Kirkland, Joseph 1848-1934

KIRKLAND, WIEGLE, CLARK, ATKINSON, PILGRIM, AHRENS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/3/2010 at 12:46:03

Grinnell, Iowa newspaper dated Feb. 20, 1934

AN OBITUARY OF JOSEPH KIRKLAND

Joseph, the youngest of a family of eight children born to James and Lydia Wiegle Kirkland was born May 8, 1848, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and the last of his family to pass. His father died when he was five years old and he was put into the home of a good Christian man whose influence was never forgotten. When the Civil War came he was too young to go and with his five brothers at the front he grew restless and left Pennsylvania and came to Ohio where he found work with James Ewart, and with whom he came to Iowa in 1866. Here he encountered the hardships of the early settlers and many were the stories he told of early days when the Rock Island railroad only came to Brooklyn.

In 1874 he was married to Mary J. Clark who preceded him in death lacking four days of being a year.

To this union were born three children, the oldest a son, Jimmie, who died in 1880, and two daughters, Mrs. Vesta Atkinson and Mrs. N.O. Pilgrim who are left. There are two grandchildren, Ralph Atkinson of Peoria, Ill., and Lola Pilgrim Ahrens of Grinnell, and one great-grandson, Bobby Ahrens, besides a number of nieces and nephews in the east.

Mr. Kirkland was a member of the Methodist church at Ewart and contributed of time and effort and money in its upkeep. On coming to Grinnell he transferrred his membership to the Methodist church which he attended faithfully until his failing eyesight kept him home.

February 7 he fell and suffered a broken hip. He was taken to the St. Francis hospital where all that loving hands could do was done but his prayers were answered to be taken to his companion for more than fifty-nine years and on the morning of Feb. 14 he passed to "The Land from which no traveler returns," as he told his family two weeks ago.

Funeral services were held at the home, 125 East street, Friday afternoon conducted by Rev. Mr. Wilkinson. Burial in Hazelwood cemetery.

Many old friends and former neighbors from Ewart were present to pay last respects to a kind neighbor and loyal friend.

Mrs. J.D. Freeman of Des Moines and Mrs. Carolyn Orsborn and daughter Florence of of Hampton were present from out of town.