Alfred Alanson Hibbard (1838-1898)

HIBBARD, BAZELEY

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 3/31/2014 at 22:45:24

Paullina Times, 15 Sep 1898, p. 5

Died
"Mr. Hibbard is dead" was an announcement that came as a pall to the humble Sabbath life of this neighborhood on last Sunday. The death occurred the previous day. We cannot recall a more sudden summons, or indeed, a sadder one in the history of the town. Mr. Hibbard was not in a vigorous condition of health, and had not been for a long time, but the end came as it always does with heart trouble, with a suddenness that is extremely startling.

A personal acquaintance with deceased enables the writer to testify to the admirable character of this beloved man. His life was fraught with the kindest deeds - he never "dreamed them all day long." Every person was a friend, and his home life was a model of love and devotion.

Thus we are called upon to record the death of an old settler and a friend whose presence was like a benediction and whose absence will prove a sore loss for time to come.

Alfred Alanson Hibbard was born in the town of Rowe, Franklin county, Massachusetts, on August 24, 1838. At the age of twenty-six he moved to Bremer county, Iowa, and three years later was married to Elizabeth Ann Bazeley. In 1870 he moved with his family to Waterloo and in 1871 went to Hampton, Franklin county, Iowa, where he lived until coming to O'Brien county a little more than fifteen years ago. Most or all of his life since that time has been passed at the place where he died.

He was raised a Unitarian but united with the Methodist church in 1883 and remained an active member until on Saturday, September 10, 1898, he was called to the Church Triumphant.