Gibson - Peck - Widel

George & Eliza - courtesy of John G Chamberlin

Eliza Jane Peck, the daughter of  George Peck & Anna Ide, married twice. First to George Gibson who died as a result of disease during the Civil War and then Alfred Hall Widel.  

George Gibson was the son of Hamon Gibson & Hannah Brooks and he enlisted in 1862, 8 months after his son was born - leaving Eliza and Millard to fend for themselves. 

Sadly, George died at Vicksburg, MS in Jan 1863.

She then married Alfred Hall Widel, the son of Daniel Widel & Rebecca C Fox and she had 6 children with him.

Alfred & Eliza - courtesy of John G Chamberlin

Pocahontas Democrat, Thurs, 16 Nov 1916
Mrs Widel passes Away
Palmer Press: A gloom was cast over the community last Wednesday afternoon when the news was given that Grandma Widel had passed away. She had been sick for some time and all knew there was practically no hope for her recovery, still her death came as a shock to the many friends and neighbors with whom she has associated for so many years. She was held in high esteem in the community and she will be sadly missed and sincerely mourned. To those near ones who are so sadly bereaved, the sympathy of all our people is extended. Eliza Jane Peck was born in Saratoga County, New York, March 14, 1844, and died at her home in Palmer, Iowa, November 1, 1916 at the age of 72 years, 8 months and 16 days. She was united in marriage to Mr A Widel September 19, 1867, in Monmouth, Iowa. To this union seven children where born. Four of these preceded their mother to the Great Beyond; three with their father are left to mourn her passing. They are Mrs A H Keck of Gilmore City, Iowa and Harvey and Edgar of Worthington, Minn. She also leaves a grandson, Chas Gibson, whom they raised from infancy; two brothers - Edward Peck of Odeboldt, Iowa and George Peck of California; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In her girlhood days, Mrs Widel united with the Baptist church; later transferring her membership to the Methodist church, to which she belonged at the time of her death. All through her long and useful life, she tried to follow the teachings of her Master. In the passing of Mrs Widel, the community has lost a good woman and the family a true mother. The funeral was held Saturday forenoon from the Methodist church and interment made in the Palmer Cemetery. The floral offerings were most beautiful, a silent and an impressive tribute of love for the departed. Rev F W Wilson preached a very fitting sermon from the text so appropriate - I Timothy 1:5: "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of good conscience and of faith unfeigned"

Pocahontas Democrat, Thurs 14 Nov 1929

courtesy of SAS - Find A Grave

Last Veteran of Civil War Dies Friday - Descendants to Fifth Generation Mourn Gilmore Man
Alfred H Widel, the last survivor of the Civil War veterans of Gilmore City, died suddenly at the Donnelly Service Station there last Friday afternoon. Funeral rites were held from the Palmer Methodist Church Sunday afternoon and burial made in the Palmer Cemetery. The American Legion Posts of Gilmore City and Palmer assisted in the last rites for the deceased. Alfred Hall Widel was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1846 and was the son of Daniel and Rebecca Widel. He moved to Jackson County, Iowa with his parents six years later. When the Civil War broke out, he made two attempts to enlist but was refused both times on account of his youth. Toward the close of the war he was accepted and served as a Private in Company F, 44th Regiment, Iowa Infantry. Four brothers served with him, one of whom was killed and another lost an arm. At the close of the war, he returned to his home and in 1867 was married to Mrs Eliza Gibson. Thirteen years later they moved to Sac County and in 1894, Mr and Mrs Widel and their family located near Palmer. Mrs Wide died in 1916 and since that time, Mr Widel has made his home with a grandson, Charles Gibson at Gilmore City. Mr and Mrs Widel were the parents of seven children, four of whom are dead. Those surviving Mr Widel are Mrs Rebecca Keck of Gilmore City; Harvey of Stewart, Minn; and Edward of Santa Maria, Calif. Eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one, great-great-grandchild are living.

Mary Esther Peck

Mary Esther Peck was a bit of a brick wall for me until I found her obit. Hints on ancestry had various death dates for her with nothing making sense given that her husband and daughter were living with her sister Lucy in 1910.

Turns out she was suffering from tuberculosis and died in 1914.

Odebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 10 Sep 1914

Death of Mrs Allan Baker

Friday the remains of Mrs Allan Baker of Milford were brought to Odebolt for burial in the local cemetery. Her death occurred Thursday, September 3 at 7:40 pm and was due to tuberculosis. Funeral services were held from the home of her sisters, Mrs Edw Wilkinson, at 2:30 Saturday afternoon, conducted by the Rev M P Arrasmith of the Methodist church. The pall bearers were Messrs Tw Down, A P Cranston, L T Quirk, Chas Smith, J E Einspahr and Chas Kistler. Those who gathered to pay the last respects were the relatives and a company of old friends and neighbors with whom she lived in this community before her removal some years before her death. Mary Esther Peck was the daughter of Mr and Mrs S E Peck, pioneer residents of this community. She was born in Monmouth, Jackson County, this state, July 22, 1871. She came with her parents to Sac County in 1874 and grew to womanhood on the old homestead near Odebolt. November 16, 1892, she was united marriage with Allan Baker. For five years after their marriage, they resided in the Bethel neighborhood, moving in 1897 to the vicinity of Schaller. They resided there until the year 1906 when they moved to Milford which has since been the family home. Some nineteen years ago she affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her associates testify that she led a true Christian life. During her later years she was a great sufferer with disease, but she bore her affliction with fortitude and was a loving helpmate and mother. Death came to her in her forty-third year, and was a welcome release from suffering. She is survived by the husband and by the five-year-old daughter, Edythe. Also by the aged father, stepmother and one brother and three sisters. The parents live in Odebolt. The brother and sisters are as follows: E D Peck and Mrs Edw Wilkinson of Odebolt, Mrs Kate Ellinger of Estherville and Mrs J F Ady of Schaller. All of the family were present at the funeral. Mr and Mrs A H Widel of Palmer, an aunt and uncle, were also present. The friends extend tender sympathy.

courtesy of Dorothy@OKOBOJI - Find A Grave

Unknown Paper, Oct 1942
Allen Baker Died At Arnolds Park Monday
Allen Baker, 74, of Arnolds Park, who had been in poor health for the past twelve years and had been seriously ill at his home with diabetes for the past two weeks, passed away at his home Monday morning, October 26, at 9:45 am. Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Church conducted by Rev C K Hudson. Burial was made at Okoboji Cemetery at Arnolds Park. Allen Baker, son of James D and Margaret Baker, was born on October 12, 1868, at Circleville, Ohio, and passed away October 26, 1942, at the age of 74 years and 14 days. At the age of three years, he came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and then moved to Odebolt where he grew to manhood. He came to Dickinson County in 1907, which had been his home ever since. The family moved to Arnolds Park nine years ago. He was married to Edna L Griswold, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs Edith Wilson of Arnolds Park and Miss Virginia Baker of Arnolds Park, and one grandson, John Wilson. Two brothers and two sisters also survive, Ross Baker and Warren Baker, Mrs Myrtle Schmidt and Mrs Frank Torode, all of Des Moines, and also several nieces and nephews. Mr Baker was baptized in the Methodist church as a child and was a lifelong member of the church.

Lewis Ellinger & Katie Peck

Katie Alice Peck, another daughter of Samuel Edgar Peck & Mary Ellen Widel, married twice. First to the father of her children, Lewis F Ellinger, the son of Eli Ellinger & Susan Ferry, and then she married & divorced Howard Edward Weaver, the son of Joseph B Weaver & Mary J McFarland.

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 19 Jun 1902
Lewis F Ellinger died at his home in Wheeler township Saturday morning in his 37th year. He had been suffering from Bright's Disease for about a year but was only confined to his bed for two days prior to his demise. Mr Ellinger was born in Clinton County and came with his parents to this county in 1874 and resided in this vicinity until the time of his death. On Dec 7, 1887, he was married to Miss Katie A Peck of this township. Six children were born to them, five of whom with his wife and mother survive him. The funeral services were held at the M E Church Sunday afternoon and the interment was in the Odebolt Cemetery. Mr Ellinger was a honorable and industrious man who stood high in the estimation of his acquaintances and the sorrowing ones have the sincere sympathy of the community in their irreparable loss. He was a brother to J E Ellinger, Mrs Otis Stratton and Mrs W K Shaw of this place.

 Oldebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 26 Mar 1931
Death Angel Calls Mrs Kate Weaver - Former Resident Passes At Sioux Falls. Funeral In Odebolt Sunday
Mrs Kate Weaver whose severe illness was mentioned in the Chronicle last week, passed from this life at the Moe Hospital at Sioux Falls, SD at 10:00 o'clock, Friday morning, March 20, following a short illness. Mrs Weaver had been suffering for some time, but did not think that her condition was serious. On Monday prior to her death, her son persuaded her to go to the hospital, and it was decided that she was in a critical state. Everything that could possibly be done for her was done, and with holding out no hope, but wishing that there might possibly be a chance for life through an operation, she went through the [ordeal] Wednesday afternoon. The condition found was even more serious than anticipated, and from that time she failed slowly. All that could be done was to ease her last hours as much as possible. The body was brought to Odebolt Sunday morning, and at 2:30 o'clock that afternoon, the memorial service was held in the Methodist Church, with the pastor Rev J A Farnham, conducting the service. Music was furnished by Misses [...e] Kessler, Lois Dannenberg, Mrs Louise Hix, and A B [Hard..] and A B Traeder, with Mrs [..rd] Smith as accompanist. A song coincidence was that one of the hymns chosen by the singer was "The Sweet Bye and Bye", was the same hymn was sung at the funeral of a little brother of Mrs Weaver more than fifty-[?] years ago. She was laid to rest in the family lot, by the side of her husband and children, in the Odebolt Cemetery, old friends acting as bearers. They were: J S Fish[...] W Down, C W Kistler, [..] Davenport, A B Waggoneer and George Lesher. Kate Alice Peck was born in [Monmouth], Jackson County, Iowa, December 31, 1868. She died at the age of sixty-two years, two months, and twenty days. She moved with her parents, Mr and Mrs S E Peck, to Richland Township, Sac County, in November 1874, and grew to womanhood in the Peck homestead, one and three quarters miles north of Odebolt. She was united in marriage to Lewis J Ellinger, December 7, 1887, and their married life passed in and near Odebolt, with the exception of a short time that they lived in Nebraska. Six children were born to Mr and Mrs Ellinger, three daughters and three sons. Mr Ellinger passed away June 18, 1902, one daughter, Elva, having preceded them in death. One son, Jesse, and on daughter, Edna, died during widowhood of their mother. Over nineteen years ago, Mrs Ellinger and family moved to the south part of the state and there she was married to H E Weaver of Spirit Lake, who preceded her in death. The last few years she has resided in and [around] Sioux Falls. Since her residence in Odebolt she became affiliated with the Methodist Church, and was always a member of the Women's Corps, the Rebekahs, and [..anders]. She was generous and warm-[hearted[ and no sacrifice was too great for her to make for her family and friends. She bore her [faith] with fortitude, and died a Christian. Near relatives left to mourn her death are, one daughter Hazel (Mrs Frank Wells) of Estherville; two sons, Milo V Ellinger of Salina, Kans, and Allen Ellinger of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren; one brother E D Peck of Odebolt, and two sisters, Mrs Edward Wilkinson of Odebolt and Mrs J F Ady of Flandreau, SD. Relatives from away who were at the funeral were: Mr and Mrs Frank Wells of Eshterville, Mr and Mrs Milo Ellinger, Salina, Kans; Mr and Mrs [?] Ellinger of Sioux Falls; Mr and Mrs J F Ady, son Ted, and daughter Dorothy of Flandreau, SD; their daughter, Mrs Curtis Nass of Aurora, SD; Mr and Mrs Ward Duffy and [x] Spencer; Mr and Mrs A Baker and daughter Virginia, and their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Jack Wilson and son Junior of Milford; Mr and Mrs Harold Whitted and Donald Ellinger of Rockwell City, and Mr and Mrs George Johnson, and Mrs Alice Scothorn and son D Thomas of Sac City.

~~~

courtesy of 2 Curious Girls - Find A Grave

Oldebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 22 Oct 1931

Twenty Year Ago

Miss Edna Vera Ellinger, daughter of Mrs Kate Ellinger, died October 12 at the age of twenty-three years. She leaves her mother, two brothers and one sister.

courtesy of Conley Worlterman - Find A Grave

Odebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 17 Jun 1909
Jesse J, son of Mrs Kate Ellinger, died Tuesday evening at the home of his mother in this city, a victim of Bright's Disease, with which he had been afflicted for nearly tow years. Funeral services will be conducted in the Methodist Church by Rev W W Bollinger this (Thursday) afternoon at three o'clock. Jesse was born i n this township January 14, 1891, and had lived in Odebolt most of his life. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of the community.

Patriotic Pioneer

Lillie D Peck - Reporter, Organizer - Trailblazer. 

Lillie was the daughter of Cpl Samuel Edgar Peck & Mary Ellen Widel and she married Edward Wilkinson, the son of Henry Wilkinson & Mary Page.

Odebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 20 May 1937

Services For Mrs Wilkinson Held Tuesday

Mrs Edward Wilkinson, 73, social and local news reporter of the Odebolt Chronicle for 23 years, passed away shortly before 6 pm Sunday, May 16, at her home on Maple Street after a lingering illness of several months. She was a pioneer resident of this community. 

