Keokuk, Lee, Iowa Daily Gate City, 21 January 1887
AN AGED PIONEER
Sudden Death of Mrs. David W. Kilbourne, One of the Early Settlers--Biographical Sketch of This Well-Known Lady
The ranks of old settlers in Lee County are rapidly being decimated with the flight of each succeeding year. There passed away in this city yesterday a venerable lady who braved the perils of western life in early days and came with her husband to found a home in the wilderness.
Mrs. Harriet Rice Kilbourne, relic of D. W. Kilbourne, died at 12:30 o'clock at the residence of her son, George E. Kilbourne, at Third and High streets. Death was sudden and unexpected and was produced by paralysis of the heart. Recently Mrs. Kilbourne has been enjoying her customary good health but feeling slightly indisposed yesterday did not complete her toilet. There were no premonitory symptoms of approaching dissolution and the dangerous character of the fatal attack was not fully realized until within a few movements of death itself. Her demise was so sudden that it was a severe shock to the immediate family and a surprise to Mrs. Kilbourne's many acquaintances in the city.
During the greater portion of the past twenty years Mrs. Kilbourne has resided with her son in New York City, returning to Keokuk about a year ago. She is survived by two children, George W., of Keokuk, and Edward J., of New York, and several nieces and nephews, among the latter Commander Wilds, of the United States Navy.
Mrs. Kilbourne was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, at Twenty-First Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, and was an exemplary lady possessing many of the Christian virtues. She was in the eighty-first year of her age and was born November 21, 1806, in New York, was the daughter of Nahum Rice, of Albany. N. Y., and in 1827 was united in marriage to D. W. Kilbourne, who had located in that city. In 1830 Mr. Kilbourne established himself in business in New York and in 1831 moved his family there. In the historical fire of 1835, which destroyed the business portion of the metropolis of the new world he lost his property and in 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne came west, traveling in canal boats, steamboats and in stage coaches and other ways, enduring all the discomforts, delays and annoyances of travel in early days, the journey occupying three weeks.
They arrived at Fort Des Moines, now known as Montrose, in 1836 and after the departure of the troops resided in the fort. Mr. Kilbourne's position brought himself and wife in frequent contact with the Indians and the celebrated chiefs, Keokuk and Black Hawk, often remained over night with them, sleeping in the same room with the family. Mrs. Kilbourne was an accomplished musician and brought with her a piano from the east, the first one ever seen in the territory of Iowa. Keokuk and Black Hawk treated her with the greatest politeness and courtly consideration, often bringing their wives to hear her sing and play on the piano. Hardly a day passed but what she had an audience of ten or fifteen Indians, men, women and children, to hear her sing, who came to know her by the Indian name of I-O-nes-e-Ka-qua, meaning the "singing woman."
She resided for six years in Montrose, and during the first three years of her residence there was no doctor, no minister, no school, no butter milk or eggs or comforts of any sort. The privations and hardships of the early settlers made life a burden. The devoted wife who left home and friends behind shared the husband's troubles, administering to his wants and meeting his privations, her presence often protecting him from the midnight assassin. She made their clothes and often did the cooking. In many respects, she was a remarkable woman and died possessed of all her faculties. She never wore glasses and could do the finest needle work.
In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne removed to Keokuk, known at that time as the point., In 1843 or '44 Mr. Kilbourne bought the Rapids Hotel, which was built in 1842, and 90 feet long and three stories high, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs decided to remove his family to Fort Madison, where he invested in property and was accompanied by his brother Edward. In the spring of 1852 they moved back to Keokuk, making this city his permanent place of residence and doing much to build up the town. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne returned to New York and the same year went to California, spent the winter of 1873-4 in Keokuk, and returned to New York in the spring.
Mrs. Kilbourne's death will be sincerely deplored, especially by the surviving old settlers. She was a kind-hearted and generous and a most estimable lady, in every sense of the word. An announcement of the funeral, the time of which has not been determined upon, will appear later.
