[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Levi (1840-1914) & Mary Pilkington( 1841-1914)

PILKINGTON, WILSON, EVES, BRANSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/14/2018 at 12:07:20

29 January 1914 - West Branch Times

Mrs. Levi Pilkington, who has been residing at the home of her son, A. E. Pilkington, since the death of her husband two weeks ago, died yesterday morning, Jan. 28th. The funeral will take place from the A. E. Pilkington home at Centerdale at 1:00 o'clock Friday afternoon. She was 72 years of age. The obituary will appear next week.

5 February 1914 - West Branch Times

Occasionally when two people have been privileged to share each other's joys and sorrows for nearly fifty years, they are permitted to enter into the Heavenly rest with only a short seperation. Such was the passing of our friends, Levi and Mary Pilkington. He was the only son of Joseph and Sarah Pilkington, and was born in Columbia county, Pa., April 24, 1840, and passed away at the home in West Liberty, Iowa, January 16, 1914, aged 73 years, 7 months and 22 days.

After his death, the wife was taken to the home of the son, at Centerdale, Iowa, where she answered the call to come up higher on January 28, 1914, just twelve days after her husband. She was born in Columbia county, Pa., on June 6, 1841, being at the time of her death 72 years, 7 months and 22 days.

She was the daughter of Reuben and Sarah Eves Wilson, and was married to Levi Pilkington, at her father's home, and according to the order of Friends, on the 17th of December, 1868, and two months later they came west locating in Illinois near East Jordan Meeting, which was nine miles north of Sterling in Whiteside county. At the time of their arrival, and for sometime after, the meeting was held at the home of one of the members. The change from eastern Pennsylvania to the prairies of Illinois was rather startling to persons who had grown up amongst the hills. The rigors of the western winters and occasional poor crops did not discourage them.

During their eight years of their residence in Illinois, three children came to gladden their home--the daughter, Anna, and the two sons, Alfred and Wilson. When the latter was one year old--in 1876--they came to Iowa, living for six years on a farm three miles north of West Liberty. Their son, Clark, was born there. During the winter of 1882-3 they removed to Springdale, where the husband engaged in business. Their youngest son, Arthur, was born there. The son, Wilson, having gone to Mobile, Alabama, in 1894, the parents and two younger sons followed in 1897. During their stay there occured the first death in their family, that of their son, Clark, on the 14th of February, 1899, the day after his 21st birthday.

After spending four years in Alabama they returned to Iowa, locating in West Liberty, which continued to be their home, with the exception of a few months spent at the home of the son at Centerdale, Iowa, during the year 1908. That year their son, Wilson, died. They bore the wieght of these sorrows with great fortitude, accepting what came in a spirit of resignation.

Both were birthright members of the Society of Friends and endeavored to live according to its teachings. They were constant in their attendance at the Meetings so long as health and strength permitted.

They were very deeply attached to their friends, who were sure of a cordial greeting whenever they visited their home. She had been an invalid for several years, but had kept about the house long after her disability had prevented her mingling with her friennds outside the home. He was of an active temperament, and his life had been a busy one--to busy for the frail health that had been his portion for a number of years--yet when the wife's physical disability increased he took upon himself the additional duties of nurse and housekeeper, until himself stricken with a fatal disease.

He was the last of his family, with the exception of a nephew, J. W. Eves, of Springdale. She leaves a brother and two sisters in Pennsylvania. Of their five children three are left, viz:--Anna Branson, Montour, Iowa; Alfred Pilkington, Centerdale, Iowa and Arthur of Mobile, Alabama. All were present when the father was laid to rest. The daughter and oldest son were with the mother at the last.

Beside the relatives mentioned above they leave eight grand children and many other relatives and hosts of friends to treasure their memories.

His funeral service was held at the Friends Meeting House in West Liberty at 10:30 a.m. on January 19th, Rev. F. M. Dowlin of the Presbyterian church preaching the sermon.

The services for the wife were held at the home of the son at 1:00 p.m. on January 30th, Rev. Ross of the Centerdale church in charge. Burial in Oakridge.


 

Cedar Obituaries maintained by Lynn McCleary.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]