Ellsworth Charles BILNEY

BILNEY, SMITH, WELCH, TIBBETTS, WIEST, HOSKINS, TRUAX, SANBORN, CARTER, GRAHAM, KVIDERA, WELSH, HILL, CLEMENTS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

Ellsworth Charles Bilney
13 January 1869 ---- 27 February 1929

The community was shocked and saddened a few days ago, when one of our highly respected citizens went out from us to a Chicago hospital for an operation to correct a slight defect and in a few days was reported dead. Truly life is uncertain, and we should all heed the admonition of Christ, to be ready. The presence of Ellsworth Charles Bilney will be missed among his associates on the railroad where he has worked in various capacities for the past 38 years; he will be missed from his place in the church at which he was a member; he will be missed as a familiar figure in the community; and he will be missed as a kind and cheerful husband and father in the home.

Mr. Bilney was born Jan. 13, 1869 in Aurora, Ill. His mother died when he was but an infant. His father and grandmother moved to Lake City, Iowa, where the grandmother died when the little boy was only six. The father raised him till he was 12 and then married again.

At 18 years of age Mr. Bilney started working for the C. & N. W. railway as carpenter. He continued at this work for about three years then entered the regular train service and worked himself up until at the time of his death he was conductor.

He was united in marriage to Dora Smith of Tama, Iowa on Oct. 24, 1893. They made their home in Tama until 20 years ago when they moved to Eagle Grove. Five children were born to this union, Mrs. Ruth B. Welch of Chicago; Ray E. of Newark, N. J.; Lowell J. B. of Clinton, Iowa; Mrs. Mildred Tibbetts of Eagle Grove.; and Jeannette, who is still at home.

Mr. Bilney was a member of the O. R. C., the I. O. O. F., and the Free Masons.

Mr. Bilney made a public confession of Christ as his Savior and joined the Methodist church here about a year ago. He always expressed himself as being so glad that he did and was asked how he was [non legible]. He passed away in St. Luke’s hospital in Chicago, after an operation, on Wednesday Feb. 27, 1929, at the age of 60 years, one month, and 14 days.

He leaves to mourn their loss his wife, the children already mentioned, his stepmother of Pomona, Calif., two half-sisters, Mrs. John Hoskins of Alhambra, Calif., and Mrs. Glenn Wiest of Pomona, Calif., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon. Rev. W. G. Muhleman preached the sermon from Gen. 2:7. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery.

Those from a distance who were here Sunday to attend the funeral of Mr. Bilney were the following relatives and friends: Mrs. Luella Truax, Minneapolis; Mrs. P. D. Sanborn, Tama, Iowa; Mrs. Horace Carter, Grinnell; Mrs. C. W. Graham, Tama; Rev. and Mrs. B. E. Clements, Nashua; Mrs. Frank Kvidera, Sheldon; Mr. and Mrs. George Bilney, Woodward; Mr. and Mrs. Al Bilney and son, Clellis, of Woodward; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bilney, Woodard; Ray Bilney of Woodward; J. A. Welsh, Baraboo, Wisc.; Hugh Hill, Tama; Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Welsh, Chicago; Ray E. Bilney, Newark, N. J.; Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Bilney and daughter, Lavonne, Clinton.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, March 7, 1929

Source ---- Paul Wilde