Allegheny County PA Archives-  Obituaries: Wills, John, 10 May 1899

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Martha Little, <harriettsgrand@gmail.com>, Dec 2010

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from The Pittsburgh Press dated Thursday, May 11, 1899 (page 1):
 
POLICEMAN JOHN WILLS DEAD
 
John WILLS, the oldest police officer in Allegheny, died shortly
before two o'clock yesterday afternoon in his seventieth year, at his
home, Virginia avenue and Daisy street, Allegheny. He contracted a
severe cold two weeks ago which developed into kidney trouble. Since
Thursday morning last he had been unconscious and his death was
expected almost hourly by his physicians and relatives.
 
Mr WILLS was appointed on the Allegheny police force forty-three years
ago. He was made chief of police in 1864, which position he held
until 1880, when he was appointed a detective. Shortly after
Allegheny became a city of the second class he was given a position as
park policeman by Mayor James G Wyman. A notable achievement of his
as chief of police was the capture of "Kid" McMunn, who was associated
with the notorious "Blinkey" Morgan in a Cleveland for robbery. He
personally arrested McMunn after a severe struggle and narrowly
escaped being killed by that desperate thief. While McMunn was being
taken to Cleveland on a train Morgan and others murdered Detective
Hulligan, who was in charge of the prisoner, and released McMunn.
Morgan was afterward executed at Columbus for his part in the crime.
 
Mr WILLS is survived by his wife and seven children. He was a member
of Post 128, G A R, Allegheny.
 
from The Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette dated Thursday, May 11, 1899 (page 4):
 
John WILLS, the oldest police officer in this community, a sketch of
whose eventful life was published in Saturday's issue of the
Commercial Gazette, died shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon
in his 70th year at his home, Virginia avenue and Daisy street,
Allegheny. Mr WILLS contracted a severe cold two weeks ago which
developed into kidney trouble. Since Thursday morning last he had
been unconscious and his death was expected almost hourly by his
physicians and relatives.
 
Mr WILLS was appointed on the Allegheny police force forty-three years
ago. He was for many years chief of police until 1880 when he was
appointed a detective. Shortly after Allegheny became a city of the
second class, deceased was given a position as park policeman by Mayor
James G Wyman, which position he held until two weeks ago. Mr WILLS
was a member of post 126, GAR, Allegheny. He is survived by the
following children. Mrs Sarah WILLIAMS, Mrs Ella BREEN, Miss D WILLS,
John WILLS, Thomas WILLS and W S WILLS. Arrangements for the funeral
have not been completed.
 
from the Allegheny City Death Records:
 
John WILLS, aged 70 years, widower, policeman, died May 10, 1899,
meningitis; born in US; lived at Virginia and Daisy; burial in Union
Dale Cemetery on May 13, 1899.
 
According to census records, his wife was Mary. Only six children are
named in the obituary. The seventh is son George.