OBITUARY :
MRS. BARBARA BIKLE, aged seventy-five years, died on Sunday evening, September 26, at her residence in Smithsburg, where she lived ever since 1840.

She was born in 1811 near Strasburg, Alsace, France, now a portion of Germany, and the date of her emigration to this country is unknown to her family.

Her marriage to Mr. Christian I. Bikle occurred at Frederick in 1833, the ceremony having been performed by Rev. Dr. Schaffer. Mrs. Bikle was a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and was confirmed in early youth while yet a resident of Alsace.

She was the mother of twelve children, nine of whom—eight sons and one unmarried daughter—are yet living; nearly all the sons occupying important and responsible positions in various professions or occupations. They are Rev. Louis A., professor of ancient languages in Gaston College, North Carolina; Rev. Philip M., professor of latin in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg; Charles A., Superintendent of the Hagerstown Steam Engine Works; Wm. I., foreman of the Geiser shops, Waynesboro; Christian F. and Ferdinand H., employed in the Hagerstown Steam Engine Works; John L., assistant cashier in the Hagerstown Bank; Daniel B., connected with the Adams Express Company.

Her daughter, Miss Barbara, has resided during her entire life with her mother and has been most devoted in her attentions, particularly during the last five years, in which Mrs. Bikle was an invalid, in consequence of a fall, resulting in a broken hip.

The funeral took place in Smithsburg on Tuesday morning, the 28th inst., at 10 o'clock. her pastor. Rev. X. J. Richardson, officiating, assisted by Revs. S. W. Owen, of Hagerstown, and L. J. Bell, of Smithsburg. Religious services were conducted in the Lutheran church after interment in the Smithsburg cemetery Messrs J. S. Besore, A. C. Hildebrand, John Oster, Aaron Bachtel, J. L. Vogle and Samuel Barkdoll were pall-bearers. At the funeral, which was a very large one, were forty-nine relatives of the deceased, thirty-five of whom were grand and great-grandchildren.

Source : The Herald And Torch Light Newspaper - Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland - Thursday, September 30, 1886

Obituary provided by Melvin L. Halterman FAG # 50095654.