MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 256
submitted by Charlene Nichols Hixon, Aug. 29, 2007

TRIBUTE TO BENJAMIN NEIDIG and WILLIAM HENRY WALLINGSFORD

Old Settlers’ Meeting.

The old settlers of Muscatine county met at the City Hall March 2nd, 1889, the president, J. P. Walton, in the chair.

On motion, P. Jackson and the president were appointed a committee on resolutions on the death of brother B. Neidig; after which Mr. Walton announced the death of another old settler and offered a tribute to the late Henry Wallingsford, which was adopted.

The tribute to the late B. Neidig was referred to Messrs. P. Jackson and J. P. Walton. ----D. T. EATON, Sec. pro tem.

TRIBUTE TO BROTHER BENJAMIN NEIDIG.


A great man in Israel has fallen and we will no more see the familiar form of Father Neidig on our streets or meet him at church or Sunday School, where he has always been so cordially received and welcomed.


Although we are thankful to have been thus favored with Brother Neidig’s company so long, yet we will miss him very much – so punctual, true and faithful his presence was a benison wherever he came. A kindly, genial friendly man, loving his fellows, always enjoying and delighting in the companionship of the good and the true. It seems while thinking of Brother Neidig going out and in among us so quietly, so modestly, so free from anything that might be spoken against, that we might say as of Nathaniel of old, “An Israelite indeed in whom is no guile,” a man active in business, serving the Lord.


This life is called a probationary state and looking at Brother Neidig he seems for years to have been just ripening for the glorious life beyond, waiting his time when the Lord of the harvest should call him home.


P. JACKSON,
J. P. WALTON.
(see below, after “Tribute to Brother Wallingsford”, article on Benjamin Neidig’s funeral)

TRIBUTE TO BROTHER WALLINGSFORD.


Another early settler has passed away. William Henry Wallingsford, who died Feb. 27, 1889, after being a resident of our county for nearly 40 years. He is the last of an old frontier family that should not go unnoticed by our society. His grandfather was an aged Baptist preacher (who labored in the western part of our county) who was born at Kenton’s Station, in Kentucky, at so early a period that but two stations existed in the whole State. After helping to settle Ohio, he emigrated with his sons and grandsons to Iowa. To the last member of that frontier family we address this tribute. While Harry was but a humble mechanic by occupation, his standing and character gave him a prominence. He was strictly honest in all his dealings, industrious and frugal, kind and obliging and both honorable and reliable. He was a man to whom every old settler, who knew him, was willing to extend a cordial greeting. Therefore, be it


Resolved, That we extend our sympathy to his bereaved family in their affliction and that a copy of this tribute be furnished the papers for publication.

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The funeral of the late Benj. Neidig was largely attended, Sabbath afternoon, the Methodist church being filled, even to the gallery. Rev. Wilson was assisted by Rev. S. H. Parvin in the services which were solemn and impressive. The pall bearers at the church were: A. Davidson, P. Jackson, Jos. Morrison, P. M. Musser, S. Shammo and John Mahin. The services at the grave were conducted by the Masonic fraternity, at request of the deceased, the pall bearers of that order being: T. K. Dunn, W. P. Frazier, Charles Rosemond, Gus Schmidt, Sam Dunn and H. McGrew.

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