OBITUARY.

 Another of our best and most respected citizens has been called to rest. Hon. William W. Maltby, for a number of years a prominent actor in the local history of Johnson county. died last Friday, May 14^th,  at his residence two miles south of this city after a brief illness.

By the death of Mr. Maltby a useful citizen has been removed from the labors of life. His illness was not at first of such a character as to awaken the serious apprehensions of his friends, but on Thursday he was taken suddenly worse and continued to sink gradually until the hour of his death which was about ten o'clock, the following day. He died in full faith of the christians hope surrounded by a number of friends and the family he had reared and nurtured

The funeral services were conducted at his late residence at 10 o'clock, a.m. last Sunday,  by Rev. A. E Higgens, assisted by the choir from the M.E church in this city,  who delivered a short and impressive eulogy upon the life and character of the one whose death has cast a pall of gloom over the entire community. The news of his death had reached the most remote portions of the county and from every locality friends and acquaintances  had came to pay the last sad rites to the memory of their deceased friend and neighbor, so that the funeral cortege was the largest ever seen in the county, and manifested the esteem in which he was held by all. Over one hundred vehicles were counted while the procession passed a given point besides a number of horsemen.

The pall bearers were selected from among the friends of the deceased and were composed of the following gentlemen: H. Potts, Peter Cochran, R. F. Wilson, J. Millikan, Wm. Henry, E. P. Diehl, Joseph Hart and N. Ainsworth

Mr. Maltby was born la Gorham, Genessee county, New York, December 31^st. 1818 and was consequently at the time of his death 61 years, 4 months and 14 days old. When a child of two years his father removed to Ohio where the deceased continued to reside until he reached manhoods estate. At twenty years of age he was converted to Christianity and united with the  M E. church. Shortly after his conversion he entered the ministry which be followed until compelled to abandon It on account of ill health, although is interest never ceased  and he continued at intervals to preach the gospel until the day of his death.

February 18, 1841 he was united in marriage to  Miss Hannah M. Booth who proved a devoted and faithful wife and who survives him to feel and mourn his loss.

From Ohio he removed to Indiana where he lived over ten years, when be removed again to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in 1870.came to this county, purchasing the property where he resided at the time of his death, and which by hos efforts he had made one of the most pleasant and attractive places in the county. During his residence here he has always been thoroughly identified with everything of a public nature and has been forernost among the representative men of the county. Twice he was called to represent his county in the Legislature of the State, and once in the Senate, returning from political labors with an untarnished record. Being a man of noble and generous impulses he numbered among his fast and true friends -all with whom he associated or became acquainted. Beside an extensive circle of acquaintances, Mr. Maltby leaves to mourn his loss a widow and family of four children. The eldest Mrs. L. M. Barney is a widowed daughter. His eldest son Frank, is one of our most valued and respected citizens. The next is Helen, an unmarried daughter and youngest Edward is one of our most estimable young men. All have grown to manhood and womanhood and all were present to perform the last kind act of love and affection that could be bestowed. Such in brief is the life and death of this kind neighbor, this christian gentleman, this loving and affectionate husband and father. He has fought  the good fight and for him there is laid up a crown of reward. Would that all our lives could be as his, so that when the eventual time shall come, the mandate is given to “pass ye beyond” that we could die in full hope of the blest immortality that is assured the faithful who die in the Lord.

The (Olathe) Mirror and News Letter
May 20, 1880
Page 1 col 5-6