LILLIBRIDGE, William H. 1835-1901

LILLIBRIDGE, MINKLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/12/2016 at 20:58:52

Passing of W. H. Lillibridge

The expected death of William H. Lillibridge of this place occurred last Monday about five o'clock p.m. He had been a sufferer for more than a year with cancer of the stomach and was taken to his bed a few weeks ago. His final days were without pain and a partial paralysis of the body preceded death which came to him without usual suffering attendant upon the separation of the soul from the flesh. He made all arrangements for the disposal of his remains, his funeral obseques, and bid his family farewell in a way that made the separation less hard to bear and left the hope for a meeting beyond that will sustain the bereaved ones when earthly friends have ceased to express their sympathy.

The funeral services will be conducted from the M.E. church this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Masonic fraternity of which he was a member and the presiding officer of this lodge, will have the funeral in charge. His immediate family are in attendance and were with him at the time of his demise. They have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement and they have also the consolation of the Holy Word which for many years had been the departed's hope and comfort. Mr. Lillibridge united with the M.E. church of Grundy Center some ten years ago and was a faithful attendant upon its services to the time of his illness.

William H. Lillibridge was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, December 9th, 1835. He spent his boyhood days at the home of his father, John Lillibridge, but upon reaching the years of manhood emigrated to Delaware county and the following year went to the pineries of Minnesota where he remained for some time. He spent about four years as river pilot. On November 27, 1859, Mr. Lillibridge was united in marriage to Miss Mary Minkler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Minkler of Delaware county. For ten years they lived in Carroll county, Illinois. Eventually they came to Iowa again and in 1872 located in Grundy county where they raised their family and became permanent citizens.

Their first Grundy purchase was a hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Palermo township, a like amount was added on section 15. With the proper cultivation and the erection of good substantial buildings the farms became among the best in the county. Mr. Lillibridge was an industrious man, a good neighbor, a kind husband and father and a successful farmer. He had many warm friends who will miss him. He was an old line democrat and always voted his ticket according to that conviction. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the Royal Arch degree and filled many of the offices in the blue lodge and chapter.

He leaves to mourn his death his wife, four sons, Henry A., E. A., John W. and Charles R., and two daughters Laura and Nellie. Two children died in infancy.

They mourn not as those having no hope for the faith of their departed loved one was strong in the Lord that sheltered him. May he rest in peace.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 September 1901, pg 1