WM. WILKINS DEAD

Dies Suddenly of Heart Failure at His Home West of Blair Thursday Afternoon. Funeral Held Sunday

Wm. Wilkins is dead. It does not seem possible that so vigorous and healthy a man as he could have left us so soon, and yet it is true, and the lifeless body already lies sleeping under the snow out in that silent City of the Dead.

It was the heart, that vital organ so necessary to life. It had become weary of beating out the years, sixty four of them, and at 3:30 last Thursday afternoon it stopped for the rest that is eternal.

Mr. Wilkins had had warnings of its weakness and physicians had told him to be careful. He thought he was, but on Tuesday of last week it first showed signs of giving way under the strain.

On Wednesday it was a little weaker still, and Dr. Murdoch of this city was called, Dr. Pruner, the family physician being in Omaha. On Thursday Dr. Pruner came and was present when Death brushed in at the door and claimed the patient, despite every effort of the doctor to stimulate the heart for a few moments delay.

It is useless to oppose the icy grip of Death when once he claims us for his victim, no matter how little we expect him or how much of sorrow he leaves in his wake.

Dr. Bridges and Mrs. Mattie Borsch, a trained nurse from Omaha, arrived a half hour after the visit of the angel, but all they could do was to join the grief-stricken circle about the bed, and mourn the departure of such a soul from earth.

The funeral services were held at the Christian church in this city at 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon, and were conducted by Rev. F. Grant Hamm, recently pastor here, but now located at Exeter, Neb. The church was crowded to the doors, and many could not get inside to pay their last tribute of respect to their dead neighbor and friend.

Rev. Hamm spoke feelingly of the kindness and generosity of Mr. Wilkins in all the activities of the church of his choice. He was always present if it was possible to be there, despite the five mile drive through all kinds of weather, and his faithfulness was an excellent example to all.

It took fully a half hour for the vast crowd to pass by the bier and take a last look at the familiar features of the man all learned to know so well, and to love so much for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart. Interment was made in a new family plot in the Blair cemetery.

William Marshall Wilkins was born in Addison, Somerset county, Penn. on June 2nd, 1843, and came to this county in 1870, settling on a homestead five miles west of town which he has occupied ever since.

He was married to Sarah J. Allen Feb. 11th, 1873, and of this union there are five sons living, Norman, Cleon, Albert, Grover and Chauncy, and two are dead, Freddie E., aged nine weeks, who died March 9th, 1886 and Eddie F., aged 14 years, who died March 3rd, 1899.

There are five daughters also, Nellie, Winnie, Dora, Bessie and Nettie, all living and at home.

Mr. Wilkins was a member of a family of eleven, eight of whom are still living. Two sisters only were able to be present at the funeral, Mrs. J. E. Mowry of Baxter, Ia. and Mrs. C. S. Aldrich of Guthrie Centre, Ia. Mr. Mowry and Mr. Aldrich were also present, also James Allen, brother of Mrs. Wilkins, and wife of Tekamah and a nephew, C. Allen of Omaha.

The Pallbearers were: L. K. Davies of Bethany, Fred Tookey of Hooper and Chas. Pilcher, Wm. Brenton, Frank Biffar and G. Mehrens.

Two beautiful floral tributes were a pillow from the children and a broken wheel sent by the Farmer’s & Merchant’s Bank of Kennard in which Mr. Wilkins was a stockholder.

Mr. Wilkins will be greatly missed, not only by his family and his church, but by hundreds of friends all over the country for he was widely known. He was a prosperous farmer and had expected soon to retire from active business, having accumulated enough to keep himself and his family for many years.

He was a good citizen too, one of the kind we cannot have too many of, and so the entire community has suffered a great loss in the death of this good man. May the memory of his many virtues be a beacon light to better lives for us all.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #50936567