainder of the year to homesteading on a farm. For several years he was a traveling salesman in the harvester trade. He turned his experience to good account in a general store at Joslin. He managed this store until he was elected to the position of county treasurer. At one time Mr. Whiteside was postmaster at Joslin and he was for 12 years superintendent of the Rock Island county fair. He served for a like period as president of the Crescent Telephone company of Joslin. Surviving are the widow and five children, William E., Roy Whiteside, Moline attorney, Mrs. Florence Sutherland, Gladys and Ruth, all of Moline. Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning in the Whiteside residence, 709 Seventeenth street, Moline. Rev. R. W. Babcock and Rev. Attree Smith will officiate at the services in the home. The principal service will be held in the Joslin church with Rev. J. P. Kerr of Van Orin, Ill. in charge. Burial will be in the Zuma cemetery. [newspaper unknown, Submitted by Sandra Trapp]