William Nivison 1832-1917

NIVISON, LORIMER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/25/2013 at 23:09:08

Pioneer Settler Dies
William Nivison Dies At Home of His Daughter, Mrs. Geo. Lorimer Monday Night
Mr. William Nivison, father of sheriff Tom Nivison, and of Mrs. Geo. Lorimer, of this city, died of an attack of la grippe at the home of the latter Monday night, January 22 aged 85 years and 6 months. Funeral is to be held from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lorimer Thursday morning at 10 o’clock and interment made in High Lake cemetery by the side of his wife who died five years ago. Obituary next week. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 24, 1917)

The Grim Messenger
Obituary – Nivison
William Nivison, another sturdy pioneer and citizen of this community has reached his journeys end.

Deceased was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, June 2, 1831, died in Estherville, Iowa, January 22, 1917. He was united in marriage to Margaret Lorimer. To this union two children were born, Thomas Nivison, the present sheriff of Emmet county and Mrs. George Lorimer. On June 2nd, 1881, accompanied by his wife and two children, he sailed from Glasgow for America, coming direct to Emmet Co. and settled on a farm in Jack Creek township where he resided until the 2nd of November, 1914, when he moved to Estherville and resided with his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Lorimer, until his death. His faithful wife and helpmate for forty-six years died March 4, 1912. His two children were both present at his demise and are left to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent father.

Tho not one of the pioneers of Emmet county he settled here at an early date. In 1881 this section of Iowa was still new and those who made their homes here in those days had to endure hardships and suffer privations unknown to the present generation. He was a man of heroic mold of strong convictions, a sturdy and rugged character, the soul of honor, a typical Scotchman of the old school. His belief was that honesty is the oak around which all other virtues cling. He was talented and educated and up to the time of his death a great reader of current events. He possessed a wonderful memory and consequently had a large storehouse of historical knowledge. A good many conversationalist and a royal entertainer it was a pleasure and also profitable to those who had the privilege of visiting him. Like all who hale from the land of Bruce, the land where they eat haggis and puddings, he was a great admirer of Robert Burns and would often in his conversations quote from the Scotch bard. He was conscious to the very end and his well trained to the very end and his well trained mind as clear and active as in early manhood. Only a few minutes before he died he was reciting from Burns. One of the last quotations was “Mans inhumanity to man makes countless thousand mourn,” and just as his big generous heart ceased to beat he was heard to whisper “A man is a man for a’ that and a’ that.” Thus with the beautiful sentiments of his beloved poet on his lips he passed to the great beyond where we hope he will meet Scotlands idol face to face.

To William Nivison this life or the life in the hearafter was not so much of a mystery. The teachings of the Established Church of Scotland were inculcated in his mind in early youth and all thru his long and useful life he believed and lived in the faith that was taught him in childhood.

And so the strong and sturdy man, the good man, the true, upright and pure hearted man, the good citizen, the Christian gentleman has gone from our midst. He went as one who has fought the good fight and kept the faith, a victor, one who could look up and beyond the hills of earth into the heavens and see and hear the reception there awaiting him. William Nivison lived a life of irreproachable character, he was sincere, devoted and honest in purpose. Characters like this will ever stand the test of time and circumstances. Whole-souled, great-hearted Christian gentleman, good-bye.

Funeral services were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Lorimer, January 25th, the 158 anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, conducted by Rev. Robert Mitchell of the Presbyterian church assisted by Rev. A.S. Hock of the Episcopal church, and the remains laid to rest beside those of his beloved wife in the High Lake cemetery. – Contributed (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 31, 1917) (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 31, 1917)