WILLIAM H. STUDY                                

The Sedan Times-Star, Thursday, July 13, 1911, Pg. 1

Died:  July 7, 1911

WILLIAM H. STUDY DEAD.

______

PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME

HERE LAST FRIDAY.

______

HEART TROUBLE THE CAUSE

______

He Was a Former Probate Judge

of This County and One of Its

Foremost Citizens.

______

  William H. Study, ex-probate judge and one of the best known citizens of Chautauqua county, died at his home here at about 2 o’clock Friday afternoon.  His death came after twenty-four hours of acute heart trouble.  The first symptoms were shown shortly after dinner Thursday when he complained of pain near his heart.  His condition steadily became more alarming and he soon took his bed.  Every effort was made by stimulants to maintain the heart action but it proved only a temporary expedient.  Death came to him very easily and he passed away as one failing to sleep.

  Judge Study was born July 20, 1841, at Williamsburg, Ind.  He lacked only thirteen days of being 70 years of age.

  When the second call for volunteers came at the outbreak of the Civil war Judge Study enlisted in Company C, 8th Indiana Infantry.  He served four years and participated in many of the most important and decisive battles of that great contest.  He held the offices of sergeant and first lieutenant in his company.  At the close of the war he returned home to Indiana and on December 14, 1865, he was married to Louisa Cranor at Hagerstown, Ind.  To them five children were born.  Two of them Lurena and Kizzie, died in infancy.  Three sons Bertsell C. Study of Denver, Clarence M. Study of Bon Ami, Louisiana, and Harry P. Study, are living and with the wife and mother mourn the death of their loved one.  Two sisters, Mrs. William Oler of Williamsburg, Ind., and Mrs. Chas. H. Huff of Martinsville, Ind., and one brother, Isaac Study of Cedar Vale, also survive him.

  Judge Study was appointed deputy sheriff of Wayne county, Indiana, in 1866 and served four years.  In 1870 he was elected sheriff and filled the office for two terms.  At the close of his last term he moved to Indianapolis, Ind., and engaged in the real estate business.  In 1877 he moved to Fountain City, Ind., where he conducted a mercantile and grain business.  In 1884 he came to Chautauqua county and located on a ranch in Harrison township four miles southeast of Cedar Vale.  Later he moved to Cedar Vale and engaged in the milling business.  In 1900 he was elected probate judge and in 1902 was reelected serving four years.

  The funeral was held from the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member , at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon.  The pastor, Rev. R. T. Harkness, conducted the services and paid beautiful tributes to Judge Study’s character.  The pallbearers included three old friends from Cedar Vale, Postmaster Austin Brown, Commissioner H. L. Cox and W. M. Jones.  The others were P. F. Eggan, F. B. Garrett and W. H. Dennis of Sedan.  The G. A. R. attended in a body and conducted the burial services.  The casket was covered with a large flag and with beautiful floral offerings from friends here and elsewhere.

  Judge Study suffered a stroke of paralysis in June 1909, and from that time dates his physical breakdown.  Until that time he was as fine a specimen of physical strength as one often sees.  Even when stricken he was still happy and took the matter lightly.  He had been at Cedar Vale and as the county was then in the midst of the first court house campaign he was attending a court house meeting in the old Lance office.  His friends carried him on a cot to his home, a block away, and he kept time for their step although he could not speak plainly.  After a week or two he was again able to get around but the effects of the paralysis were still noticeable and his decline from then was slow but sure.  He wanted to die.  He felt that he had lived his three-score-and-ten and that the future held only suffering and sorrow for him.  Strong in the consciousness of an upright life he had no fears of death and he welcomed it as a friend setting one free from a life of pain.

  Judge Study was one of the best probate judges this county ever had.  With splendid mind and wide information he combined a fine discernment of justice with a courage that knew no fear.  His love of justice was strong and he administered the duties of his office faithfully and impartially to a degree seldom known.  He was strong in his likes and dislikes, but his dislikes were always tempered with a sense of justice.  In the last few years he has given much time and thought to his religious welfare.  As a husband and father Judge Study was loving, indulgent and faithful.  As a citizen he exercised courageously an intelligent conception of the duties of citizenship.  As a neighbor he was loved by all who knew him and his home here has always been the scene of frequent social gatherings.  He will be missed by all and the sympathy extended to his wife and sons is deep and sincere.