William J. Ware Obituary

Obituary of William J. Ware (Port Angeles Evening News, died Fri., April
6, 1951)

William J. Ware, 81, resident of Port Angeles 64 years and one of the Olympic Peninsula's most prominent pioneer citizens, died at a hospital here last night. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 pm at the McDonald Funeral Home with Naval Lodge of Elks and the Rev. Raymond Wilder officiating. Cremation will follow.
The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ware, William Ware was born in London, England Sept 24, 1869. His father was a civil engineer for the Puget Sound Cooperative Colony and the family came here with that colony in July, 1887.
Following in his father's footsteps, William J. Ware left here when 18 years old and did railroad surveying in the western part of the state for 2 years, then returned to make his permanent home here. He was deputy county engineer under his father in 1889 and did much civil engineering work in this city and many other parts of the county. He took up a homestead on the Elwah River near the site of the present upper dam on the river. Mr. Ware was the Clallam County engineer for a total of 12 years. He was secretary of the Republican County Committee 14 years. During the First World War he was president of the Clallam County Red Cross. Entering the insurance and real estate business in 1915 he continued with that for 30 years to 1945, when he sold out to Mr. A. A. Smith.
In the 30's he was a member of the national re-employment service, forerunner of the present federal employment system. In the early days of the city, he was one of the most active figures in development of the community. He helped organize the city's first Sunday School at the Congregational Church more than 60 years ago.  Mr. Ware joined the Naval Lodge of Elk in 1900 and still was a trustee and one of the lodge's most prominent members at the time of his death.  He had been a member of the Rotary Club since 1927, and was secretary 15 years. One of the organizers of the Clallam County Historical Society, he was president of that group when he died. He continued his activities until several weeks ago when he suffered a heart attack and was confined to a hospital. He seemingly recovered and went home, but a week ago had another attack which proved fatal.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Mrs. Fronie Ware, and 2 sisters, Mrs. Grace Ware Taylor, Port Angeles and Mrs. Elsie Meyer, Berkeley, CA,  now visiting here; and a brother, Alfred J. Ware of Seattle.

Submitted by Diana Withrow on November 4, 2001.

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