William M. Hubbard 1824-1915

HUBBARD, CLARK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/29/2012 at 00:50:18

W.M. Hubbard Dies at Welcome
Mr. Hubbard, formerly of this city, died at Welcome, Minnesota, Tuesday, February 2nd. The remains will be brought to this city for interment in Oak Hill cemetery Thursday afternoon. He was on old soldier and the father of Dell Hubbard. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 3, 1915)

Lived Years After Dead
Wm. Hubbard, Once Nearly Buried Alive, Dies
Wm. Hubbard, 89 years of age, passed away February 2nd at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Judson St. John, of Manpaska. The remains were shipped to Estherville for interment, burial being made on February 4th.

Mr. Hubbard was one of the early pioneers of Martin county, having homesteaded in Lake Belt in the early sixties. A few years later he sold his homestead and bought a larger tract of land in Tenhassen, near Wilbert, which he owned until last year. Several years ago, Mr. Hubbard and wife turned the farm over to their son and moved to Estherville. Last year, rendered too feeble by great age to longer reside along, they came to live with their granddaughter.

The aged wife [Minerva Clark Hubbard] and several children survive the subject of this sketch: one son, Charles, lives east of Fairmont, Dell resides in Estherville and others at various places.

In February, 1864, Mr. Hubbard was one of the little company of Martin county pioneers who left their families and homesteads in response to President Lincoln’s call for troops to put down the rebellion. He served in Co. C. 6th Minn., receiving his discharge in May, 1865. While serving as a soldier, Mr. Hubbard suffered injuries that impaired his eyesight, and for thirty years he was practically blind, for which disability he was liberally pensioned by the government.

About four years ago, Mr. Hubbard had a remarkable experience. He had been seriously ill, and to all appearances died. Physicians pronounced him dead and the family proceeded with arrangements for the funeral. Estherville and Fairmont published obituary sketches and announced the date of the funeral. The children and grandchildren gathered at the home to pay the last sad tribute of respect.

During all this time Mr. Hubbard was fully conscious of all that was going on and able to hear what was said, but unable to speak or move. He listened to the plans for his burial and was unable to cry out at the impending horror of being interred while still living. He heard the expressions of grief over his departure from sorrowing members of his family without power to respond. Finally someone thought they discovered faint signs of life and restorative measures were applied with the result that in a few days Mr. Hubbard was again up and around to enjoy several more years of life – Fairmont Sentinel (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, February 10, 1915)