Home > United States of America > Iowa > Plymouth County > Le Mars > Memorial Cemetery > William Archie Maxwell

William Archie Maxwell

Birth	:	4 Jan 1898 Westfield Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	16 Nov 1919 Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.7875000, -96.1504920
Plot	:	Block 3 Lot 29
Description	:	Suggested edit: LeMars Sentinel Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1919 TO HONOR DEAD YOUTH MILITARY FUNERAL WILL BE ACCORDED WILL MAXELL To serve his country during the great war with credit and honor and to return safe and meet death at the hands of dastard was the fate of William Maxwell, who died from bullet wounds he received during the jail break on Friday night. He passed away on Sunday morning. William Maxwell was born in Plymouth county and lived here all his life until called to service. He was born on May 5, twenty-two years ago and was... Read More	Suggested edit: LeMars Sentinel Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1919 TO HONOR DEAD YOUTH MILITARY FUNERAL WILL BE ACCORDED WILL MAXELL To serve his country during the great war with credit and honor and to return safe and meet death at the hands of dastard was the fate of William Maxwell, who died from bullet wounds he received during the jail break on Friday night. He passed away on Sunday morning. William Maxwell was born in Plymouth county and lived here all his life until called to service. He was born on May 5, twenty-two years ago and was educated in the country schools and the LeMars school. He enlisted when 19 years of age and served in Company K on the border and went to France with the Sandstorm division and returned home seven weeks ago to the day he was killed. He was a fine young man, liked by everybody and his death is mourned by his family, his friends, and host of friends. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 1:30 from the house and at 2 o'clock at the Presbyterian church. The funeral will be under military auspices. The order of the procession will be as follows: Colors. Band. Escort – One Platoon. Clergy. Hearse. Family. Service Men. Friends. The pallbearers will be friends of his with who he served in the army: Ben Thelles, Fay Terpenning, Otto H. Heeren, Luther C. Green, George Hes___? George Pech. All the business houses and offices in the city will be closed during the hours of the funeral in honor of the deceased. ----------------------------- LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel November 21, 1919 LAST HONORS PAID FUNERAL OF WILLIAM MAXWELL ATTENDED BY VAST CONCOURSE SERVICE MEN IN UNIFORM LEAD Business In City Practically Suspended While Citizens Gather from All Over County to Pay Last Tribute to a Gallant Youth The funeral of William A. Maxwell, who was killed by assassins, was held on Tuesday afternoon and upwards of three thousand people gathered to do honor to the memory of a gallant youth who lost his life while on duty, and to express their sympathy and sorrows for the bereaved father, mother and sisters. Business in the city was suspended during the hours of the funeral and all public offices and stores were closed. In point of attendance the funeral was the largest ever held in LeMars. It is estimated that more than 2,000 persons viewed the remains after the services at the Presbyterian Church and fully that number viewed the cortege as it left the home and joined in the procession which accompanied the body to the burying ground. It was an impressive sight and hundred showed visibly the mingled emotions they felt as they thought of his untimely end and the tragedy brought home not only to the family, but to the community. The funeral was in charge of the soldiers of the American Legion and service men from all over the county the following posts being represented: Wasmer Post, LeMars; Horschler Post, Akron; Nash Post, Kingsley; Pieper Post, Remsen; and Oleson Post, Merrill. Three hundred former service men headed by six former service officers, all in uniform, escorted the body of the dead young man. The line of march extended from the armory to the Sheriff's house, then to the First Presbyterian Church, and to the LeMars cemetery. The LeMars Military band led followed by the colors, with a G.A.R. color guard, Members of the American Legion were next in order, followed by a squad of Sioux City policemen, state detectives and a detail of Sheriffs from surrounding counties, the court house officers and city officials. The Pallbearers were former service men of the squad which Will Maxwell was a member at the time the LeMars troops went to Deming to join the Sandstorm division. Hundreds of floral tributes, many of most beautiful design adorned the chancel and banked the grave. The casket was draped with the colors under which he served and fought. At the grave side after a few brief words, taps were sounded as the body was lowered to its resting place. The services at the church were conducted by Rev. H. V. Comin and the choir rendered appropriate selections. Mr. Comin said in part: William A. Maxwell was born in Westfield township, Plymouth County, on the 4th of January, 1898. He spent his early life on the farm from whence he attended the country schools. When the family moved to LeMars, he entered the city schools and would have graduated with the high school Class of 1918 had he not heard and answered the call of his country to serve in the hour of her greatest need. He volunteered his services on the 1st of May, 1917, was inducted into our own Company K, was sent to Camp Cody at Deming, New Mexico, on August 27, 1917, where he spent a solid year with the Sandstorm division, sailing for France in September, 1918. He had already enlisted in the army of King Jesus. Before the sacred desk where his body now lies, as he stood on the threshold of young manhood, he dedicated his life to the service of God, December 26, 1915. With the same frank and fearless overflow of enthusiasm which characterized everything he undertook to do, he made that confession before many witnesses and I regard it as one of the rarest satisfactions of my ministry to have received him into full membership of this church. Thenceforward life moved rapidly for him and crowded into three or four years at the end were experiences such as men of the past have been called to meet in a long lifetime. So that if you ask for an explanation of William A. Maxwell's untimely taking off, I answer that life is not a matter of long years, but of purpose and depth and intensity. "That life is longest which is best; Tis ours to work; to God belongs the rest." With the manner of his going we are all quite familiar and therefore need not concern ourselves with that now, Suffice it to say as "taps" were sounded, marking the end of his brief earthly day, the last notes were blended into sweetest harmony with the Sabbath morning reveille of everlasting rest. He has answered, "Here" to the last roll call, Has been mustered out of these earthly ranks But his life goes on as the curtains fall Twixt him and the friends on these hither banks. He has gone to join that shadowy _____. Whose call rings loud and clear to us, To you from falling hands we throw the torch, Be yours to hold it high; If ye break faith with us who died, We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow In Flanders fields. Rest in peace, thy warfare ended; All thine earthly conflicts won. All good deeds shall be commended, Hear thy Master say, 'Well Done.' William A. Maxwell died in defense of those same ideals for whose maintenance he offered his life two years ago just as truly as if he had died on the battlefield. This tragedy opens our eyes to the fact that the war which began on the other side has got to be finished right here at home. Alas that so many who found it easy to die if need be in defense of ideals should not now be willing to live for them also. Of the two services, the latter is most difficult. William A. Maxwell did both at one stroke. Whether living or dying, he gave all he had in defense of those principles which we all hold dear. And, to me, the most heartening circumstances in the world situation which now confronts us is the fact that our disbanded service men are almost a unit on the side of law and order. They will make a short shift of sporadic revolution, and yet they will do it in orderly ways. But, alas, that we need such blows as this to teach us the lesson of needed vigilance! The forces that are seeking to overthrow law and to substitute license for real liberty, are every whit as dangerous foes to the world as the autocratic powers we have just put down; and the fight in which William A. Maxwell lost his life is a challenge to every red-blooded American to re-consecrate his all to stamping them out. The tragedy occasioning this concourse cries aloud for greater speed in the prosecution of our criminals. American justice is proverbially slow and it is just such delays that makes justice miscarry and subjects a great many more and innocent people to the menace of reprobate men like these. We shouldn't prosecute in the heat of passion,--we cannot atone for one crime by committing another,--but better that some innocent man should suffer than the safety of society should be imperiled by the constant threat of a crime like this. If the man who shot Detective James Britton in Sioux City had been prosecuted while his crime was fresh, no mandlin sentiment would have swayed the jury to even disagree on the vote for conviction. Such methods only serve to encourage crime and to add to the number of evil doers, as the wise man predicted long ago, --"Because justice and judgment are not executed speedily against an evil work; therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil." Every drop of William A. Maxwell's shed blood cries for sure and speedy justice to be meted out to those who cared no more for his promising life, than they would have cared for the life of a dog. Let an orderly process of law consign them, as soon as maybe, to the place where they belong. No, I'm not going back to a barbarous age for a law which exacts the extreme penalty. I am still representing the Price of Peace, who, while he was merciful to all penitents, poured never such devastating vials of wrath on those who had hardened their hearts when he said, "Ye hypocrites, ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell." There is a rod which was spoken by the man of all men—the ideal of man of the human race—which has been ringing in my ears ever since this tragedy occurred: "The hour is come." You remember that in the earlier part of his ministry, when friends were warning him against certain dangers, suggesting that he make fewer sacrifices and, in general, take a little better care of himself—he answered, "Mine hour is not yet come," indicating that for him, on the great clock of destiny some definite hour was to mark his doom. And when that time came, he repeated the assertion again and again, "The hour is come." Likewise for every many there is a fatal hour, and whether or not his life is long or short cannot be determined by the number of his years; for some men live longer in a minute than others in a month. It is the richness and depth of life that counts and "Every man is immortal till his work is done." So William A. Maxwell could say of his life, "The hour is come," as he gave up his life in the line of duty. Contributor: Ethel Cunningham (47741687)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Archie Maxwell's memorial?
William Archie Maxwell's memorial is located at: Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA.
When did William Archie Maxwell death?
William Archie Maxwell death on 16 Nov 1919 in Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Archie Maxwell's memorial?
Latitude: 42.7875000
Longitude: -96.1504920

