COL WILLIAM HUKILL SURLES
EAST LIVERPOOL TRIBUNE
MAR. 1919
CO. SURLES, 74 POSTMASTER FOR 13 YEARS DIES SUDDENLY
Was Veteran of Civil War, Serving With The Union Forces
PROMINENT IN THE G. A. R.
Member of the M.E. Church; Leaves Widow, Son and Daughter.
COL. WILLIAM HUKILL SURLES, aged 74, postmaster here for 14 years, died suddenly this morning at 11:30 o’clock. Col. Surles had been in failing health for the past several weeks, but had been confined to his bed for only the past few days. Death is attributed to a general breakdown.
Deceased was born in Steubenville on February 24, 1845, the son of John and Emily Surles, the youngest of a large family. He spent the greater part of his youth in Jefferson county. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the cause of the north and fought through the four years of the war, taking part in many of the bloddy battles of the conflict. He was a member of the company commanded by Col Anson C. McCook, one of the fighting McCooks of Steubenville.
In 1871 he removed from Steubenville to East Liverpool. For many years he was engaged in business as a contractor, later being appointed postmaster here. Through his efforts the appropriation for the new post office now located on Broadway and East Fifth street, was secured. Mr. Surles personally supervised the erection of the structure.
Mr. Surles has alway been prominently identified with all affairs of a patriotic nature in this city. He held the office of department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of the State of Ohio for a number of years. He was also a memberof the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city.
Besides his wife, Mrs. Sarah Surles, he is survived by a son, Charles Surles, and a daughter, Mrs. James F. Rinehart; his grandson, Lieutenant Allen Surles, and a sister, Mrs Charles M Fairman, of Pittsburg