William H. Kerrihard 1817-1880

KERRIHARD

Posted By: Sara Patton (email)
Date: 2/13/2003 at 16:54:47

Red Oak, IA newpaper (title not shown)Jan 7 1880:

"The announcement this (Wednesday) morning that Mr. W. H. KERRIHARD was dead threw the community in grief and mourning. Mr. K. was born in 1817, in York county, Penn, on the 24th day of July, and would have been 63 years of age next July. In 1857 he came to Montgomery county and settled near where Wayne Stennett now lives, building a small mill and it is belived (sic) manufactured the first flour in the county. He afterwards lived a year at what is now known as Manker’s Mills. In 1860, he located at his present home, in Red Oak, and built the mills that he now owns. He was a man of energy and enterprise, warm-hearted and genial in disposition, loved, respected and honored by all who came in contact with him, socially or in business. His honor was never questioned, not even a breath of suspicion could be fastened to his reputation for honor or morality. For some yeas his mill has been in the hands of his boys, and he has to some extent been relieved of a life of labor and toil, and he has been spending his days in comparative quiet. For the last year he has held an office of honor and trust in this city government and was discharging his duties in the same fidelity that has always characterized his life. On Tuesday evening he was out in the yard at 7 o’clock, took a chill a little later, when Mrs. K. called a daughter-in-law, and he was placed on a bed. He felt that death was near, called his children around him, talked in a conscious and sensible manner until 6 o’clock this morning, when he finally exclaimed, "Why did you blow the light out?" and in a few moments expired. He leaves a wife and six children, the latter all grown to manhood and womanhood. His funeral will take place from his residence at 1 o’clock Friday."
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I.O.O.F.

"All members of the I.O.O. F. are requested to meet at the Hall, on Friday, Jan.9, at 12 o’clock, sharp, with horse and saddle, to attend the funeral of our brother "Uncle Billy" Kerrihard, which takes place at 1 o’clock, from his residence. By order of committee."

The People’s Telephone Jan 14 1880

"Obituary"

"William H. Kerrihard was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in July, 1817, and died in Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa, January 7, 1880, at six o’clock, a. m.

"The funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of the I.O.O. F. and with the solemn and imposing rites of that order, of which the deceased was a member. Rev. H. H. Oneal delivered a fervent and touching prayer for the bereaved family and friends and read a part of the last chapter of Ecclesiastics, and delivered a few appropriate remarks from the text: "And he said behold now I am old, I know not the day of my death." (Genesis 27:2)

The deceased was one of the pioneers of this county. He removed from the state of his nativity in the year 1855 [?hard to read] and settled in the city of Davenport in this state, and from thence removed to this county, early in the year 1857, and settled where Wayne Stennett now lives, where he built a grist mill, and it is said, manufactured about [sic]the first flour in the county. He removed to the present home of the bereaved family in the year 1860, and built the mill known as Kerrihard’s mill in this city in the same year.

The deceased leaves a widow and six children, three boys and three girls, all grown to man and womanhood and married, in this county, who will receive the sympathy of the whole community in this their day of affliction. The deceased was a loving and indulgent father and husband, a doting grandfather, a kind neighbor, and a sincere friend. He was endowed with keen perception, an uncommon share of energy and ingenuity, and was full of lively anecdote, and he possed [sic]that charity that covers a multitude of sins. He believed in mankind, and the throng of friends who assembled to bid him farewell forever was ample evidence that men believed in him.

(Signed) Friend"