(Contributor: Debbie Olsen (51129723))
AN AGED PIONEER
Sudden Death of Mrs. David W. Kilbourne, One of the Early Settlers--Biographical Sketch of This Well-Known Lady
The ranks of old settlers in Lee County are rapidly being decimated with the flight of each succeeding year. There passed away in this city yesterday a venerable lady who braved the perils of western life in early days and came with her husband to found a home in the wilderness.
Mrs. Harriet Rice Kilbourne, relic of D. W. Kilbourne, died at 12:30 o'clock at the residence of her son, George E. Kilbourne, at Third and High streets. Death was sudden and unexpected and was produced by paralysis of the heart. Recently Mrs. Kilbourne has been enjoying her customary good health but feeling slightly indisposed yesterday did not complete her toilet. There were no premonitory symptoms of approaching dissolution and the dangerous character of the fatal attack was not fully realized until within a few movements of death itself. Her demise was so sudden that it was a severe shock to the immediate family and a surprise to Mrs. Kilbourne's many acquaintances in the city.
During the greater portion of the past twenty years Mrs. Kilbourne has resided with her son in New York City, returning to Keokuk about a year ago. She is survived by two children, George W., of Keokuk, and Edward J., of New York, and several nieces and nephews, among the latter Commander Wilds, of the United States Navy.
Mrs. Kilbourne was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, at Twenty-First Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, and was an exemplary lady possessing many of the Christian virtues. She was in the eighty-first year of her age and was born November 21, 1806, in New York, was the daughter of Nahum Rice, of Albany. N. Y., and in 1827 was united in marriage to D. W. Kilbourne, who had located in that city. In 1830 Mr. Kilbourne established himself in business in New York and in 1831 moved his family there. In the historical fire of 1835, which destroyed the business portion of the metropolis of the new world he lost his property and in 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne came west, traveling in canal boats, steamboats and in stage coaches and other ways, enduring all the discomforts, delays and annoyances of travel in early days, the journey occupying three weeks.
They arrived at Fort Des Moines, now known as Montrose, in 1836 and after the departure of the troops resided in the fort. Mr. Kilbourne's position brought himself and wife in frequent contact with the Indians and the celebrated chiefs, Keokuk and Black Hawk, often remained over night with them, sleeping in the same room with the family. Mrs. Kilbourne was an accomplished musician and brought with her a piano from the east, the first one ever seen in the territory of Iowa. Keokuk and Black Hawk treated her with the greatest politeness and courtly consideration, often bringing their wives to hear her sing and play on the piano. Hardly a day passed but what she had an audience of ten or fifteen Indians, men, women and children, to hear her sing, who came to know her by the Indian name of I-O-nes-e-Ka-qua, meaning the "singing woman."
She resided for six years in Montrose, and during the first three years of her residence there was no doctor, no minister, no school, no butter milk or eggs or comforts of any sort. The privations and hardships of the early settlers made life a burden. The devoted wife who left home and friends behind shared the husband's troubles, administering to his wants and meeting his privations, her presence often protecting him from the midnight assassin. She made their clothes and often did the cooking. In many respects, she was a remarkable woman and died possessed of all her faculties. She never wore glasses and could do the finest needle work.
In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne removed to Keokuk, known at that time as the point., In 1843 or '44 Mr. Kilbourne bought the Rapids Hotel, which was built in 1842, and 90 feet long and three stories high, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs decided to remove his family to Fort Madison, where he invested in property and was accompanied by his brother Edward. In the spring of 1852 they moved back to Keokuk, making this city his permanent place of residence and doing much to build up the town. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne returned to New York and the same year went to California, spent the winter of 1873-4 in Keokuk, and returned to New York in the spring.
Mrs. Kilbourne's death will be sincerely deplored, especially by the surviving old settlers. She was a kind-hearted and generous and a most estimable lady, in every sense of the word. An announcement of the funeral, the time of which has not been determined upon, will appear later.
