John Bilderback (1929)

BILDERBACK, HODSON, FRY, BINGMAN, REEVES, CROFT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 12/13/2014 at 09:24:37

Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
December 19, 1929

JOHN BILDERBACK PIONEER PASSES ON

Had Spent Most of 74 Years of Life in and Near Earlham.

John Bilderback, born August 15, 1855 near Earlham, died December 14, 1929—aged 74 years, 3 months, 26 days. Brief words, but they cover a boyhood amid the hardships of Iowa’s early pioneer homes, courageous and hopefully struggling with the virgin soil and native timber for the needs of simple life; a manhood strong in love and labor for family and neighborhood; and an old age feeble and worn with a pain racked body; they cover a marvelous change in our fair state, a wonderful perfect in our nation’s history, and the lifting of the common people from isolation to luxury and convenience.

John was one of the younger of seven children of Samuel and Sally Bilderback, very early settlers of Dallas county, who came from Missouri in 1852, and bought a home four and one-half miles northeast of Earlham.

He was married to Catherine Hodson, June 14, 1881. He continued to live on the Bilderback homestead until 1895, when they moved to his Earlham home. To them one child was born—a daughter Lulu Belle. His wife died August 12, 1921.

During the years of his loneliness he found great comfort and strength in reading the Book of Books—and said to those about him that he was ready to pass the portal we call death to life eternal.

John Bilderback has given of his great strength to the upbuilding of the present civilization. Those nearest him knew of his staunch integrity of character, his devotion to his home and family, his patience in suffering and his abiding trust.

He leaves the daughter Mrs. Lulu Belle Fry, and her husband, five grandchildren, Marie, Robert, Catherine, Charles and Mary; one brother Ferd Bilderback, of Earlham; three nephews, Leonard Bingman, Frank and Joe Bilderback, of Adel; three nieces, Mrs. Eva Reeves, of Adel; Mrs. Beulah Croft and Pauline Bilderback, of Des Moines.