Funeral services were conducted at the home at 2 pm Tuesday and a the Methodist Epicopal Church at 2:30, with the Rev Lloyd H Scheerer officiating. Members of the Women's Relief Corps, of which she had been a member and officer for many years, attended in a body. Mrs H W Covey and Minnie Kessler san "The Old Rugged Cross" and "A Little While," and Mrs Covey sang "My Task." They were accompanied by Mrs C A Ambler of Storm Lake. Pallbearers were A M Sanders, F A Frevert, A W Lewis, A B Traeder, T W Down and Will Buehler. Burial was made in the Odebolt Cemetery. Many floral offerings attested to the high esteem in which she was held by her relatives and many friends. As a mark of respect to one who had been in close touch with the social and business affairs of the community for nearly a quarter of a century, all business places were closed during the hour of the services. 

Lillie D Peck was born near Monmouth, Jackson County, Dec 12, 1863. She was the oldest daughter and second child of Mr and Mrs S E Peck, pioneer residents of this township. Her father came to Iowa from New York and her mother, Mary Ellen Widel, from Pennsylvania in their youth. In the fall of 1874 the family moved to Sac County and located on what was known for years as the Peck homestead, one and three-quarter miles northeast of Odebolt. They lived at first in a log cabin, and for many years had only the crudest living accommodations. On May 23, 1883, she was married to Edward Wilkinson, and the young couple spent the first few years of their married life on a farm near Hawarden. They moved later to a farm in this community and came to Odebolt in 1897, making their home here since that time. Mr and Mrs Wilkinson celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary four years ago. Although no children were born to them, Mrs Wilkinson leaves an adopted daughter, the daughter of old friends at Hawarden, who has been a real daughter to them. 

Mrs Wilkinson was raised in the Baptist Church. When she came to western Iowa with her family there were no churches, but later, when living in the Bethel neighborhood east of town, she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church there. She transferred her membership to the Odebolt M E Church several years later. Since her affiliation with the church, she has always been an active and faithful worker and a regular attendant at services. She was a teacher in the Sunday school for many years, and was a member of the Methodist circle and Lincoln Avenue circlet. At the time of her death, she was president of the Foreign Missionary Society, and had held other offices in that organization for at least 35 years. She helped organize and was the first president of the Isis Club and for seven years had been president of the Women's Relief Corps. Most of the patriotic programs in this community were carried out according to her plans as an active member of that organization. 

Mrs Wilkinson began her work with the Chronicle in February 1914, and had just completed 23 years of service when her illness forced her to retire. She resigned in April of this year, after being confined to her home for more than two months, when she found that it would be impossible for her to resume her duties at the office. 

Survivors are her husband and companion of 54 years, her daughter, Vivian (Mrs John F Buehler), and one sister, Mrs Frank Ady of Flandreau, S D. Two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death. Among the relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr and Mrs Frank Ady, Dorothy Ady, Mr and Mrs Gilford Gjere, and Mr and Mrs Curtis Nass, all of Flandreau, S D, Mr and Mrs Glen Peck and Mr and Mrs C A Ambler of Storm Lake, Mr and Mrs Ward Duffy of Spencer, and Mr and Mrs George Johnson of Sac City.

 
Odebolt Chronicle, Thurs, 5 Jan 1939
Rites held for E Wilkinson - Resident of Odebolt for Many Years Taken by Death
Edward Wilkinson, who had been in frail health for many years, passed away at 7 am, Friday, Dec 30, at the age of 77 years, four months and three days. Funeral services were conducted at the mattes Funeral Home at 2 pm, Monday with the Rev O W Brand officiating. Mrs Marion Hix and Minnie Kessler sang "Ivory Palaces" and "Abide With Me," accompanied by Miss Kessler. Pall bearers were Will Buehler, J L Bruce, A M Sanders, Ira Martin, Harvey Keller and John Kessler. Among the friends and relatives from a distance who attended were Mr and Mrs Ward Duffy and son, Pat of Spencer; Mr and Mrs Jack Wilson, Mr and Mrs Al Baker and daughter, Virginia, of Arnolds Park, and Mr and Mrs George Johnson of Sac City. Edward Wilkinson, son of Henry and Mary page Wilkinson, was born August 27, 1861, in Cook county, Illinois. His mother died when he was quite young. At the age of nine he came with his father and brothers to Boone, the next spring moving to Ontario, Story county where he was reared. His father was section foreman there. In June 1881, he came to Odebolt to work on farms. May 23, 1883, he was married to Lillie D Peck. That fall they moved to Sioux county, living there seven years. They returned to Odebolt the fall of 1890, engaging in farming until the spring of 1897 when they moved to town. They have lived here since that time. Mr Wilkinson joined the Methodist Church at Bethel and later transferred to the Odebolt Methodist Church. He has not attended in late years because he was unable to hear. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and one brother; and he leaves a daughter, Vivian (Mrs John F Buehler) of Odebolt; one brother, William of Long Beach, Calif, and two half sisters and one half brother of Ontario and Boone. The story of Mr Wilkinson's life was written by his wife (who was the efficient reporter for the locate paper for 23 years) a few weeks before she passed away, May 16, 1937.

Tribute to Lillie 

Lillie's Retirement