(Contributor: Debbie Olsen (51129723))
Keokuk, Lee, Iowa Daily Gate City, 21 January 1887
AN AGED PIONEER
Sudden Death of Mrs. David W. Kilbourne, One of the Early Settlers--Biographical Sketch of This Well-Known Lady
The ranks of old settlers in Lee County are rapidly being decimated with the flight of each succeeding year. There passed away in this city yesterday a venerable lady who braved the perils of western life in early days and came with her husband to found a home in the wilderness.
Mrs. Harriet Rice Kilbourne, relic of D. W. Kilbourne, died at 12:30 o'clock at the residence of her son, George E. Kilbourne, at Third and High streets. Death was sudden and unexpected and was produced by paralysis of the heart. Recently Mrs. Kilbourne has been enjoying her customary good health but feeling slightly indisposed yesterday did not complete her toilet. There were no premonitory symptoms of approaching dissolution and the dangerous character of the fatal attack was not fully realized until within a few movements of death itself. Her demise was so sudden that it was a severe shock to the immediate family and a surprise to Mrs. Kilbourne's many acquaintances in the city.
During the greater portion of the past twenty years Mrs. Kilbourne has resided with her son in New York City, returning to Keokuk about a year ago. She is survived by two children, George W., of Keokuk, and Edward J., of New York, and several nieces and nephews, among the latter Commander Wilds, of the United States Navy.
Mrs. Kilbourne was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, at Twenty-First Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, and was an exemplary lady possessing many of the Christian virtues. She was in the eighty-first year of her age and was born November 21, 1806, in New York, was the daughter of Nahum Rice, of Albany. N. Y., and in 1827 was united in marriage to D. W. Kilbourne, who had located in that city. In 1830 Mr. Kilbourne established himself in business in New York and in 1831 moved his family there. In the historical fire of 1835, which destroyed the business portion of the metropolis of the new world he lost his property and in 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne came west, traveling in canal boats, steamboats and in stage coaches and other ways, enduring all the discomforts, delays and annoyances of travel in early days, the journey occupying three weeks.
They arrived at Fort Des Moines, now known as Montrose, in 1836 and after the departure of the troops resided in the fort. Mr. Kilbourne's position brought himself and wife in frequent contact with the Indians and the celebrated chiefs, Keokuk and Black Hawk, often remained over night with them, sleeping in the same room with the family. Mrs. Kilbourne was an accomplished musician and brought with her a piano from the east, the first one ever seen in the territory of Iowa. Keokuk and Black Hawk treated her with the greatest politeness and courtly consideration, often bringing their wives to hear her sing and play on the piano. Hardly a day passed but what she had an audience of ten or fifteen Indians, men, women and children, to hear her sing, who came to know her by the Indian name of I-O-nes-e-Ka-qua, meaning the "singing woman."
She resided for six years in Montrose, and during the first three years of her residence there was no doctor, no minister, no school, no butter milk or eggs or comforts of any sort. The privations and hardships of the early settlers made life a burden. The devoted wife who left home and friends behind shared the husband's troubles, administering to his wants and meeting his privations, her presence often protecting him from the midnight assassin. She made their clothes and often did the cooking. In many respects, she was a remarkable woman and died possessed of all her faculties. She never wore glasses and could do the finest needle work.
In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne removed to Keokuk, known at that time as the point., In 1843 or '44 Mr. Kilbourne bought the Rapids Hotel, which was built in 1842, and 90 feet long and three stories high, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs decided to remove his family to Fort Madison, where he invested in property and was accompanied by his brother Edward. In the spring of 1852 they moved back to Keokuk, making this city his permanent place of residence and doing much to build up the town. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne returned to New York and the same year went to California, spent the winter of 1873-4 in Keokuk, and returned to New York in the spring.
Mrs. Kilbourne's death will be sincerely deplored, especially by the surviving old settlers. She was a kind-hearted and generous and a most estimable lady, in every sense of the word. An announcement of the funeral, the time of which has not been determined upon, will appear later.
