Hibbard, Almira Currier 1835-1899

HIBBARD, BUTLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/30/2012 at 11:16:47

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Sept 12, 1899

--Almira Currier Butler was born at Haverhill, N.H., Oct. 19th?, 1835, and died at her home in Grinnell, Thursday, Sept. 7th, 1899. Her father was especially noted for his intellectual and individual vigor, a New Hampshire neighbor of the Bartletts, Morrisons, Sutherlands, Childs, Casses? and Walkers of Grinnell. She was married on the 26th of May, 1857, to Elihu Hibbard, and accompanied him on his return to Grinnell that year. After a year or so of extreme pioneering on Rock Creek, they made their home at Grinnell until the Rock Island reached Brooklyn, when they located there, returning here some ten years ago. Mrs. Hibbard was a very sweet, impressive singer, and led the choir in the church of her choice, the Episcopalian, while in Brookyn, and was in demand on all funeral occasions and a leader in all practical, local benevolences. In Grinnell she devoted herself to her large family into which students and townspeople were glad to be invited. The college officials especially took pleasure in the large number of students who occupied her rooms and sat at her table, because of her ability to exercise a helpful restraint. Her strong character, genial spirit, combined with her frank expression of her wishes, made her a graceful and pleasing mistress of her family and in it. She will be missed and mourned by the students to whom she gave a home, and by the faculty who found her a helpful assistant, as truly as by her relatives and her closest social circle. Her daughter Abbie was not able to be present at the funeral; her brother, George Butler, of Woodsville, N.H., being the only relative from a distance able to be present. The funeral services were conducted by Prof. L.F. Parker at her late residence Saturday at 1 o'clock, after which her remains were taken to Brooklyn and interred beside those of her husband.