Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-06-12
OBITUARY..
BECKER,

BECKER. n
One of the early 1879 settlers of Sphinx
County died on Friday of last week.
VIM. Becker, who became a Sp,nk
County resident in the first year that
settlement was made in the county, has
remained upon the original land taken
from the government, about five or six
miles east of Redfield, and has there,
with the assistance of his son, John,
developed one o: the finest farms in
the state. 49,
Mr.. Becker entertained peculiar
religious ideas. He was a spiritualist
of the old type that developed back in
New York during the decade of 1910.
Mr.. o. S. Basford spoke to the large
gathering of friends and early settlers
who gathered to pay the last rites to
the departed. This was in compliance
with promise made twenty years ago
and renewed in 1906 when Mr.. Basford
spoke at the burial of Mrs. Becker.
He spoke as friend of the departed
and not as theologian.
Mr.. Becker was spared a thing he
dreaded, to-wit: .Helplessness in old age,
for, although he had attained 81 years.
up to the last day he was able to large
ly take care of himself. His desire in
reference to death was also granted
him in that he had frequently expressed
a desire to depart suddenly. The
language of two stanzas of the little
poem "Crossirg the Bar" expressed
his desire in reference to his end. I
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me! |
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When put out to sea.
Twilight and evening bell |
And after that the dark
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When mbark.
William Henry Becker was born at
Syracuse, N. Y, March 22nd, 1880.
In June 1851 he was mar r;ed to Laney
Jane Dunbar. Removed to Cresco,
Iowa, in 1865. From there he came to
Redfeld, S. D., in the fall of 1879.
On the goth of September, 1906, his
wife passed away, land since that time
be has made his.home with his son John,
On the old homestead.
He died very suddenly at four O'Clock
in the afternoon, May goth, although
as we'll as usual when rising
in the morning.
Ten children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Becker, of whom only three are
eft to mourn the loss of a kind father:
Joseph Becker, of Cresco, Iowa. John
Becker, of Redfeld, and Mrs. VIM.
Schoniger, of Redfeld.
The deceased also leaves 10 grand.
children and 26 great-grandchildren.-
Redfeld Is. d. Press.
WILDMAN.
Egbert Benson Wildman was born in
CASTLE, Wyoming county, N. Y, Dec.
IL, 1S43, and died at his home in Cres-
90, Iowa, June 3, 1914. When a boy
Mr.. Wildman moved with his parents
% Rock county, Wis, and later to !
Darlington, Lafayette county, where
lis boyhood was spent. When the call
zane for those who would defend the ,
I'D flag and the country it.represented, I
lie enlisted in Co. G. 18th Reg. Wis. s
Volunteers, and was out in the defense I
# his country until Sept. 27, 1865, t
When he was honorably discharged at 7
Nashville, Tenn. In 1869 he came to
Toward county, Iowa, and on May %, {
$40 was married to Frances Howard T
20 this union was born seven children, s
me of whom died in infancy. The six
Who survive the father, are John B. t
# Monticello, Mimi, Mrs. J. C. Mich
is and Albert of Cresco, Iowa, Jennie
>. and Stephen M. of Rapid City, S.
J., and Mrs. Ray Becker of lie Roy, T
dinn. c
Some weeks ago Mr.. Wildman con. s
essed his faith in his Savior, and was
aptised and received in the Methodist
hurch. For several years Mr.. Wild :,
nan has been in failing health, and !
uring the last month he failed very
apidly until he quietly slipped to his
eward on Wednesday afternoon.