It had been known by the parents for a week that their son was very seriously ill with a fever, and the end was not unlooked for. William was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harteau, and had just reached his 18th birthday this year when he enlisted in Battery D, 49th regiment, which was recruited in California, in which state the young man was at the time.
He was born in this village and lived here until a short time before his enlistment, when he decided to "go West", like so many young men who move westward for the increasing opportunities presented by that developing section of our country. He was the youngest of five brothers, three of whom are now with the colors in sunny France. His regiment had only recently been moved to the East, and in a very short time he would have crossed the ocean with his comrades to participate in the military engagements that are resulting with such glory to the boys from America.
An attack of fever, resulting in paralysis, however, closed his career before he had time to strike a blow for the country of his birth. But his heart was brave, his spirit was willing, and he is entitled to all the honors of a soldier who dies for his country.
The remains of Wm. Harteau arrived here last night on the 9:48 train. The body was escorted from the camp where William died by a soldier, and after the soldier gave the orders of what to do with the body, he returned to camp on the same train. There were about two hundred people at the station waiting to pay tribute to Oconto Falls' first soldier to die. As the train neared the station the band started softly playing the "Star Spangled Banner" while part of the Community Chorus sang. Then the body was escorted by the band and several autos to W.A. Flatleys undertaking parlors and there it was left until the funeral.
As William had a contagious disease they were not allowed to take the body to his former home, neither were they allowed to open the casket.