It was with the deepest regret that our people learned last Wednesday noon that H. W. McBride had been stricken with paralysis, and that his condition was almost hopeless, and they were none the more prepared at 3 o’clock to learn of his death. Mr. McBride, up until the noon hour, was apparently in the best of spirits and the picture of health, and at about 11 o’clock he was talking of the sad incident in Tekamah whereby death separated the Rev. Morill Twins, and in only true pleasure came from living a straight life, and such a life was closed in his death but a few hours later. Mr. McBride was one of our pioneers, well and widely known, locating in Blair and identifying himself with the mercantile profession in April, 1869, and for a third of a century he has not only won friends and business by a square deal, but has identified himself with the progressive interests of our town and county. He was an enthusiast, and the present high standard of our schools stands largely to his credit, as for many years he, as a member of the school board, gave the schools the same personal attention he gave his own business. The firemen of our city termed him “their best friend”, and such he was, and invariably furnished them a hot drink of coffee when on cold nights they were called to fight fires. He was a prominent Knight Templar, and was buried under their auspices at 11 o’clock Sunday. The floral offerings were profuse and showed in a measure the high esteem in which the deceased was held by his fellow citizens, all of whom extend to the bereaved widow and daughter their sincere sympathy in their sad bereavement.

#2-4 Dec., 1902 - Blair Courier - H. W. McBride

The funeral of H. W. McBride, whose sudden death was announced in these columns last week, was held at 11:30 o’clock last Sunday in the Methodist church under the auspices of Jordan Commandery. Large delegations from Washington Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and the Blair Fire department attended in a body, and the church was crowded to the doors with friends and sympathizers. The Blue Lodge took charge of the body from the church, and conducted the service at the grave. The pallbearers were W. K. Fowler, F. S. Gaylord, Thos. Wilkinson, P. J. Gossard, Wm. Lamb and J. R. Smith. Mr. McBride was born in Westown, Orange county, New York Sept. 15, 1840, and was married to Miss Laura Allen Dec. 14, 1865 at Whitesville, N.Y. But one child, Adda, widow of the late Geo. W. Sellers, was born to them. They came to this city, then a few scattered houses, in the spring of ’69 and Mr. McBride went into business with the Rosa brothers. He afterwards bought them out and went into business for himself in the same building he was occupying at the time of his death. He was always an active Mason, having held the office of prelate in the Chapter for fifteen years, and that of high priest in the Commandery for the same length of time. He was a member and most of time secretary of the Board of Education for fourteen years. He was a man of strong feelings, generous, kind hearted and sympathetic. One of his continued kindnesses was in serving hot coffee to the firemen whenever they were called out in the night, no matter at what hour. He was a lover of flowers and almost every morning in the summertime one could find him working among them on a vacant lot just back of his store, facing on Front street. Besides his wife and daughter, he leaves four widowed sisters, all living in the east. His cousin’s widow, Mrs. Horace McBride of Norfolk and her son, Willis, of Madison, Neb. attended the funeral. Also L. C. Allen of New York City, a brother of Mrs. McBride.