This is the tombstone in Last Chance Cemetery of William A. Williams, at 25 most likely another victim of that great plague of young people, tuberculosis --- or consumption as it was known at the time.
Mr. Williams died during late September, 1880, among strangers at a hotel in Fort Scott, far southeastern Kansas, while making his way home to the Lucas-Clarke county line from New Mexico, where he most likely had spent time in search of relief. His parents were neighborhood pioneers, Alonzo and Rachel (Glenn) Williams.
I found this brief news item about his death published in The St. Joseph (Missouri) Gazette of Sept. 29 and elsewhere --- but not apparently in surviving Lucas County newspapers. So we know what killed the young man and that his remains were brought home for burial, but little more about a life cut short more than 140 years ago:
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Ft. Scott, September 28 (1880) - A man named W.A. Williams came in on the M.K.&T railroad last Saturday evening, and in changing cars some way strained himself, causing a hemorrhage of the lungs. Everything possible was done to allelviate his sufferings, but without avail, he having died at the American House at 1 o'clock last night. He was on his way from New Mexico to Chariton, Iowa, where he has a father and three brothers.
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