DuBAY, William died 1878

DUBAY, DUBOIS, ELDER

Posted By: D DuBay (email)
Date: 6/30/2009 at 19:09:03

North Iowa Journal
Lansing, Iowa
October 23, 1878

"MUSTERED OUT." Wm DuBois has fought the Battle of Life and Death has Mustered him out.

-- William DuBois, whose illness we have recorded from time to time, has at last ceased from all his earthly troubles and sufferings and the poor worn out body is at rest in the "silent city" out on yonder hill.

For some years past the deceased had been troubled with pulmonary consumption which continued to make its slow, sure and fatal inroads upon his health, and gradually taking away that manly strength and vigor which he had been blest with in his younger days when he first came into the Mississippi valley. For some months past he has been lingering near death's door, but would occasionally rally a little, as do all victims of that dread disease, deluding his mind with the faint hope that he would yet get well. For several days he failed rapidly and the final separation occured on Saturday morning last at his home in Columbus.

The funeral took place on Sunday and was attended by a large concourse of our citizens, both rich and poor, whose presence evinced that although the deceased was but a poor, humble and common man, yet he was one of God's creatures who deserved their sympathy and this last mark of respect that can be shown to the dead.

During the war Mr. DuBois was one of our comrades in Co. B, 27th Iowa Infantry, and he was a true and faithful soldier, always ready for duty and never faltered nor flinched in the hour of danger. Capt. Bascom deemed it a duty to give the old soldier a military burial and he accordingly turned out a detachment of his company, and with muffled drums, reversed arms and slow and solemn tread they followed the remains to the tomb and over the open grave fired the customary salutes of honor.

William DuBois was a Frenchman, and when the great Hudson Bay Fur Co. operated on the Mississippi river, was in their employ. His age was about 56 years. He came to Lansing in 1845 or 1846, and was consequently one of the earliest pioneers.

Some 25 years ago he was married to a daughter of old Mr. Elder, one of the early settlers, and a large family has been reared up, most of whom are grown.

The family is left in destitute circumstances, for, although always a hard working, industrious and sober man, he was one of that unfortunate class of mankind who never get ahead any, and his large family to provide for, doctor's bills to pay and inability to labor very hard during the past few years, has made their lot a hard one, indeed, and poverty would have pinched them sorely had not kind friends given them succor from time to time.

Peace to the ashes of our old comrade; and we drop a tear to the memory of those dark and bloody days when he stood shoulder to shoulder with the thousands of others of the "boys in blue" between the rebel leaden messengers of death and the homes in our dear old Northland.

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Added by Diane C. Dubay 1/25/2022:

The Lansing Mirror, Friday, Oct 25, 1878, page 3:

"A Veteran Gone -- One of the oldest residents of this vicinity, William Dubois (generally known as DuBay), who settled at or near Lansing more than a quarter century ago, died on Saturday morning, at his home in Columbus, of Consumption.

The deceased was a member of Capt. Hemenway's Co. B of the 27th Regt. Iowa Vols, and was in the service about one year.

He suffered for many months from the illness which finally resulted in his death, and was aided by the charitable, his family being in needy circumstances.

In respect to the dead comrade of years ago, many of the old soldiers turned out to his funeral on Sunday afternoon, the militia Company under command of Capt. Bascom forming the escort and depositing the remains in the tomb with due military honors.