Alturas, California; Wednesday, May 13, 1925; Front Page

WM. CANTRALL, SOLDIER AND PIONEER, PASSES AFTER LONG SICKNESS

FOUGHT IN CIVIL WAR AND CAME TO CALIFORNIA WITH YOUNG WIFE IN PIONEER DAYS

Attack of Influenza Leaves Health Shattered and
Pioneer Has Been Confined to Bed Ever Since

Willaim Cantrall, familairly known as "Uncle Bill", passed
away at his home near Alturas on Pine Creek on Sunday,
May 10, after a lingering illness which had confined him
to his bed for several months.

"Uncle Bill" Cantrall was a typical pioneer, a giant of a
man physically and with a heart in proportion to his body.
He was a veteran of the Civil War and is the last but one
in Modoc county of the men who participated in that
great struggle between the Blue and the Gray.
William Cantrall was born in the year 1846 in Lake
County, Illinois and when but a youth he responded to
the last call of President Lincoln. He was six months in
the Army and spent part of the time in a hospital suffering
from sickness contracted during the hard and strenuous
campaigning.

In 1867 Mr. Cantrall married Miss Charlotte Hall at Geneva,
Wis. Three years later the young couple felt the call of the
West and came through by rail as far as Mill City. The
Golden Spike which connected the Union and Central Pacific
had been driven in place at Ogden only three months before.
From Mill City they came by wagon to Surprise valley. After
about three years they moved to the vicinity of Alturas
where they have since continuously resided.

About eighteen months ago Mr. Cantrall became ill with
the influenza, from which he never entirely recovered.
But even though his health was gone and he knew the end
was not far distant the old pioneer never complained and
endured his trouble with characteristic fortitude.
Besides the faithful and sorrowing wife, one son and four
daughters are left to mourn the passing of a loving husband
and father, Stephen Cantrall of Pine Creek; Mrs. Minnie
Bowman of Likely; Mrs. Hattie Richardson, of Chico;
Mrs. Annie Smith, of Alturas and Mrs. Lizzie Thompson of
Malin, Oregon.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon from the
Congregational church at Alturas. Reverend Carson paid a
strong tribute to the deceased and pioneers in general.
A large concourse of neighbors and friends attended the
funeral, members of the American Legion accompanying
the body to the grave where "taps" ended the earthly career
of William Cantrall, soldier and Pioneer.
Contributor: Gene Hutson (37670162) • [email protected]