HIBLER, WILLIAM R.

Judge William Rayster Hibler died at his home, five miles northwest of Steelville,
at six o'clock p.m., December 9, 1898, of congestion of the lungs having been sick
for only a few days.

Judge Hibler was born in Osage county, Missouri, August 26, 1844, and was the son
of Samuel S. Hibler, a native of St. Louis county, Mo. His parents became settlers
in Osage Co., when quite young. His father was a carpenter and farmer and served
in the Mexican war.

Wm. R., the eldest of his family of three children, was reared a farmer and
attended the common schools until about fifteen years of age, when he began
doing for himself. Being an enthusiastic southern man in his feelings, in
1864, at the age of twenty years, he enlighted in the Confederate army in
Company E., 10th Mo., Con. Calvalry, and served under Col. Lawther until the
close of the war, surrendering with Gen. Sterling Price at Shreveport, Louisiana.

Returning to Osage county, he accepted the results of the war and engaged in farming.

In 1870 he married Mary Lambeth of Osage county, who died in 1883 leaving three
children, Alvick R. Hibler, who resides in Texas, Mrs. Dellia Jones, wife of J. W.
Jones and Mrs. Dollie A., wife of E. E. LaRue, residents of this county. In 1884
he married Missouri J. Britton, who died some ten years ago.

In politics Judge Hibler was an uncompromising Democrat, and in 1884 was a delegate
to the Democratic State Convention, and in 1886 was elected Presiding Justice of the
County Court of this county, and in 1890 was appointed an associate justice of the
same court by Gov. D. R. Francis.

Judge Hibler was noted for his never failing honesty and no man enjoyed more the
esteem, respect and confidence of his neighbors and people at large than he.
He was a true and consistent christian, being a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.

Judge Hibler was one of the few old Confederate Veterans of our county who followed
the gallant Price through the late war and always entertained for his old comrades
the most affectionate feeling. He was thoroughly honest and reliable in all matters
and his opinions and judgements were unquestioned and eagerly sought.

The writer was personally and intimately acquainted with him for the past twenty-five
years and during that time he was never known to deviate from the truth or to do any
act not in harmony with his exalted honesty.

His remains were interred at the Hibler grave-yard on the Meramec River near his home
on Sunday, and the attendance was large, services being conducted by the I. O. O. F.
of Cuba, of which organization he was an honored member. -- A Friend.


Thursday, December 15, 1898