WILLIAM FRANCIS OHDE

(1877 • 1947)

W.F. Ohde, Co-Publisher of Herald-Times, Dies Sunday

Stricken While in Florida City

Funeral Rites Planned Tentatively for Friday

William F. Ohde, 69, co-publisher and general manager of the Manitowoc Herald-Times, and identified with the daily newspaper field here for 47 years, died Sunday morning at the Good Samaritan hospital, at West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr. Ohde had gone to Florida the latter part of February. He was taken ill shortly after his arrival there but had not advised his family or friends that his condition was grave. Last Wednesday his son, William Jr., flew to Florida and was with his father when he died.

In training as a teacher in Wisconsin schools before he volunteered in the United States army at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898, Mr. Ohde embarked in the newspaper field when the war ended. He came to Manitowoc in 1900 to become identified with the city's first daily paper, the Daily Herald, which he and his partner, the late Edward W. Mackey, later acquired. Incidentally, the first issue of the Daily Herald was on Oct. 19, 1898, Mr. Ohde's birthday anniversary.

Later the Daily Herald acquired the Manitowoc Daily News, and still later was consolidated with the Manitowoc Evening Times in 1932. The consolidated paper became the Herald-Times, with Mr. Ohde as co-publisher with R.T. Bayne, who had been associated with the Evening Times, as editor.

Veteran Newspaperman

Mr. Ohde, through the long span of years in the newspaper business here, learned every phase from the front office to the press room. His newspaper experience in the earlier years, when he often cleaned up his work in the business office to swing over as news and telegraph editor when the paper was pressed for help, stood him in good stead through the years. This was particularly true when he and his partner, Edward Mackey, operated the Daily Herald and later the Herald-News. Even in later years he continued occasionally to pen newspaper stories, editorials and a special column, known as the "Town Crier."

Funeral plans are incomplete but have been tentatively set for next Friday after-noon at the Frazier mortuary chapel, with the Rev. C.H. Phipps officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. Ohde was born Oct. 19, 1877, on a farm near Browns Corners, the son of the late Frederick and Emma Ohde. He received his early education in the district schools and was graduated from the high school at Montello, Wis., in 1896 and in 1898 completed a teaching course at the Stevens Point Normal school.

In Spanish-American War

When enrolled as a junior at the University of Wisconsin he went to Milwaukee to volunteer for service in the Spanish-American war. He was assigned to Company I, Third Wisconsin Volunteer infantry. This regiment, with the Second Wisconsin Volunteer infantry and a regiment from Pennsylvania, comprising a brigade, was sent to Puerto Rico, and engaged in the only battles of that campaign, at Ribonito Pass and Coamo.

In December 1898, he was mustered out with the rank of sergeant, and then took up special writing for newspapers. Coming to Manitowoc in 1900 Mr. Ohde became associated with the Manitowoc Herald, which had been founded here Oct. 19, 1898, by a company which was later headed by Horal Nelson, veteran Manitowoc printer. Mr. Ohde was connected with the business office of the paper, which was issued from a plant on Commercial street. Edward W. Mackey was the editor.

In 1913 Mr. Ohde and Mrs. Mackey acquired the Daily Herald from Horal Nelson, one of the founders, under the firm name of the Herald-Press Publishing company. In 1918, following the death of Editor John MacFarlane of the Manitowoc News, the Daily Herald purchased the News from the MacFar-

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W.F. OHDE DIES Sunday

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lane estate and the paper became the Manitowoc Herald-News.

Papers Consolidate

Mr. Ohde became the business manager with his partner, Mr. Mackey, the editor. A few years late the newspaper acquired a location at Ninth and Franklin streets and erected the present modern two-story newspaper plant and office, which the paper now occupies.

In 1932 the Herald-News was consolidated with the Evening Times, of which R.T. Bayne was editor and publisher and Manitowoc Newspapers, Inc., took over the publication of the Manitowoc Herald-Times, with Mr. Ohde, general manager, Mr. Bayne, editor, and associated with them was Morgan Murphy, Superior, Wis., newspaper publisher. At that time the late E.W. Mackey, who had been a partner with Mr. Ohde in the news-paper business here for 32 years, retired from the newspaper because of failing health.

Although never holding public office, Mr. Ohde always evidenced an acute interest in civic affirs and he contributed his time and efforts in the advancement of Manitowoc's civic and business interests. In periods when the editorial staff was shorthanded in the twenties he often switched from the business office to take over the editorial department, and edit both wire and local copy for the Herald-News. Mr. Ohde was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Daily league, and organization of 30 state daily papers and served as its president in the first years of its existence.

Active In Community Work

Mr. Ohde was active for years in both Chamber of Commerce and community fund work. He served as a member and chairman of various Chamber of Commerce committees and had represented the Chamber of Commerce on the fund board of directors. At his death he was a director of the fund and a member of the publicity committee of the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1943 and 1944 he represented Manitowoc county on the Wisconsin State War Fund committee and in 1944 war fund campaign. He was president of the community fund in 1943, campaign chairman in 1937, chairman of the budget committee in 1942 and a director since 1936.

He also served as a Red Cross fund chairman and recently received a citation from the United Service Organization for his efforts to raise funds for this cause. Until the disbandment of the committee a few weeks ago Mr. Ohde was a member of the state committee of the Federal Housing Administration, which held weekly meetings in Milwaukee.

His fraternal affiliations included membership in the Manitowoc lodge of Elks, of which he was a past exalted ruler. He was also a member of the Lakeside Country club and a charter member of the Manitowoc Rotary club.

Interested in Sports

Mr. Ohde was a charter member of the H.M. Lawton post, No. 2, Spanish American War Veterans, and held numerous offices in that group. He was a member of the Last Man's club of the Lawton post, which annually held an outing at Camp Welcome. He was also a member of the Oas post, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Himself a pitcher on many amateur baseball teams during his youth, Mr. Ohde was an ardent sports fan and fisherman. He followed closely Manitowoc athletics, principally football and baseball and was a close student of professional and amateur sports.

In 1903 Mr. Ohde married Miss Eva DeLano of this city. The family home is at 857 Lincoln boulevard. Mrs. Ohde survives with two sons, Alan, advertising director of the Herald-Times and William Jr., national advertising manager of the paper. Three grandchildren (Private), also survive.

William Ohde Jr., will accompany the body of his father here from Florida and details of the funeral rites will be given later.

Manitowoc Herald Times, Wis., April 14, 1947 P.1 and 2

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