HILLIKER, Stephen

HILLIKER, BISHOP, LINDSEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/1/2017 at 02:22:12

Obituary ~ Stephen Hilliker
September 03, 1826 ~ July 19, 1907

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 25, 1907

HEAT CAUSED DEATH
_________

Stephen Hilliker Died Suddenly on Friday Afternoon,
Being Overcome by the Excessive Heat.
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Stephen Hilliker, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Leon, died suddenly at his home in south Leon last Friday afternoon, the result of being overcome by the heat.

Although 81 years of age, Mr. Hilliker was quite vigorous and enjoyed eceotuibakt good health for one of his years. He had been up town in the afternoon and sold some potatoes to F. M. Coder, saying he would go home and dig them and bring them up. He went to his garden and dug a two bushel sack full, placed them on a wheelbarrow to bring them up town and went into the house and sat down in a rocking chair, when he was overcome. Mrs Hilliker passed through the room just after her had sat down and spoke to him but he made no reply. She went into another room and returned in a few minutes and again spoke to him but receiving no reply went to him and found that he was dead, having passed away immediately after sitting down.

The day was one of the hottest of this season, and the physicians who examined him said he had been overcome by the excessive heat, the exertion of digging the potatoes in the boiling sun being too much for him.

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Stephen Hilliker was born in Oswego county, New York, September 3, 1826, and died at his home in Leon, Iowa July 19, 1907, at the advanced age of 80 years 10 months and 16 days.

Brpther Hilliker's early life was spent in his native state. He was united in marriage to Miss Paulina Bishop Sept. 15, 1847, in Pulaska, New York, where they continued to reside for a number of years. There were three children born to this union, two sons and a daughter. The daughter dying at 13 years of age. The sons are Adelbert Hilliker, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Charles L. Hilliker, of Pulaska, New York. The sons, with their bereaved mother and one sister, Mrs. Q. M. Lindsey and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive him One great-grandchild passed away about one month ago going almost as suddenly as did Brother Hilliker.

In 1881 he came to Leon and for 26 years this has been his home. He was a man without enemies, friends ever many, he had won the confidence and respect of all who knew him.

He was converted when about 28 years old and for 52 years exemplified his religion by a godly walk and conversation. His place in the church was rarely vacant. His faithfulness was apparent to all who knew him. In his earlier christian life he served his church as Sunday school superintendent and class leader. His religion was of the every day pattern. He was always the same. During the 53 years of his religious life he observed family worship with unwavering fidelity.

A son pays loving tribute to his father's cansistant (sic) daily life. His brother-in-law says that he never knew him to commit a wrong act.

Bro. Hilliker's passing was sudden, yet for one whose daily life had been so beautifully consistent, it seems the ideal death. For him there were no long weary weeks of sufferintg preceding the final summons. At the masters (sic) call he laid down the life of toil to enter the life triumphant. The Christ who cheered and helped him through the trials and toils of over 50 years of devoted service, would be near to welcome his child to the mansions beyond.

Bro. Hilliker will be greatly missed, especially in the church, but his good deeds will live after him. His example can but bear testimony to the power and beauty of the christian religion.

Funeral services were held at the M.E. church Sunday afternoon, July 21st, at 3 o'clock, conducted by Rev. J. L. Boyd, interment being in the Leon cemetery.

Servant of God, well done.
Thy glorius warfare's past.
The battle's fought,
The race is won,
And thou art crowned at last.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2016