Whitford, Wilbur Fisk 1848 - 1913

WHITFORD, KEELING, HOYT, WHITE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:23

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 18 Sept. 1913. Volga City Views columns. Condensed.

Wilbur Fisk Whitford, son of Rev. James G. and Betsey Whitford, was born Jan. 30th, 1848, in Wisconsin. He was one of a family of six boys and two girls. In the early fifties they moved to Iowa and located on the old farm near Volga. When quite young Wilbur was converted and joined the church. His youth was spent in ordinary farm duties and in attending school. In 1870, when 22 years of age, he went to Clayton County, Iowa, and took a claim. All the ups and downs of pioneer life were his. In the fall of 1872 he returned home for the winter and engaged in school teaching to help along, and on Jan. 28, 1873, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Keeling, also of Volga. At the close of the winter term, he and his bride embarked to the new home on the farm in Clayton county, Iowa, where they resided continuously except one and a half years, when, on account of crop failure, they lived at Nora Springs, Iowa.

Sept. 30, 1876, their only child, a son, now Rev. Fred Whitford, was born. In February, 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Whitford joined the Methodist church at Ruthven, Iowa. (Note: At this point in his obit his earnest devotion to church work is detailed and, for brevity, is not transcribed. Suffice it to say here that he was very active in church work at Ruthven, Iowa.)

About two weeks ago he and his wife came from Ruthven to Volga to visit old friends and relatives. In the early morn of Sept. 9th, 1913, at the home of his brother Samuel, he was suddenly called home, to be with Jesus whom he loved and served.

He leaves to mourn his demise his wife; his son, Rev. Fred Whitford, and wife and two children of Salix, Iowa; four brothers, Charles, of Ruthven; Warner, of Fayette, and Samuel and Henry of Volga; also two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Hoyt and Mrs. Emma White, of Volga, and hosts of friends and neighbors, both here and at Ruthven.

The funeral services were held in the Methodist church in Volga, under direction of the local pastor, Rev. Walter Piper, assisted by Rev. W. O. Tompkins, pastor of the family at Ruthven.