Horatio Cone Wickham (1833-1912)

WICKHAM, MALLORY, ARRASMITH, ADAMS, PHILLIPS, BUNKER, CERKA

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

From Nevada Evening Journal January 1, 1913 (page 1)

A Tribute to H. C. Wickham

Zearing

Horatio C. Wickham was born in Enfield Falls, Tompkins county, New York on September 10, 1833 and died at his old homestead near Zearing, on Sunday, December 29, 1912, aged 79 years, 3 months and 19 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 in its struggle upwards its dissatisfaction with conditions that make people worse, it aspiration towards the one towards the one ideal has left its imprint on those more closely associated with it and influenced other lives beyond our powers of computation.

Mr. Wickham's Puritan ancestors lived in the northeast 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 well know to our school children. Their old colonial mansion is still in use and not far from it are those of the Gate's and Arnold's of revolutionary fame and of the Sillimans that are also represented in Story county. Mr. Wickham's grandfather 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 removed to central New York, where the subject of this sketch was born 79 years ago. Mr. Wickham was educated in Ithaca academy in a class of which "Sunset Cox" was a member. He inherited the comprehensive intellect the firmness, the continuity 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, that of wisely laying the foundation on which the social structure of our great commonwealth has been builded.

In 1855 he came to Iowa, when the Mississippi was the western terminus of pioneer railroad. He located his home where he continued until the final summons came. In 1857, he was united in marriage with Pauline R. Mallory of Ithica, N. Y. and to this union were born nine daughters and six sons of which seven daughters and five sons survive. Mrs. Wickham died July 9, 1910 after sharing nobly the duties and responsibilities of their home of 53 years during which time according to Mr. Wickham's testimony she never gave him a harsh nor unkind answer.

Such a home was an ideal one for rearing of a large family trials, disappointments, storms and blizzards might subdue but never could eclipse the sunshine from that home. Mr. Wickham was one of nature's noble men who stood ----- sham affectation and pretense, was never too busy to be interested in his flowers nor too tired to enjoy the music of the wild birds or 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 words of kindness is tilled but the memory of him who is gone comes back ever and again to help us on our way. May that which was best in him be found in us when our departing day comes. The funeral services were held Tuesday at two o'clock at the Evangelical church conducted by Rev. Charles Stauffacher.

The children who are living are Mrs. George Arrasmith, Mrs. E. W. Adams, Mrs. L. G. Phillips, Miss Minerva Wickham, Cornell, Charles and Will Wickham all of this place; Mrs. Bunker of Milo, Mo., John Q. Wickham of Nevada, and Mrs. Lulu Cerka of Zearing and Robert. The family have the sympathy of the friends and neighbors.