Wishart, William 1828-1917

WISHART, KELLEY, ALEXANDER, RALF, BAKER, RUTHERFORD, NOEL, CARLSON, ROLAND

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/16/2011 at 10:38:45

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; March 6, 1917

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM WISHART

William Wishart was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, October 16, 1828. There, in early manhood, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Kelley. To this union nine children were born, seven of whom are still living.

Mr. Wishart was an engineer by trade. In the fall of 1879, when fifty-one years old, he left Scotland, sailing from Glasgow for America. Two sons had preceded him, and he was acompanied by his wife, six children, a son-in-law and two grandchildren. He came at once to Grinnell, where he has made his home ever since. For twenty years he worked for the Craver Manufacturing Company, and later, for the Spaulding Company, until old age and a serious accident made hard labor no longer possible.

Eighteen years after their settlement in Grinnell, Dec. 29, 1897, the faithful wife was called to her eternal home. Since then his granddaughter, now Mrs. Rudolph Noel, has lived with him in the family home, and has cared for him faithfully in his declining years. Here, Sunday evening, February 25, he answered the final call, and went to join the loved ones who had gone before, aged 88 years, 4 months and 9 days.

Born in Scotland, reared in the Presbyterian faith, he early united with the church of his fathers, and in the rugged faith of his ancestors he lived and died, respected by all, and loved deeply by those who knew him best.

Seven children survive him: James and George live in Pasadena, Calif.; Mrs. Juliana Alexander and Mrs. Hannah Ralf in Grinnell; John in Springfield, Ill.; Mrs. Euphemia Baker in Chicago, and William, the youngest, in Springfield, Ill. Mrs. Dorothea Rutherford was married in Scotland, and died in Grinnell. Annie died in infancy in Scotland. Besides the seven children, he is survived by thirty-two grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

The funeral services were held from the old home, 616 Pearl street Rev. Frank H. Webster, pastor of the Baptist church, officiating. Two sons, John and William Wishart of Springfield, Ill., a son-in-law, C.A. Baker of Chicago, two grandsons, William Ralf of Grinnell, and William Rutherford of Rock Island, Ill., and a grandson-in-law, Rudolph Noel of Grinnell, acted as pall bearers.

Relatives from out-of-town who were present at the funeral were John Wishart and Mr. and Mrs. William Wishart of Springfield, Ill., C.A. Baker and wife, and Mrs. George Baker and daughter Lillian, of Chicago, Misses Helen and Emma Wishart of Des Moines, William Rutherford of Rock Island Ill., Misses Margaret and Sadie Alexander of Des Moines, Ben Ralf of Marshalltown, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrey Carlson of Des Moines. George and James Wishart of Pasadena, Calif., were unable to be present. Mr. and Mrs. Luvern Roland of Linden could not come on account of sickness in their home. Peter Rutherford of Stuart was kept at home by the sickness of his wife. George Baker of Chicago, was unable to be present. Mrs. Margaret Ralf was unable to leave the hospital at Oakdale. The relatives living in Grinnell were all present with the exception of Isaac Alexander who was confined to his bed, threatened with pneumonia. The floral tributes were many, and the old home was packed with old friends who came to pay their last tribute of respect to one who had been a faithful friend, a worthy citizen. The body was laid to rest in Hazelwood cemetery beside that of the wife who had gone before.