EDES

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 05:03:48 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, June 1, 1922
Page 1

San Rafael Man Dies On Board Train

William C. Edes, noted railroad construction engineer, and former member of the Alaska Railway Commission, died suddenly in a passenger coach between Merced and Modesto Friday night of last week while en route from the Yosemite Valley to his home here.

The body was taken off the train at Modesto and later shipped to Oakland, where the widow, Mrs. Mary B. Edes was visiting during her husband’s absence.

Word of the said affair was wired to Coroner J. Ray Keaton here by Coroner Shannon of Modesto, and Coroner Keaton located Mrs. Edes at the home of Mrs. Leon Bocqueraz in Oakland. Heart trouble was the cause of death. Mr. Edes was 50 years of age.

He was widely known in railroad circles all over the United States. He had located routes and built many miles of railroad for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, and had charge of the building of the extension to Eureka of the Northwestern Pacific, a noteworthy engineering feat. Hundreds of civil engineers throughout the country owe much of their training to the teaching of Mr. Edes. He was a graduate of Harvard College.

Funeral services were held in Oakland, where the interment was made.