CITY MOURNS MARY’S DEATH HERE SUNDAY

Schools and Business Suspended As Large Crowd pays Tribute in Funeral Monday

     William F. Shearer, who had been mayor of Angola since  Jan. 1, 1930, died at his home on North College street, Sunday morning at 6: 30 o’clock, after a period of failing health extending over the past few months, and culminating in acute Bright’s disease.  A severe heart attack Sunday morning resulted in his death.

     Mr. Shearer had been quite closely connected with the life of Angola since he came here as a student of Tri-State College, graduating in 1897.  After a period of fifteen years in the ministry and evangelism, Mr. Shearer returned to Angola to make his home in 1912, and later he builded the beautiful and comfortable home in which he lived.  He engaged in the culture of gladioluses, and became one of the most extensive growers in the country, and through this business the name of Angola was carried far and wide.

     During his term as mayor the waterworks plant was improved and the city electric light plant was constructed, the latter lighting the ornamental system of the city and the floodlights for the monument.  

     In 1922 Mayor Shearer and the city council attacked the problem of building a sanitary sewage disposal plant for the city of Angola, which had become a necessity by orders of the  state borad of health and by continuous threat of damage suits.  It affected property owners in the vicinity of the city sewage outlet.  His administration also established the orderly collection and disposal of garbage.

    Mr. Shearer was an ardent supporter of the work of the Christian church.  He was a member of the Angola Rotary Club, with perfect attendance up to his last critical illness.  He was president of the organization in the year 1924-25.

     The city schools, Tri-State College and all business houses suspended their operations during the hour of the funeral, which was held in the Christian church at 2:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. O. Rose, his friend since college days, assisted by Rev. Whitehouse and Dr. John Humfreys.  The Rotary Club, the city council and the city fire department and Mr. Shearer’s large Sunday school class attended in bodies.  The burial was in Circle Hill Cemetery.

     William F. Shearer was born at the farm home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Harrison Shearer, in Kosciusko county, Indiana, February 8, 1870.  Following a long illness that developed slowly and in such a stealthy manner that many of his friends did not realize how dangerous and painful it had become in the last months he was granted relief from his great suffering and departed this life at his home in Angola, Jan. 29, 1938, at the age of 67 years 11 months and 21 days.