Henry F. GIDDINGS

GIDDINGS, CHRISTMAN, CASE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/15/2016 at 15:06:53

October 19, 1822 ---- November 29, 1900

HENRY GIDDINGS - DOWS, IOWA, DEC 12 - EDITOR ADAMS JOURNAL -

Death has removed another schoolmate and life-long friend of the writer, Henry Giddings, formerly well known in Adams and Ellisburg. He died Nov 29 at his home near Emmetsburg, Iowa; funeral Saturday, Dec 1. He was the son of Joseph and Almira Giddings, born Oct 19, 1822, at Wardwell Settlement, at his demise was 78 years, 1 month and 7 days old, my junior about one and three-quarters years. We attended the Wardwell Settlement school, famous at that time for the large number of scholars, many of them noted in after late, and still well remembered in that community.

Hannah Wardwell, Mrs Shepherd, Sarah W, Mrs Otis, Nathaniel, Henry, Timothy Wardwell, N was a lawyer at Watertown; H, U S officer, dying in the army; T, a clergyman; Leonard Kennedy, Ira, Wadsworth and Jane Mayhew (Mrs Hinman); Ira was a noted educator, Philander and Jesse Smith, Albert, Cyrus and Joseph Taylor; Samuel Wardwell, still living, I believe, at Mannsville, the "boss" story teller of the town. My as well stop here as anywhere naming the students of that once famous school - were scores of them. Of course it will be inferred I was one of them. About the time Henry's school age ended his parents moved to the Andrus Settlement and the name changed to Giddingsville and so-called to this day, his father keeping the popular hostelry at that place till the railroad took the public travel from the highway or common roads. The hotel had a large dancing hall, where the lovers of the [?] art often gathered. Standing in front of that old inn don't require a very great stretch of imagination, to hear the orchestra and flying feet chasing the hours of night away. Or still better, listen to the stage driver's melodious horn as the horses come prancing across the river bridge or dashing down the Draper hill, the horses flecked with foam, John's whip curled over the leaders, the ponderous stage rushing, swinging, creaking on its heavy leather thongs, reined up in front of office-door, proprietor and loungers rush out to get the news and see who are aboard, and the females of the household through half opened doors and slightly drawn curtains take a peep. The arrival and departure of trains ain't a patchin to the arrival and departure of the four-horse stage coach of olden times. To leave digression, - Mr Giddings elected to be a farmer and selected for his helpmate the pretty, sensible and well educated Fannie Christman, daughter of Peter and Adaline Case Christman - married, Dec. 25, 1853. Two sons were born to them - Charles H, in October, 1854; Fred H, November, 1861 - both are in the mercantile business. C H at Osgood, F H at Rutherton of this state. Mrs. Giddings, their mother, will make her home with them while her life is spared.

Henry Giddings and family moved to Iowa in June, 1869, settling on a homestead in Vernon township, Palo Alto county, where he lived and died. People born and living in an old settled country have not much of an idea of the trials and hardships to be undergone in settling a new country without roads and bridges, abounding with rivers and creeks that must be crossed and the chances of being stuck are five to one of getting over safely. If stuck the lumber has to be carried across the morass and reloaded, and not unfrequently the wagon had to be uncoupled before it could be extricated. Several persons usually went together for mutual assistance.

Mr Giddings's homestead was 65 miles from Fort Dodge, at that time the nearest railroad station, but at his death were two near his door. 18?? was a very wet season, the streams and sloughs full of water and but one bridge only on the route. The task to get his lumber that distance for his house was a herculean one, and but few would have the grip and grit to hold out. So the toil to get materials for his house was no boy's play. When asked how he got his lumber from Fort Dodge, across the unbridged streams and sloughs, well nigh impassable, laconically answered, "I backed it," was hardly a figure of speech. But other trials and misfortunes came upon him that would have made Job "flinch." He lost his first crop by hail and two years in succession lost his crops by grasshoppers. Still he stuck to the homestead. Prayer and petitions avail nothing in bringing relief to disasters that come from "cause and effect." We must round up our shoulders and stand them - no whining. Finally his pluck and patience were rewarded with bountiful crops and good prices; after a time had a home of peace and plenty and happiness dwelt therein. His last days were his best and happiest. Three years before his death he had a slight shock of paralysis, affecting his right side. Last winter had an attack of pneumonia and later had congestion of the brain, causing his death. How mysterious and relentless is death. His long scythe cuts a wide swath through ranks of human life, the edge never dulling, swing never ceasing, leaving in its track a gruesome windrow of dead human beings of all ages, classes and conditions of life. When we think of our dead fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, friends, who are reposing in the cities of the dead, what one of us would not join in the wish, the prayer, "Ah, Christ; that it were possible for one short hour to see the souls we love that they might tell us what and where they be." Farewell schoolmate and friend, many long years he fought heroically for competence and health and life, dying as heroes die. "Like one that draws the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams." Let us believe that in the silence of the receding world he heard the great waves breaking on a farther shore and felt already upon his wasted brow the breath of eternal morning. B J Mendell

The Jefferson County Journal -- Adams, New York
December 25, 1900