William H. Charnley

1872 - 1937

Goshen’s 19th Mayor

1919 - 1922

CHARNLEY’S DEATH SHOCK TO GOSHEN

FORMER MAYOR DIES YESTERDAY 

ALMOST WITHOUT WARNING

Funeral Services To Be Held 

At Home Here Thursday Afternoon.

Funeral services for William Herbert Charnley, 65, former mayor and prominent resident of Goshen, who died suddenly yesterday afternoon at his home, will be held Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the Charnley home. 210 East Washington Street

Burial will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery. The body will lie in state at the Rohrer Funeral home here until Wednesday noon.

Mr. Charnley had been ill for several days with Influenza but he had not been confined to his bed, He retired to his bedroom, however, at about noon yesterday and suffered a heart attack at about two o’clock. He died without regaining consciousness.

Mr. Charnley was born on Nov 13, 1871, in Goshen, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Charnley, who came to Goshen from Yorkshire, England, in 1868. The late Mitchell Charnley was a financier, broker and private banker, and became widely known.

Returning to England with his mother in 1878, Mr. Charnley was educated in English public schools, later attending the Heidelberg English School. He returned to Goshen at the age of 18 and later attended the University of Michigan, graduating with Bachelor of Arts degree in 1893. He then enrolled in the law school there and was admitted to the bar in 1895.

In June, 1897, he was married to Miss Lois Carmien. Mrs. Charnley died on Nov. 4, 1918, and two years later Mr. Charnley married Miss Margaret Irene Murray, who survives.

Became Mayor.

Mr. Charnley became mayor of the city of Goshen in April, 1919, succeeding D. J. Troyer, who died during the second year of his term, and serving in that capacity until Jan. 1922. He had been a member of the school, hospital and library boards. He practiced law for a time but in recent years had specialized in abstracts. 

Although he had not engaged the practice of law during the past several years, he was a member of the bar and of the Elkhart County Bar Association. He was one of northern Indiana’s most prominent Masons and also had held membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Elks Club.

He was a member and past master of the Goshen Lodge No. 12, F. and A M., past master of Goshen Chapter. No. 45, R. A. M.. past master of Bashor Council No. 15 R. & S. M., and past commander of Goshen Commandary, No. 50 K. T

Mr. Charnley was also a charter member of both Fort Wayne and South Bend Masonic bodies. He took degrees of Scottish Rite at Indianapolis in 1899.

He was a member of the Episcopalian church and was closely affiliated with the Methodist church. He was for many years a director and stockholder of the City National Bank, had served as Vice-president of the bank and was interested in the Rock Run Mills, the Banta Furniture Company and Beyer Bros. Inc.

Surviving are his wife, two sons, Mitchell Charnley Jr., of St. Paul Minn., William H. Charnley. Jr., of Goshen; and a daughter, Mrs. Mary Margaret Hampden, of New York City, a daughter, Charlotte, died in 1923.

Funeral arrangements will not be made until the arrival of the two children from St. Paul and New York City.    

The News Democrat, Tuesday January 5, 1937, pages 1 and 2