STIDGER, William C.

STIDGER, BONNEY, REDD, DUFFIELD

Posted By: Juanita (email)
Date: 5/31/2003 at 22:57:17

KEOSAUQUA REPUBLICAN, Thursday, July 29, 1880

"Obituary and resolutions adopted by Keosauqua Lodge No. 10 A.F.& A.M. on the death of Brother William C. Stidger of Red Oak, Iowa.

William C. Stidger of Red Oak, Iowa died on the 21st day of July 1880 of bilous coite. His remains were brought to Keosauqua to the residence of the father, Dr. George Stidger, and buried with masonic honors by Keosauqua Lodge No. 10.

The deceased was the third son of Bro. George Stidger and Mary Stidger and was born at Moundsville, VA, November 4, 1838 and lived there with his father until the fall of 1855 when he came with him to Keosauqua.

He received an excellent education begun in Virginia but completed under the excellent tutorship of the Rev. Daniel Lane who memory so many here and elsewhere cherish with gratitude for faithful and thorough teaching and wise Christian council.

Although quite a young man, he became one of a party of emigrants under the leadership of L. J. Rose who undertook to cross the plains by the Santa Fe route in the summer of 1858 and participated in the skirmishes and conflicts which this party had with the Indians near the Colorado River, at one time being surrounded by them, and cut off from the main body, but he charged through their ranks and came out alive although exposed to a murderous fire from the yelling savages, saving his life by his dash and courage.

The party having lost their provisions in their battles with the Indians, it became necessary not only to return, but also to secure help and supplies and he was chosen as one of six to go to the nearest military post for them and was the second man to arrive, obtaining help and provisions which were sent back to the suffering emigrants under a military escort and the party rescued from their double peril.

He returned to Keosauqua from Santa Fe in the spring of 1859 where he remained until October 11, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company E, 15th Iowa Inft. Vol. and remained with this regiment until mustered out by reason of the close of the war on the 24th day of July 1865. The history of this regiment would be a history of the conflicts and triumphs in which he participated from the first baptism of fire at Shiloh to the grand review of Sherman's army at Washington when the war was over. He was also in the siege as well as the battle of Corinth at the siege and surrender of Vicksburg, went with Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta, participating in the skirmishing and battles on the way and that were fought at Atlanta, went down to the sea up to Columbia and on till the war was closed by the capitulation of Johnson's army.

In a few days after he enlisted he was selected at one of the company's sergeants, subsequently as sergeant major of the regiment and on the 26th of October 1864 he was commissioned as first lieutenant and adjutant of the regiment which position he held until the close of the war.

Not only in the conflicts with the Indians on the plains, but all through the war, he proved to be a man of unshrinking courage and resolution never turning aside from the path of danger, but rather courting it, when it lay in the way of duty.

His courage, galiantry and good conduct, won him his promotions and he proved himself as able and efficient officer, winning the confidence of his superior officers and the esteem and respect of his comrades.

He was severely wounded both at the battle of Shiloh and at Corinth but these wounds did not deter him from continuing in the service. As soon as he was able to go he was again at the front with his regiment. Besides these he received two other slight wounds.

After the war closed he returned to Keosauqua where he engaged in the mercantile business continuing therein at this place and Red Oak where he removed early in the year 1871 until some time in the year 1877 when he closed out that business and about years ago started the RED OAK DEMOCRAT.

On the 20th day of November 1866 he married Mary J.Bonney, oldest daughter of Bro. Josiah Bonney, late Secretary of the State of Iowa.

He leaves surviving him his wife and three children, Josiah B., Ella, and Otto aged respectively, 12, 10 and 8 years.

His mother died December 11, 1864 but his aged father still lives to mourn his loss. This is the first break in a family of nine children raised to manhood and womanhood, three daughters, Mrs. Samuel B. Redd, Mrs. George C. Duffield and Miss Beatrice Stidger, and six sons, Drs. Samuel H. and George Stidger of Virginia; Cap't. John S. Stidger of the RED OAK RECORD; Judge Nathan Stidger of Kansas and Dr. Thornton Stidger of Keosauqua and the deceased.

He was a mason in this lodge in the fall of 1866 and filled various important offices in this lodge, acting as master thereof while Senior Warden in consequence of the removal of the W. M. and the duties of these positions he ably discharged with acceptability to the brethren. At the time of his death and for some time prior thereto he was a member of thelodge at Red Oak.

While Brother Stidger was not successful in accumulating a fortune as a merchant, yet he was an active energetic and honorable business man. It was not until he became an editor and publisher that he found his true vocation. It gave him a wider field for his energies and for his mental activity. He was naturally a good descriptive writer, but realizing that it is news the people most want, he quickly excelled as a paragraphist. Both as a political writer and leader, he was vigorous, forcible and fearless.

He had already won for his paper success financially, made it the organ of Democratic party of this county with a wide influence throughout the State and given it high rank as a newspaper. He lived to devote himself to the profession chosen so late in life, he would undoubtedly have placed his paper among the leading organs of the state and taken a front rank as a vigorous and able writer.................."

(There is about another page of this account. If anyone would like to have it, please contact me). (juanita2@cox.net)