Advertisement

Wilbert Shepard “Willie” Drew

Advertisement

Wilbert Shepard “Willie” Drew

Birth
Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine, USA
Death
25 Apr 1921 (aged 54)
San Bernardino County, California, USA
Burial
Rialto, San Bernardino County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section T, Block 113, Plot 03
Memorial ID
View Source
**No Headstone**

RANCHER'S BODY FOUND IN GROVE
W. S. Drew of Fontana Is Suicide;
Shoots Self Through His Head

Despondent because of frequent nervous breakdowns, W. S. Drew, a rancher, aged 54 years, of Fontana, yesterday afternoon killed himself by firing a bullet from a revolver Into his brain. The body, several hundred yards from the family residence, was found less than an hour later by a son of the dead man.
Mr. Drew had been suffering from a nervous breakdown for several days, his wife said. Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mr. Drew returned to the house from his work on the ranch- He said nothing to excite suspicions, but it is presumed at this time secured the revolver with which he killed himself.
Body Is Found
An hour later, the Drew boy found the body of his father in the orange grove.
Members of the family told Deputy Sheriffs Carter and Bright, who investigated the case, that Mr. Drew had suffered from frequent nervous breakdowns for the past 10 years, and during the spells, he often declared he "would end it all some day." His threats were treated lightly, however, and the finding of the body yesterday was a shock to the widow, two daughters and the son.
Former Teacher
Mr. Drew was formerly a school teacher and later a mechanical engineer, but nervousness forced him to discontinue mental work and go to the farm. He and his family have resided in Fontana for the past four years.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist Church in Rialto, with Rev. M. W. Beckwith officiating. The Mark B. Shaw Company is in charge.

San Bernardino Sun, Volume 49, Number 57, 26 April 1921 Page 9
*****************************
Wilbert was Born in Maine about 1865, his parents Edwin Drew and Phoebe Almanza Shepard. He married Maria A Kneen on June 15, 1904 in Hartland, Vermont USA. They had 4 children, Arthur Wellesley Drew, Alice Alden Drew, Richard Drew and Marion S Drew.

**Information Listed below is from Stan Arnold:

Wilbert was the youngest of four children born to Edwin Drew and Phebe A. Shepard. As a young child he lived in Maine, but in the 1880 census, he, aged 15, was living with his parents and two surviving siblings in Somerville, Mass.

Wilbert was a school teacher, and in 1900 was working in Chicago, where he was a boarder in the household of the Fournier family. His future wife, Maria A. Kneen, was also a school teacher, and living in Santa Ana, Dewitt County, Illinois in 1900. These two teachers from New England eventually met, and were married in Hartland, Vermont, Maria's home town, on 15 June 1904. By 1907 they were living in Virginia where their first two children were born, but were only there for a few years. On 20 April 1910 when the census taker visited him, Wilbert lived in Manhattan, New York City, with his wife and children Arthur W., age 3, Alice, aged 1 and 6/12, and Richard, aged 4/12 of a year. On 22 July 1910 he was manifested as a passenger aboard the SS Virginian, sailing from Liverpool, England to Quebec [city?] in Canada, and his occupation is given as professor, with his final destination as Logan, Utah.

Wilbert soon returned to the east, and was back in New York by 1914 when his youngest child was born. In 1915 he appears on the New York state census, living in Olean, Cattaraugus Co. He also appears in the 1916 city directory for Olean, living at 1013 West Henley St. His occupation was given as a high school teacher.

Wilbert kept in touch with his family in New England, and he sent pictures of his children to his sister, Carrie Draper, who was living in Massachusetts.

Sometime before 1920 Wilbert had given up his mobile life style as a teacher, and settled on a farm in California. In 1920 the family was living in Rialto, San Bernadino County, California, and he is on the census with wife and children Arthur W., aged 12, Alice A., aged 11, and Marion S., aged 6. His occupation is given as poultryman. Wilbert did not get to enjoy his new occupation for long, as he died in 1921. He is buried in Rialto Park Cemetery, Rialto, CA.

Following his death, Wilbert's widow and children moved to Pomona, CA, but were in Pasadena by 1928, and appear on the 1930 census there. In 1932 Alice was enrolled in Pasadena Junior College. In 1935 Wilbert's widow was living in Tyron, Polk Co., NC, but by 1940 had returned to California, living alone in San Jose. The 1940 census says she completed two years of college.

