Published in the Pilot August 20, 1919

W. P. Samson died of hardening of the arteries at his home in this city last Friday. He has been in failing health for some two years but for the past two months he has been noticeably failing. About ten days before his death he had become so weak he had to stay in bed and the end came peacefully at about 4 o’clock in the morning. The funeral was held at the residence on West Washington Street Sunday P.M., Rev. C. M. Foreman officiating. The burial service was in charge of the I.O.O.F. Lodge, of which he had been a member for about 28 years.

Mr. Samson was born in Newark, N. J., August 12th, 1859, so he was just three days past 60 years of age at the time of his death. He came to this city in 1889 and was married here to Mrs. Hester Pounds, November 3rd, 1894.

He had been in the drug business with C. T. Farnham for a good many years, the business having been sold to the Stewart Pharmacy only a few week ago.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge also but was always greatly interested in the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge. He had been at the head of the Garfield Lodge many times and was a member of the board of trustees for many years. He was a member of the Patriarchs Militant also, being one of the state commanders in the Canton. He had been a member of the Grand Lodge of this state.

His passing has caused many to mourn for him and with the bereaved family. Besides the wife he leaves three step-children, J. L, and Harve Pounds and Mrs. Howard Sutherland. His brother died at San Jose, Calif., about five months ago of the same disease and a sister, Mrs. Emma Tillou, died about six weeks ago at the Elizabeth, N. J. His mother aged 87, and one sister, Mrs. Myra Nelson, live at Elizabeth also.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public library.