William McKibben (1918)

MCKIBBEN, WILSON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 10/30/2007 at 18:12:55

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
September 1918

Wm. McKibben

Just as the sun was touching the western sky with colors of red and gold, just at the closing of day on September 13th, 1918, Wm. McKibben's life day of 79 years came to its eventide and the night shadows of death separated him from us. For the night--but to him and us there shall come the morning!

Wm. McKibben began this long, busy day of life in Indiana. His parents were early pioneers of the near east and he, inheriting the spirit of a pioneer, became one of the early settlers of Iowa, coming to this community in the year 1858. He sacrificed and toiled to make this then wilderness of grassy prairie to blossom as the rose and to grow into farms and homes and plenty and prosperity.

Early in life he started a home of his own, Nahrista Wilson joining him in this home; and for 55 years he knew the joy, strength, happiness and anchor of the companionship of a faithful Christian wife. And into this home came five children, two sons and three daughters. These children in time all married and left the parents' home for homes of their own, and on Jun 13, 1912 his loving companion closed her day's work here on earth, leaving this man to go down the six evening years of his life's day weary and alone. His was a kindly spirit, a faithful husband and father in the home and neighbors say of him, "he was a good, upright kindly neighbor."

He loved his country and not only did he sacrifice, enduring the hardships of the pioneer's life to make his country grow into a prosperous abiding place, but in August, 1861 at Winterset, Iowa, he enlisted in the 39th Infantry of Iowa, Company A. It is remarkable to note that in this man's long life he saw his country pass through three dark war clouds and enter the fourth; and no doubt his anxious heart had faith and hope that his country would come safely through this fourth.

He was a sufferer for many months and no doubt he too felt the day to be long and lonely and desired for the eventide of life to quickly come. That very soon the setting sun would----(rest is missing).

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