The children of Wilbert and Maria were:

*Arthur Wellesley, b. 2 November 1907, m. Lucille M. _______
*Alice Alden, b. October 1908
*Richard, b. January 1910, died before April 1915 (NY State census)
*Marion Shepard, b. 10 August 1913
**No Headstone**

RANCHER'S BODY FOUND IN GROVE
W. S. Drew of Fontana Is Suicide;
Shoots Self Through His Head

Despondent because of frequent nervous breakdowns, W. S. Drew, a rancher, aged 54 years, of Fontana, yesterday afternoon killed himself by firing a bullet from a revolver Into his brain. The body, several hundred yards from the family residence, was found less than an hour later by a son of the dead man.
Mr. Drew had been suffering from a nervous breakdown for several days, his wife said. Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mr. Drew returned to the house from his work on the ranch- He said nothing to excite suspicions, but it is presumed at this time secured the revolver with which he killed himself.
Body Is Found
An hour later, the Drew boy found the body of his father in the orange grove.
Members of the family told Deputy Sheriffs Carter and Bright, who investigated the case, that Mr. Drew had suffered from frequent nervous breakdowns for the past 10 years, and during the spells, he often declared he "would end it all some day." His threats were treated lightly, however, and the finding of the body yesterday was a shock to the widow, two daughters and the son.
Former Teacher
Mr. Drew was formerly a school teacher and later a mechanical engineer, but nervousness forced him to discontinue mental work and go to the farm. He and his family have resided in Fontana for the past four years.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist Church in Rialto, with Rev. M. W. Beckwith officiating. The Mark B. Shaw Company is in charge.

San Bernardino Sun, Volume 49, Number 57, 26 April 1921 Page 9
*****************************
Wilbert was Born in Maine about 1865, his parents Edwin Drew and Phoebe Almanza Shepard. He married Maria A Kneen on June 15, 1904 in Hartland, Vermont USA. They had 4 children, Arthur Wellesley Drew, Alice Alden Drew, Richard Drew and Marion S Drew.

**Information Listed below is from Stan Arnold:

Wilbert was the youngest of four children born to Edwin Drew and Phebe A. Shepard. As a young child he lived in Maine, but in the 1880 census, he, aged 15, was living with his parents and two surviving siblings in Somerville, Mass.

Wilbert was a school teacher, and in 1900 was working in Chicago, where he was a boarder in the household of the Fournier family. His future wife, Maria A. Kneen, was also a school teacher, and living in Santa Ana, Dewitt County, Illinois in 1900. These two teachers from New England eventually met, and were married in Hartland, Vermont, Maria's home town, on 15 June 1904. By 1907 they were living in Virginia where their first two children were born, but were only there for a few years. On 20 April 1910 when the census taker visited him, Wilbert lived in Manhattan, New York City, with his wife and children Arthur W., age 3, Alice, aged 1 and 6/12, and Richard, aged 4/12 of a year. On 22 July 1910 he was manifested as a passenger aboard the SS Virginian, sailing from Liverpool, England to Quebec [city?] in Canada, and his occupation is given as professor, with his final destination as Logan, Utah.

Wilbert soon returned to the east, and was back in New York by 1914 when his youngest child was born. In 1915 he appears on the New York state census, living in Olean, Cattaraugus Co. He also appears in the 1916 city directory for Olean, living at 1013 West Henley St. His occupation was given as a high school teacher.

Wilbert kept in touch with his family in New England, and he sent pictures of his children to his sister, Carrie Draper, who was living in Massachusetts.

Sometime before 1920 Wilbert had given up his mobile life style as a teacher, and settled on a farm in California. In 1920 the family was living in Rialto, San Bernadino County, California, and he is on the census with wife and children Arthur W., aged 12, Alice A., aged 11, and Marion S., aged 6. His occupation is given as poultryman. Wilbert did not get to enjoy his new occupation for long, as he died in 1921. He is buried in Rialto Park Cemetery, Rialto, CA.

Following his death, Wilbert's widow and children moved to Pomona, CA, but were in Pasadena by 1928, and appear on the 1930 census there. In 1932 Alice was enrolled in Pasadena Junior College. In 1935 Wilbert's widow was living in Tyron, Polk Co., NC, but by 1940 had returned to California, living alone in San Jose. The 1940 census says she completed two years of college.

The children of Wilbert and Maria were:

*Arthur Wellesley, b. 2 November 1907, m. Lucille M. _______
*Alice Alden, b. October 1908
*Richard, b. January 1910, died before April 1915 (NY State census)
*Marion Shepard, b. 10 August 1913


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: Cindy R
  • Added: Apr 25, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26395680/wilbert_shepard-drew: accessed ), memorial page for Wilbert Shepard “Willie” Drew (25 Nov 1866–25 Apr 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26395680, citing Rialto Park Cemetery, Rialto, San Bernardino County, California, USA; Maintained by Cindy R (contributor 25503041).