New Albany Weekly Ledger 02-04-1919 p1c6 W. A. BROECKER FORMER MAYOR PASSES AWAY. Served As Mayor of the City Back In the Early Nineties, Succeeding Morris McDonald. Elected by city council. Once a Prosperous Business Man He Is Overtaken By Financial Misfortunes Late in Life. William A. Broecker, former Mayor of the city, died at 7 o‟clock this morning at St. Edward‟s Hospital. His death was due to a complication of diseases after an illness of two weeks. Mr. Broecker had been in poor health for the past two or three years. Mr. Broecker was 69 years old and was a native of this city. With the exception of a few years that he lived in Corydon, he had lived here all of his life. He was elected Mayor by the City Council in 1892, succeeding the late Morris McDonald, who had resigned. At the time of his election the political complexion of the city administration changed from Republican to Democratic, Mr. McDonald having been a Republican and Mr. Broecker was a Democrat. For many years Mr. Broecker was a prominent business man of this city, having operated a general store on West Main street, where he amassed quite a fortune. Financial misfortunes, however, overtook him in later years and it is stated that he died practically penniless. It is said that his financial reverses began about the time that he got into politics, but it is not known that his political ventures were responsible for his financial losses. Mr. Broecker was married more than twenty years ago to Miss Vina Charley, of Corydon, who died a few years ago. After the death of his wife he returned to this city from Corydon, where he had lived for five or six years. He leaves no children. Two brothers and three sisters, John and Frank Broecker, Miss Kate Broecker, Mrs. Tobias Hoffer and Mrs. William Hanafee, all of this city, survive. Mr. Broecker was a member of the Catholic church in Corydon. The body was removed to the undertaking establishment of Frank A. Kraft. The funeral will be held at the Corydon catholic church at 9 o‟clock tomorrow morning. [d: 02-04-1919]