Horatio Cane Wickham (1833-1912)

WICKHAM, MALLOY, MALLORY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Representative January 3, 1913

OBITUARY

H. C. WICKHAM

Horatio C. Wickham was born in Enfield Falls, Tompkins county, New York, on Sept. 1, 1833 and died at his old homestead near Zearing, Iowa on Sunday, December 29, 1912, aged 79 years 3 month and 10 days. Such is the brief record that future generations will read from the marble in our cemetery, but the story of that life will never be told, the noble influences that actuated the life to its struggle upwards, its dissatisfaction with conditions that make people worry, its aspiration towards the one ideal have left their imprint on those more closely associated with him and have influenced other lives beyond our powers of computation.

Mr. Wickham's Puritan ancestors lived in the north east part of old England where the name is perpetuated by the town of Wickham. They joined the early migration of their people to the New England and helped establish Connecticut colony, the history of which is now known to our school children. Their old colonial mansion is still in use and not far from it are those of the Gates and Arnolds of Revolutionary fame and of the Sillimans that are also represented in Story county.

Mr. Wickham's grand father served in the Colonial army through the long eight years of struggle that resulted in the first independent nation in the New World. At the close of the war he returned to his farm, where the rest of his life was spent. His son had removed to central New York where the subject of this sketch was born 79 years ago.

Mr. Wickham was educated in the Ithaca Acadamy in a class of which "Sunset" Cox was a member and he inherited the comprehensive intellect, the firmness, the continuity and last but best the integrity of his Puritan ancestors, together with a rugged wiry constitution--all of which admirably fitted him for the higher duties and responsibilities of a pioneer in wisely laying the foundation on which the social structure of our great commonwealth has been built.

In 1855 he came to Iowa when the Mississippi was the western terminus of the pioneer railroad and he located his home where he continued until the final summons came.

In 1857 he was united in marriage with Pauline H. Mallory at Ithica, N. Y. To this union was born nine daughters and six sons of whom seven daughters and five sons survive him. Mrs. Wickham died July 9, 1910 after sharing nobly the duties and responsibilities of their home for 53 years, during which time according to Mr. Wickham's testimony she never gave him a harsh nor unkind answer. Such a home was ideal for the rearing of a large family. Trials, disappointments, storms and blizzards might subdue but never could eclipse the sunshine from the home. Mr. Wickham was one of nature's noblemen, who stand above sham affection and pretense. He was never too busy to be interested in his flowers nor too tired to enjoy the music of the wild bird for the protection and comfort of which he maintained a miniature forest near his home.

Now that familiar form will be seen no more--the voice that spoke nothing but word of kindness is stilled--but the memory of him who is gone come back ever and again to keep us on our way. May that which was best in him be found in us when our departing day comes.

The funeral was held Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1912 at 2 o'clock at the Evangelical church Rev. C. H. Stauffacher officiating, after which the remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the Zearing cemetery.

Card of Thanks

We wish to than our many friends who so kindly assisted us during the illness and death of our beloved father, also for the beautiful floral offerings.

The Wickham children.