Family Members:

Parent

Hugh A Maxwell

(1863 - 1932)

Isabela Barbar Ann Watson Maxwell

(1868 - 1953)

Siblings

Ferne I Maxwell

(1901 - 1991)

Anna B Maxwell Hart

(1906 - 1987)

Clara M Maxwell

(1908 - 1957)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Memorial Cemetery
Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7875000, -96.1504920

2. Calvary Cemetery
Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7939000, -96.1527100

3. Resthaven Cemetery
Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8375015, -96.1686020

4. Seney Cemetery
Seney, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8586655, -96.1265106

5. Saint Catherines Cemetery
Oyens, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8224200, -96.0563900

6. Saint Peter Cemetery
Brunsville, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8081017, -96.2767029

7. Hillside Cemetery
Merrill, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7291985, -96.2544022

8. Assumption Catholic Cemetery
Merrill, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7214480, -96.2583450

9. Stanton Cemetery
Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6786003, -96.1900024

10. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Struble, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8953018, -96.2005997

11. Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8514600, -96.2902600

12. Saint Marys Cemetery
Remsen, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8078003, -95.9781036

13. Remsen Cemetery
Remsen, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8058014, -95.9775009

14. Union Cemetery
Remsen, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6917000, -96.0291977

15. Plymouth Presbyterian Cemetery
Brunsville, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8208760, -96.3318410

16. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Adaville, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7484000, -96.3315000

17. Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Neptune, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6447560, -96.1148360

18. Floyd Valley Cemetery
Hinton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6556015, -96.2514038

19. Mathwig Wetrovsky Cemetery
Le Mars, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6338000, -96.1723000

20. Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery
Hinton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6330950, -96.1937720

21. Saint Johns Cemetery
Craig, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8939018, -96.3225021

22. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Johnson Township, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7416992, -96.3707962

23. Saint Marys Cemetery
Maurice, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9594002, -96.1769028

24. Saint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery
Ruble, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8372000, -96.3799000