Robert William Liddle (1842-1923)

LIDDLE, DIX, WYLIE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/24/2024 at 13:12:22

From Story City Herald October 18, 1923 (page 6)

Obituary.

Mr. Robert William Liddle was born in Duanesburg, New York, on April 30, `842, being the youngest of his father, Robert Liddle's family of eight children. Three brothers and one sister survive him. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm there.

All of them being intensely patriotic two older brothers were in the northern army during the civil war. He, catching the war spirit, wanted to go, too, and getting his father's consent, for he was just twenty-one, he with a cousin enlisted in Company I of the 142nd Regiment of New York Volunteers, which was then being mobilized at or near Ogdenburg, New York. He served in the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in a number of severe engagements. He was wounded at the storming of Fort Fisher, being struck on the left side of his face by a piece of spent shell and stunned. His cousin in the rank just behind him saw him fall, dropped his musket and carried him to a place, where he would not be trampled to death by advancing troops, left him and went on with the assaulting party. At the close of the engagement he hunted up his comrade and found him in the field hospital. Mr. Liddle soon recovered and made application to the hospital authorities for leave to return to his regiment for active duty. He served with honor until the end of the war and was returned to Ogdenburg, New York, where he was honorably discharged in the Spring of 1865.

He returned to his home but remained there only a short time, and in about 1866 went to the town of New Fane, Niagara county, New York. On December 22, 1868, he married Adelaide Dix whose father, Daniel Dix, belonged to an old Vermont family who had come to that place a number of years before. Their four children, Ernest, Abram, Ellen and Robert were born there.

He left New York in 1880 and with his family were pioneers of Story county, Iowa. The located at Gilbert, bought a large farm and built a fine home. His family grew to maturity there and he became a man of considerable influence occupying offices of trust in the county, his lodge No. 645 I. O. O. F. and Frank Bently Post No. 89 G. A. R. He moved to Des Moines in 1909, built a home and lived there until the death of his wife in 1914.

Later he went east to his home in New York to visit relatives there. While there he renewed his acquaintance with Margaret Louise Wylie, who was also visiting her old home. She was the daughter of Rev. Gifford Wylie, who was his father's pastor from 1841 until 1870. His father was an elder for many years during Mr. Wylie's long pastorage. He was married to Miss Wylie at her brother's home in Scranton, Pa. They came to Tacoma, Wash., and in June, 1916, he bought the present home at Regent's Park. He became quite seriously ill in 1918 and suffered with the disease which caused his death for five years. He passed away September 8, 1923. He was naturally quiet and retiring though genial and made many friend in his new home. After many years of suffering God called him and he passed peacefully home, loved and respected by all who knew him.