Comanche-co. lost another pioneer settler and good citizen in the death on last Sunday morning of W. L. Dale at his home in Protection. Mr. Dale had been in failing health for three or four years and, with his wife, had spent some time in California. They returned to Protection last fall, no permanent improvement having been received while on the Pacific coast. Gradually Mr. Dale's condition became worse, and a few weeks before his death he went to Wichita to consult a specialist. No hopes were held out for him, and for that reason he was brought home a couple of weeks ago. His vitality slowly ebbed away, the end coming as stated, on Sunday morning. Burial services were conducted on Monday afternoon from the home in Protection, Rev. Corrie of the Methodist church being in charge. Interment was in the Protection cemetery.Deceased was a native of Illinois, having been born in McDonough-co., that state a little over 75 years ago. In the year 1885 he and his faithful wife, who before her marriage was Miss Nellie Shannon, moved from that state to Kansas, settling near Udall in Cowley-co. There they lived for two years, coming to Comanche-co. in 1887 and settling on a claim about three miles northeast of Protection. There they continued to make their home until about eleven years ago, when they left the farm and moved to Protection, here they continued to live. Mr. and Mrs. Dale were among the first permanent settlers in that part of the county, and to them pioneer experiences were realities. But they presevered, and in the end won out, as did all the early day settlers who stayed with the country. Mr. Dale was a successful farmer and stock raiser and a splendid type of the sturdy upright and fearless men who helped to make Comanche-co. He was widely known and with everybody who knew him he was regarded as a model citizen - honest in all his dealings, a good neighbor, husband and father and a real friend to all. He was of quiet demeanor, finding in his own home and in the association of those about him his greatest pleasure. He never held any public office outside of serving his own school district and township as best he could in furthering public enterprises. He had for several years been vice president of the Protection State Bank. It is but a justly deserved tribute to say of W. L. Dale that he was a good man, and that in his passing away the entire community in which he lives loses one of its best citizens.
Mr. Dale is survived by his wife, who is now in quite feeble health, and by four sons and two daughters. Two daughters preceded their father in death. The surviving children are Ford Dale, now of Wyoming, Ernest, Chester and Carl Dale of Protection, Mrs. Frank Daily and Mrs. Reuben Tinkler, who live on farms near that city. Deceased was a brother of J. T. Dale, now deceased but formerly a resident of this city, and an uncle of Geo. W. and Earl Dale of this city, and Frank Dale, who lives southeast of town.
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