Submitted by Dan Rich
Abt. 1868 – Feb. 7, 1890
The Mishawaka Enterprise 2/14/1890
Mrs. E. E. Willard, formerly Miss Blanche Eberhart,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Eberhart, residing just northeast
of town, received the following shocking telegram last Friday
evening: "Your husband shot and killed himself this morning.
What shall we do with the body?"
About the same time another message was received here as follows:
LANCASTER, CAL. 27:8:23 p.m. Sheriff of Mishawaka: Is there
anyone in your town by the name of Willard? E. E. Willard, a
druggist, shot and killed himself this morning. State what to do
with the body. JOSEPH L. JOHNSON, CONSTABLE.
Beyond this meager information nothing has been received to
explain the sad affair, though a request was immediately sent for
further particulars. Whether it is a case of suicide or an
accident is unknown, although suicide is conjectured although no
reasons can be given for such a rash act.
Word was immediately forwarded to the father of the deceased, Mr.
E. P. Willard of Elkhart. We quote from the Elkhart Review the
following brief biography of the deceased:
Mr. Ed. E. Willard, only child of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Willard grew
to manhood in Elkhart and was well and favorably known as any
young gentleman who has ever spent his youthful days in the city.
He had clerked at different time in the drugstores here, and
about three years ago began to learn the profession of dentistry,
going into Dr. Short's office. He afterwards attended the dental
college at Baltimore, and come from there to his home here to
spend the holiday vacation. Something more than a year ago he was
married to Miss Blanche Eberhart, an only child of Mr. Henry
Eberhart, a wealthy resident of Mishawaka. On the 2nd of January
he left here for California, and finally located at Lancaster, a
small town near Los Angeles. He had written frequent letters home
stating that he was happy and contented and doing well. He had
asked his wife to get ready to join him at an early day. The news
of his death in such a tragic manner, following so closely on the
heels of these letters, fell like a pall on the hopes of those
most nearly and dearly interested in him. To the young widow and
parents of the deceased the community will extend sincere
sympathy. The writer personally knew Mr. Willard to be a young
gentleman of uncommon sunny disposition and jovial turn of mind
and unquestionable integrity.
The remains were expected to arrive in Elkhart last night and the
funeral was to have been at 1 o'clock today, but word was
received this morning that the body on the train first supposed
to be his belonged to South Bend and Mr. Willard's remains will
not arrive until later.