Zachariah Willburn 1805-1879

DE GARMO, FARMER, WILLBURN

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 5/14/2006 at 17:44:27

The Free Press, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Thursday, September 18, 1879, Page 3

Death of Zachariah Willburn.

Zachariah Willburn died on Sunday last, the 14th inst., at about 10 o’clock in the morning. He had been confied to his bed about ten days. During that time he suffered beyond description, but bore it all with great patience. He had been failing for some time, from some internal disease, that was incurable. He was attended by the best of physicians, and watched over by a large circle of acquaintances, but the dispensations of Providence had made its inroad, and nothing could thwart its purpose. When death enters there is no defence. The funeral took place at the grave, on the late Lewis Farmer’s farm, by the side of his first wife, who was interred there many years ago. The Rev. De Garmo officiating in his able style. The writer is informed by Mr. Willburn’s friends, that he died in full hope of going to Heaven, and enjoying the association of his friends that had gone before. His funeral was attended by an extra large concourse of people, at 1 o’clock, on Monday, the 15th inst.

Zachariah Willburn was born in Cumberland County, Ky., May 26, 1805. He went to Illinois when a boy. He came to this township and settled in 1833, hence he was one of the first, if not the first settler here. He had been three times married, and was the father of twenty-one children, and all of them that are living visited him in his last illness, and the most of them attended his funeral. Mr. Willburn leaves a widow and thirteen children that are still at home that will miss him very much. In fact he will be very much missed in this community, as he had many redeeming traits. There never was a kinder hearted man to those in distress. Previous to being taken down sick he anticipated an enjoyable time at the old settlers meeting, but he is now gone to another meeting. Thus, one by one, our old settlers drop off and there are but few left. How important it is that we live right that we may be prepared to die right. It is a great consolation to bereaved friends to feel assured that their departed friends are enjoying heaven and all that heaven means and all that heaven is. K. B.
Marion T. P. Sept. 15th, 1879.