BISHOP, John H. 1813-1898

BISHOP, CLOW, NIXION, MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 8/22/2011 at 14:17:26

DEATH OF JOHN BISHOP

John H. Bishop was born at Stafford, Genesee County, New York, June 10, 1813, and died at Osage, Iowa, on September 28, 1898. He was thus in his eighty-sixth year.

On the 19th of October, 1842, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ingsol Clow with whom he lived happily for neary forty-seven years. His youth, early manhood and much of his mature life were spent in his native state. In 1756* he joined the tide of immigration that was sweeping into this western country and he came to Osage. In that day, Iowa was a new country and especially was it new in this section. Osage had but a few log houses in the unbroken prairies of the county. The railroad did not come for several years and there were no well marked highways for travel nor bridges for the rivers.

It was a pioneer community to which Mr. Bishop brought his young family in 1856 and he had to endure many of the hardships of the time. He was strong, sturdy and vigorus, and well fitted to grapple with the problems that confront the pioneer. His trade was that of the stone mason and he was a first class workman. Much of his handiwork remains in the community today.

He laid the foundations of the Methodist and Congregational churches, the Washington school building, and many of the substantial business blocks on Main street. It is the testimony of men in the community who knew Mr. Bishop for forty years and more that he did good, honest, substantial work. He was not the kind of man to do work that seem substantial in appearance while in fact it was inferior. He was an honest man and was content with honest work only. His work has stood the test of time. The strong and substantial walls that he built with his own hands are a symbol of his own strong and manly character.

His life of activity closed several years ago, and the writer knew him as an invalid only. When I came here nearly seven years ago, it was a common sight of a pleasant day to see "Uncle Johnny Bishop" as he was familarly called upon the street corner shaking hands with the friends of the past generation. Then it bacame more difficult for him to walk up town and he would not be seen for weeks or months. For three or four years he has been confined to the house almost entirely. His infirmities have been great. He had out lived almost all the friends of his youth. He said he found peace in Jesus Christ.

His wife died on the eighth of January 1889. He was the father of four children all of whom survive him: Mrs Edgar L. of Great Falls, Montana, John E. of Forman, N.D., Mrs. F.M.Nixon and Mrs. A. R. McLaughlin of this place. The funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon under the direction of Rev. W.W. Gist, assisted by Rev. B.D. Smith.

Osage Journal
Oct. 5, 1898