(veteran)

Following an illness but three weeks, Wm Rutledge, one of the oldest citizens of this place and a retired business man, passed away at Pender on Tuesday afternoon at four o’clock. Wm. Rutledge was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, July 22, 1845, and at his death was 66 years, 11 mo., 17 days old.

When about six years old he was left an orphan but went to the home of an uncle, the father of our townsman, Chas. Rutledge, where he lived until coming to American at the age of seventeen years in 1862.

Joining the union navy shortly after his arrival he served as a marine until mustered out in 1865 when he went to Chicago for a time. The call of the wild lured him and heeding the call, he came west and homesteaded one mile from Oakdale in 1870 and remained there until 1875 when he proved up his homestead, sold out and came to this part of the state, bought a farm over on the bottom near the river, and lived there twenty-two years before moving to Herman in 1897.

Mr. Rutledge was and had been for years a member of the Masons, of the Odd Fellows and of the United Workmen; in fact he was numbered among the oldest members in this vicinity.

The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon from the Baptist church, conducted by Rev. John Poucher, under the auspices of the Masons. Interment was made in the family lot in the Herman Cemetery, the remains being placed beside those of his beloved wife and son.