Person:Charles Giddings (1)

[Mary Elizabeth Giddings from 2787254.ged]

Custom Field:<_FA#> 1857Moved to Table Rock, Nebraska Territory REFN117 Newsp aper clipping: DEATH of C.W. GIDDINGS The death of this well-known citizen wa s a sad surprise to many of our citizens, who had not learned of his brief il lness. Taken sick on Thursday, Dec. 11, after twelve days of suffering, he d ied Tuesday evening, December 23, 1879. His death was caused by a complicati on of diseases, which in a younger man might not have proved serious, but o vercame, after a brief struggle, a man of Mr. Gidding's age, and with health already somewhat broken by a life of unusual energy and nervous strain. A la rge concourse of the many who sincerely mourned his death, followed his remai ns to the grave on Christmas day, Rev.H. T. Davis of LIncoln, presiding elder of this district, conducting the religious exercises. Of a man who was one o f the pioneers of the county, who has done as much as any other person toward settling up the county, and who has wielded through all the years of his res idence, a powerful influence on the side of law and order, our readers may wi sh to learn more than the incidents of his death and burial. Old settlers wh o have been intimately associated with him in an early day, will read with in terest a short sketch of this busy life. Newcomers will as well be intereste d in the life of one who did much to make smooth and easy their settlement wi thin our borders. We therefore give these facts connected with his life: C. W. Giddings was born in the city of Hartford, Conn., in May, 1810, and was at the time of his death, in his 70th year. Two years later the family moved t o Wayne county, Pa., where his boyhood and youth were passed. At the age of1 8 he united with the M.E. church, and at once fitting himself for the ministr y. When 22 he entered the ministry of the denomination with which he had con nected, and for 27 years filled appointments throughout Pennsylvania and New York. In 1835 he was married in Owego, New York, to Clarissa Griffing, whosu rvives him, and who has been a most faithful helpmeet, not only in the days o f his ministry, but also in his life as a pioneer. But the life of a preache r wore on him severely, and in 1858 he was obliged to give it up because of nervous debility. In company with a number of others, he came to this state in 1858, in search of a county suitable for a colony. He entered the presen t site of Table Rock, where has ever since been his residence. The following season being sickly, those who started with him returned, discouraged by the outlook. Other settlers of that time, and still residing in the county, are Wm. and Andrew Fellers, C.V. Dimon and R. Samson. When they came there were no houses from South Fork north into Johnson County, except two log houses b uilt by the new arrivals at Table Rock. Pawnee City then possessed but three buildings. His health improving under the influence of change of labor and climate, Mr. Giddings returned to his sacred calling, and for six years was p residing elder of the large district of south-eastern Nebraska, embracing in its confines all that territory lying between the Kansas line and the Platte river, and extending west from the Missouri as far as the settlements were to be found, the border line then not being much beyond Crete and Beatrice. Again did he tax his energies too severely and again was he forced to giveup preaching. For the past twelve years he has lived quietly on his farm, in th e old town of Table Rock, interested in his farm work, and in the development of the village he had founded, Table Rock. During those twelve years, he ha s been Superintendant of the M.E. S.S. of that place, and one of the leaders in the church. There is no need for our giving a close analysis of his charact er. Those who knew him best respected him most. Few men are granted as imme nse will power as was C.W. Giddings, and th

1. ↑ GEDCOM File : 457632[1].ged.

   16 Mar 2002

2. ↑ Mary Elizabeth Giddings from 2787254.ged.

   Date of Import: Nov 24, 2008

3. ↑ Mary Elizabeth Giddings from 2787254.ged.

   Date of Import: Nov 24, 2008

4. ↑ Mary Elizabeth Giddings from 2787254.ged.

   Date of Import: Nov 24, 2008

5. ↑ Mary Elizabeth Giddings from 2787254.ged.

   Date of Import: Nov 24, 2008