(edited obit)
Captain Willard Proctor died very suddenly at his home on Tuesday, 12-9-1902. The funeral was held at the home in Proctor today, large numbers of sorrowing relatives and friends being in attendance. In the death of Captain Proctor the township loses an old and highly esteemed citizen. Willard Proctor was born near Rutland, Vermont, 3-5-1827, being within a few months of 76 years of age at the time of his death. He spent his boyhood days among the green hills of Vermont, where he laid the foundations of a character which has won him respect wherever he has lived. It was here he wooed and won his first and only love, the life-long companion of his joys and sorrows, Sarah Ann Hewett. They were married when he was but twenty years of age. The two oldest daughters, Mrs. Sarah D. Way of Proctor and Mrs. Ellen E. Ames of Marcus, Iowa, were born at Rutland. Later Mr. and Mrs. Proctor moved to Connecticut, where the eldest son, Ed Proctor, now of Proctor, was born. In 1854 they moved to the far West, the new land of promise, settling in LaSalle County at Rutland, the namesake of the old home town in Vermont. Here their sons, Will Proctor, now living in Southern Illinois, and Frank E. Proctor, of Chrisman, Illinois and their daughter, Mrs. Belle Roberts of Cleghorn, Iowa, were born to them. The six children mentioned above and the mother are all living. Two other children have died. At the little Illinois town of Rutland, Captain Proctor led a busy and useful life, filling several official positions with credit. He was engaged in the grain business and was successful in his investments. At the outbreak of the Civl War, Captain Proctor showed the metal of which he was made. It was in this war that he earned the title of Captain. He helped to organize Company I, 104th Illinois Infantry, known as the LaSalle County Regiment. With this brave company he went to the front.............At the close of the war, Captain Proctor returned to the pursuits of peace, living at Rutland until about 22 years ago, when he moved to Ford County to improve the land he had purchased in this township. He was actively engaged in farming until a few years ago, when he retired. Since that time he had lived quietly at his country home in Proctor, making frequent visits to the homes of his children. Within the past year there had been several warnings that his vigorous constitution was succumbing to the inroads of increasing age, and it had been known for some time that he had heart trouble of a serious nature, but the end last Tuesday afternoon was nevertheless a shock to his loved ones. Death came to him when he was alone, and apparently without a struggle he passed through the dark waters. They found him sitting as one who had fallen asleep, the perfect repose of the features reflecting his peaceful life. The dark angel had come with a smile and taken him by the hand, and like a trusting child the aged man had followed with unfaltering footsteps.