Obituary for William Mathias Webster Lair
[husband of #136-141-9]

ALEXIS MAN DIES FROM PARALYSIS
William Lair, Found Dead in Home by His Wife Yesterday

William Lair, a lifelong resident of Warren County, was found dead at his home in Alexis yesterday afternoon shortly after 2 o'clock by his wife. Death was probably due to a form of paralysis and a physician who was hurriedly summoned by Mrs. Lair, stated that death had probably been instantaneous and that the deceased had been dead several minutes before his body had been found. Coroner Lugg of this city was informed of the death and going to the county line empannelled a jury and held an inquest.

Three witnesses were heard at the inquest, the first being C F Lair, a son of the dead man, who spoke of his father having been in poor health for some time, although his condition was not known to be serious. The witness said the last time he saw his father alive was last week. The wife, Mrs. Anna Lair, was the next to testify, and she corroborated the testimony of her son concerning her husband's ill health and as to her finding the body lying on the floor of the living room. Dr. E S Wingbigler, who had been consulted by the deceased at different times and who was the physician called by Mrs Lair, told of his coming to the home and finding the man dead. He also told of having been consulted by Mrs Lair some time ago when the latter complained of trouble with his heart and stomach and earlier when he was suffering from an impediment in speech. The physician stated that this a was symptom of a form of paralysis and gave it as his opinion that death was due to bulbar or central paralysis.

The jury including Sam Loveridge, W A Cox, DZ Braughton, J H Ohler, J W Hight, and Franz Ahlstrand, returned a verdict of death probably due to some form of paralysis.

The deceased was born Feb 5, 1853, in this county and made this his home practically all his life. For most of his life he had engaged in farming in Kelly and Spring Grove townships although he lived in this city from 1896 to 1898. About three years ago he retired from the farm and moved into Alexis where the family home has since been. He was united in marriage to Anne Pedigo on Aug 7, 1876, in Rock Island, and she with two sons, C F and W R, and three daughters, Mrs Charles Rohr, Mrs Charles Simcox, and Mrs Harry Stivers, all residents of this county, survives. One sister, Mrs Sarah Ball, of San Bernardino, California, is the only surviving member of the William Lair family and is the youngest of thirteen children. He was a member of the Coldbrook Christian Church.

No arrangements for the funeral have been announced.