Josiah Hildebrand, Rev. (1892)

HILDEBRAND, KRABIEL, DORSEY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/17/2008 at 15:00:17

Winterset Madisonian – August 12, 1892
Winterset, Iowa
Page 7

FOUND DEAD IN BED.

Josiah Hildebrand, Father of Mrs. C. C. Krabiel, Dies Suddenly at Des Moines.

On Saturday morning, August 6th, Mr. Josiah Hildebrand was found dead in his bed at the Ardmore hotel, in Des Moines. He was the father of Mrs. C. C. Krabiel, of this place and was quite well known here on account of frequent visits to his daughter.

Mr. Hildebrand had been boarding at the Ardmore since last March. He was agent for two art companies of Chicago and Peoria, and was engaged in canvassing for orders for enlarging pictures. He had been suffering from summer complaint for some time, and during the past two weeks had complained of cramps and pains in his stomach. On Friday, which was a very hot day, he had been walking about considerably, and went to bed soon after supper. The next morning the chambermaid noticed his door standing open, and looking in discovered his dead body. She notified the landlord, who summoned the coroner.

The body was found lying on the bed in a natural position, not twisted or contorted as stated by the Des Moines papers. A mustard plaster had been placed on the abdomen, and on the bureau was a bottle of laudanum which bore the druggist’s label of H. Tobin, who was formerly in the drug business here. Near by was a glass of water into which some of the drug had been poured. Mr. Hildebrand had evidently taken the laudanum to ease his pains, and while his death may possibly have been caused by an accidental overdose, it more likely resulted from the disease with which he was suffering. There are no suspicions of suicide. The coroner’s jury returned a verdict of death by natural causes.

The remains were brought to this place on the Saturday evening train, and the funeral services were held at 5 o’clock p.m. Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Krabiel. Rev. C. L. Nye, of the Methodist church, was the officiating clergyman, and he has kindly furnished us with the following biographical particulars:

Rev. Josiah Hildebrand was born in Lewiston, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1816, and died in Des Moines, Iowa, August 5, 1892, thus being 76 years, 1 month and 20 days of age. He graduated from Dickinson College and joined the Baltimore conference of the M. E. church when about 26 years old. He was sent to circuits in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, where he labored until 1859, when he was transferred to the Illinois conference and filled appointments there til about 8 years ago, when he located.

He was married to Francis S. Dorsey in 1846 and three children were born to them, who, with her, remain to mourn their loss. Only one of the family was present at the funeral, the widow and other two children of necessity being absent.

Note: Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.