John A. Hilliard (1845 - 1919)
HILLIARD, MITCHELL, JACKSON, HOWELL
Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 4/17/2017 at 21:53:14
The Osceola Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa
April 3, 1919, Page 5John A. Hilliard
John A. Hilliard, son of Benjamin L. and Sabrina Hilliard, was born in Lafayette, Stark county, Illinois, April 28, 1845, and died March 31, 1919, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wilbur Mitchell, Des Moines, Iowa, aged 73 years, 11 months and 2 days. In 1867, in company with his older brother, Albert, he moved to Clarke county, Iowa, where, with the exception of a few years in the state of Washington and about a year in Des Moines, he has since continuously resided.
On the 16th of April, 1868, he was married to Irene Jackson, formerly a resident of Lafayette, Illinois, and a schoolmate of Mr. Hilliard's, and who a few years earlier had accompanied her parents to Clarke county, Iowa. To this union wee born three children, George who died when five months old and Frank A., for many years a resident of Osceola, Iowa, and now a prominent citizen of Ottumwa, and Mrs. Mabel Mitchell of Des Moines, still surviving.
In church affiliation Mr. Hilliard was a Universalist, having adhered to the religious belief of his father, the late B. L. Hilliard. None ever questioned his religious convictions, and all respected his sincerity. In this connection it is worthy of note that he freely accorded to his fellows the right to determine for themselves the form, name and degree of their divine worship, thus in his own life observing in both letter and spirit one of the fundamental and underlying institutions of this country.
Only a little more than a year ago the wife of his youth and who had shared his joys and sorrows nearly a half century, answered the last summons. Since then his health had not been of the best, although in more recent months he seemed greatly improved and bade fair to live many more years. Last Friday morning he mentioned to his daughter that he had had a chill during the night. Later in the day his speech failed him and shortly thereafter he suffered a complete physical collapse. All that medical science and loving hands could do proved of no avail. He lingered until 6 o'clock Monday morning when he entered into mystery that lies beyond, conscious, hopeful, and faithful to the end.
Few men lived longer in Clarke county and none was more highly respected. He was universally esteemed as an honest and honorable man and as a faithful and useful citizen. Correctly and modestly he went in and out among men, and humbly and confidently he went to his God.
He leaves to mourn the two children above mentioned and three grandchildren, Lois and Burdette, children of Frank, and Lee Merton, son of Mabel. Also one sister, Mrs. Minnie Howell of New Virginia, Ia., one brother, Frank H. Hilliard, of Orlando, California, and many nephews and nieces, among them being Hon. Benjamin C. Hilliard of Denver, Colorado, formerly a representative in congress, and who came from his western home to attend his uncle's funeral.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist Protestant church in Osceola Wednesday, April 2d at 10:30 o'clock conducted by Rev. J. C. Leonard, after which the body was laid to rest in the Fremont cemetery.
Headstone Photograph
Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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