John A. Hiller ~ 1829-1908

HILLER, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/19/2002 at 09:56:27

John A. Hiller was born Oct. 26, 1829, in Darke Co., Ohio, and died at Vernon this county, on March 29, 1908, being 78 years, 5 months and 3 days of age. He was the oldest son of Aaron Hiller. One brother, Isaac Hiller of Dayton, Ohio, a veteran of the Civil War is still living; also one half sister and two half brothers survive him.

He was married on Oct. 20, 1851 to Mary E. Williamson, daughter of Rev. Elijah Williamson formerly of Ohio and late of Sandusky, Iowa. The family moved west in 1850 and settled in Louisa County and in 1856 came to Van Buren Co., Harrisburg Township.

In 1859 they moved to Lee Co. near Primrose and remained till 1864 when they returned to the E. Williamson farm in this township and remained till 1893 when the move was made to Bonaparte, where the widow and daughter still reside.

The deceased was converted in 1863, under the preaching of Rev. Joseph Cooper, at Primrose and subsequently united with the Harrisburg Baptist Church under the ministry of its first Pastor, Rev. Milton Sutton.

Funeral services were held at the Harrisburg Church Tuesday, Rev. A. Trenerry of the Bonaparte Baptist Church officiating, with interment in the Vale cemetery.

John A. Hiller was a unique character peculiarly himself and differing from others in many prominent particulars.

He possessed a very high order of intellect and had cultivated it as best his opportunities permitted. His keen and sensitive moral faculty, with a deep devotion to his Creator, and obligation to his fellow men, rendered him a most exemplar man.

His extensive knowledge of affairs, world-wide, historical, political and religious made him a source of wisdom ever sought by his neighbors and friends.

Independent but unobtrusive thought was a potential tenet of his. He had little use for “creeds” and none whatever for the commonly accepted meaning of the word “policy”. His policy was “Hew to the line and let the chips fall where they may.” His goodness of heart, his sympathetic nature and his inherent craving for social companionship endeared him to the hearts of his neighbors and friends and all were his friends, for no one was ever wont to speak disparagingly of Uncle John.

These varied elements entering into his moral and mental make-up, rendered him philosophic in thought, wise but considerate in counsel, and ever sympathetic and companionable in the world.
His was a retiring, unobtrusive and almost timid character. With the vantage of his inherent and acquired personal, backed by a courage and ambition commensurate therewith, he should have filled a chair in history or philosophy in some state literary institution.

But it is “Opportunity that makes the man” and in the absence of the opportunity, or the courage to embrace it, Uncle John preferred to spend his days among his friends; those who knew him best and esteemed him most and whose benediction now rests upon his memory.

May we ever emulate the life and character of the departed and may tradition transmit a true and lasting tribute to “Uncle John”.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings