1849--William Sidney Hitchings--1924
William Sidney Hitchings was born in New Brunswick, Canada, July 28th 1849. He moved with his parents to Wisconsin when a young child, where his mother died when he was five years old, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cowan became his foster-parents, with whom he moved to O'Brien county in 1870. November 29th, 1874, he was married to Clara McLain at the home of her parents in Cherokee county. To them were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, two of the sons preceding him in death.
Those mourning his death are his wife; his sons, John of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Will of Lakefield, Minn.; his daughters, Lucia Jordan of Sutherland, Jennie Eaker of [unreadable], Cora Westbrook and Vinnie Houston, both of Wheaton, Ill., Florence Schalekamp of Sheldon, Ia., and Clara Lampman of Primghar, Ia. Also his sister, Mrs. Jennie McNair of Oskosh, Wisconsin, and twenty-six grandchildren, and a host of friends and neighbors.
Mr. Hitchings lived on a farm until 1882, when he moved to Sutherland and engaged in the grain business, building one of the first elevators in Sutherland. He was Sutherland's first mayor and served on the council and school board for many years. He has been a stockholder and director of the Sutherland State Bank, and at one time was President and active in its management. In 1906 he had a very severe illness from which he never recovered.
Mr. Hitchings was a member of the Masonic Lodge, being one of the charter members of Abiff Lodge when it was organized and moved from Primghar to Sutherland. He was active in the work of the order and served several terms as Master. He was also a member of the Chapter and Commandery at Cherokee, Iowa. Mr. Hitchings has been active in the support of the church and became a member of the Methodist Church in 1921. He was a good and kind husband and father: a good friend and neighbor, and will be greatly missed by all.
Mr. Hitchings has been in failing [missing] for several years and unable to [missing] around without much difficulty. [missing]d a fall at his home about a [missing] ago and since then has been [missing]ed to his bed. Everything was done that could be done, but he grew constantly worse until his death, on Monday, October 6th, at 3:30 p.m.
The funeral will be held at the Methodist church this, Thursday, afternoon, in charge of the Masonic with the Commandery from Cherokee acting as escort. The sermon will be delivered by Rev. A. J. Quirin. Burial will be in Waterman cemetery at Sutherland.