(Contributor: Debbie Olsen (51129723))
AN AGED PIONEER
Sudden Death of Mrs. David W. Kilbourne, One of the Early Settlers--Biographical Sketch of This Well-Known Lady
The ranks of old settlers in Lee County are rapidly being decimated with the flight of each succeeding year. There passed away in this city yesterday a venerable lady who braved the perils of western life in early days and came with her husband to found a home in the wilderness.
Mrs. Harriet Rice Kilbourne, relic of D. W. Kilbourne, died at 12:30 o'clock at the residence of her son, George E. Kilbourne, at Third and High streets. Death was sudden and unexpected and was produced by paralysis of the heart. Recently Mrs. Kilbourne has been enjoying her customary good health but feeling slightly indisposed yesterday did not complete her toilet. There were no premonitory symptoms of approaching dissolution and the dangerous character of the fatal attack was not fully realized until within a few movements of death itself. Her demise was so sudden that it was a severe shock to the immediate family and a surprise to Mrs. Kilbourne's many acquaintances in the city.
During the greater portion of the past twenty years Mrs. Kilbourne has resided with her son in New York City, returning to Keokuk about a year ago. She is survived by two children, George W., of Keokuk, and Edward J., of New York, and several nieces and nephews, among the latter Commander Wilds, of the United States Navy.
Mrs. Kilbourne was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, at Twenty-First Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, and was an exemplary lady possessing many of the Christian virtues. She was in the eighty-first year of her age and was born November 21, 1806, in New York, was the daughter of Nahum Rice, of Albany. N. Y., and in 1827 was united in marriage to D. W. Kilbourne, who had located in that city. In 1830 Mr. Kilbourne established himself in business in New York and in 1831 moved his family there. In the historical fire of 1835, which destroyed the business portion of the metropolis of the new world he lost his property and in 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne came west, traveling in canal boats, steamboats and in stage coaches and other ways, enduring all the discomforts, delays and annoyances of travel in early days, the journey occupying three weeks.
They arrived at Fort Des Moines, now known as Montrose, in 1836 and after the departure of the troops resided in the fort. Mr. Kilbourne's position brought himself and wife in frequent contact with the Indians and the celebrated chiefs, Keokuk and Black Hawk, often remained over night with them, sleeping in the same room with the family. Mrs. Kilbourne was an accomplished musician and brought with her a piano from the east, the first one ever seen in the territory of Iowa. Keokuk and Black Hawk treated her with the greatest politeness and courtly consideration, often bringing their wives to hear her sing and play on the piano. Hardly a day passed but what she had an audience of ten or fifteen Indians, men, women and children, to hear her sing, who came to know her by the Indian name of I-O-nes-e-Ka-qua, meaning the "singing woman."
She resided for six years in Montrose, and during the first three years of her residence there was no doctor, no minister, no school, no butter milk or eggs or comforts of any sort. The privations and hardships of the early settlers made life a burden. The devoted wife who left home and friends behind shared the husband's troubles, administering to his wants and meeting his privations, her presence often protecting him from the midnight assassin. She made their clothes and often did the cooking. In many respects, she was a remarkable woman and died possessed of all her faculties. She never wore glasses and could do the finest needle work.
In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne removed to Keokuk, known at that time as the point., In 1843 or '44 Mr. Kilbourne bought the Rapids Hotel, which was built in 1842, and 90 feet long and three stories high, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs decided to remove his family to Fort Madison, where he invested in property and was accompanied by his brother Edward. In the spring of 1852 they moved back to Keokuk, making this city his permanent place of residence and doing much to build up the town. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne returned to New York and the same year went to California, spent the winter of 1873-4 in Keokuk, and returned to New York in the spring.
Mrs. Kilbourne's death will be sincerely deplored, especially by the surviving old settlers. She was a kind-hearted and generous and a most estimable lady, in every sense of the word. An announcement of the funeral, the time of which has not been determined upon, will appear later.
(Contributor: Debbie Olsen (51129723))
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