At White Plains-Had Many Friends-Had Held a Number of Prominent Public Positions
The announcement of the death of William J. Mead, at his home in White Plains, last week Friday, came as a shock to his numerous Greenwich friends this week.
He had been painfully injured in an auto accident not long ago, and had nearly recovered from the injuries when he was taken ill of pneumonia, last Thursday, and owing to his weakened condition, due to this accident, he was in able to withstand the disease and passed away the following day.
He was 75 years of age, and had spent with the exception of the few last years of his life, all his days in Greenwich, where he was born, at the ancestral home on North Street, now owned by his brother Cornelius.
He acquired the adjoining farm of 200 acres, which belonged to his great uncle, and the two brothers, William J. and Cornelius, lived side by side nearly their entire lives. Owing to the care of so large a property, and inability to secure assistance, he sold the property to A. Newton and S. Cristy Mead, some years ago, and removed to White Plains, where he has resided with his two daughters.
He comes from a large family connection remaining unbroken and maintaining the family traditions of his pioneer ancestry. His family is one of the oldest in the country, and much of the land occupied by different branches, has been held by the members more than two centuries.
His own farm was an example of high-class farming and his able management entitled him to high rank among scientific agriculturalists.
He was one of the most genial and generous of men, and his warm hearted dispositions was proverbial, and he was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in necessity, and sympathetic consideration for any distress or trouble. His friends in Greenwich were legion, and his home life here was ideal, contentment and happiness being always observable among the numerous members.
His education was begun in the schools near his home, with Miss Worcester as his first teacher. When ten years old he entered Greenwich Academy, where his studies were continued about five years. He afterword attended Irving Institute at Tarrytown, also another school at Yonkers. At the age of seventeen he returned to the old farm, where he remained for several years,. After the age of twenty-four he was married to Miss Catherine Carroll, and they began housekeeping on the farm, where he lived so long.
In 1870 and 1871 he was a member of the legislature and was a selectmen from 1871 to 1875. He was identified with Christ Church, and was a member of the Acacia Masonic Lodge.
His first wife died in 1869 and subsequently he married her sister, Miss Sarah Carroll.
The internment will be held in Greenwich on the family plot.
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