Hiner, Eugene Samuel 1849-1925

HINER, ANDERSON, WARDS, SMITH, CHAPMAN, FITCH, DORMAN, BOADEN

Posted By: Jo (email)
Date: 5/15/2007 at 20:52:19

OBITUARY
EUGENE SAMUEL HINER
Eugene Samuel Hiner was born on June 19, 1849, in Rockingham county, Virginia, the son of Young J. and Malinda Anderson Hiner. In the early summer of 1854, his parents started with their five children to the new west, Iowa being their destination, where other relatives had already established a home on those fertile plains.
The journey was made overland in a covered wagon, and only those who have undergone the rigors of such a trip can know what hardships were endured. Upon reaching Bloomington, Ill., the journey of about seven hundred and fifty miles almost completed, the father was seized with a fatal illness, the young mother being left with five children, the eldest of whom was a little girl of twelve.
A family from Ohio, the Ben Wards, had fallen in with the little caravan on the westward journey, and they continued west until they reached Brookfield township, Clinton county, Iowa, where they notified Eugenis Anderson, a brother of Mrs. Hiner, of the great loss which had befallen his sister. He immediately set out on horseback to assist her in the completion of the trip, reaching Bloomington some weeks later. Upon his arrival, he found that one of her horses had died, and so his animal was hitched to the wagon, and the journey to Iowa was completed. For a few months, the mother and her little family lived with her brother on the old Anderson homestead in Brookfield township, later establishing a home nearby.
Growing up among pioneer surroundings, and schooled in hardship such as few now living have undergone, Eugene developed a rugged, honest character that drew friends to him all his life.
On March 16, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Smith, and to them were born two daughters, Pearl, now Mrs. Harry Chapman, and Ethel, now Mrs. Wilmer Fitch, both of Bennett, Ia. Mrs. Hiner died in 1903, and on April 15, 1914, he was again married, his widow, Clara Dorman Hiner, still surviving. He leaves also four grandchildren, Ray, Imogene, and Carolyn Chapman and Janice Fitch; one brother, J. Addison Hiner of Mt. Vernon, Ia., and one sister, Mrs. Betty Boaden of Chamberlin, S.D.
He was an indulgent father, a kind and thoughtful husband and a loyal neighbor and friend. His membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was one of the pleasures of his life, for his companionship with his friends through the 33 years of his association with that order meant much to him.
Stricken almost three years ago with a serious illness, he has been a keen sufferer during most of that times but he has borne his pain, with fortitude, uttering no word of complaint during either mental or physical weariness.
Wishing to acknowledge publicly the faith that sustained him, he received the oridnance of baptism August 24, 1923, the Rev. Edward A. Lang, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, administering the sacrament to the bedfast sufferer, and adding his name to the roll of that church.
At the age of 75 years, 8 months and 7 days he fell asleep in Christ, his death occuring Thursday evening, February 26 at 9:45 and his weary spirit left its pain-wracked earthly dwelling place to dwell forever in the realms of light.
DEATH DATE: February 26, 1925
SOURCE: Private collection of newspaper clippings