November 9, 1905 – Missouri Democrat
Deaths Harvest. Hiram K. Weddle.

Hiram K. Weddle died of old age and a general breaking down of the vital forces of the body, at his son's residence in Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri, at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, November 4th, 1905, aged 80 years, 9 months and 24 days. Deceased was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 10th, 1810, and when quite young removed with his parents to Jackson county, Indiana, and there lived until he was eight years old. From there they went to Monroe county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Miss Polly Prewett April 20th, 1837, and to this union were born nine children, six girls and three boys, all of whom lived to have families of their own, except one who burned to death when five years old. At the present time six are living – namely, Mrs. Diona Grant, of Cedar county, Missouri, John R. Weddle, of Worth county, Missouri, Harvey W. Weddle of Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri, Thompson S. Weddle, of Dallas county, Iowa, Mrs. Mary E. Smith, of Linn county, Kansas, and Mrs. Louvina C. Smith, of Linn county, Kansas.

Father Weddle came to Harrison county, Missouri in the year 1843 and settled in White Oak township before there was any land surveyed; he took a claim and built him a house. This was before the town of Bethany was marked out. The notes written by himself about four years ago state that an election was ordered by the Governor about this time, when the county was duly organized and officers elected. He lived in this county until 1860, when he removed to the state of Illinois, returning to Harrison county, in 1863 and purchasing a farm he lived upon it only one year and then bought a grist mill and ran it a short time, when he again bought a farm in Union township. This he sold and moved to Webster county, Missouri, where his precious wife, who had shared with him the hardships and privations of frontier life, passed from human sight January 12, 1893. After her death he lived two years on his farm there alone. He went from there to Elk county, Kansas, thence to Linn county, Kansas. His notes say: "When I first settled in Harrison county we had pretty hard scratching; had to go to Kibbs mill on the Platt, 60 miles away, for flour and meal; game was plentiful so we did not want for meat. We had to go to the Missouri river for all the groceries, coffee, leather and clothing and chop wood at forty cents per cord to pay for them. We dressed deer skins and made clothes of them". He says, "I lived seven miles southwest of Bethany, and bought and sold claims until I was able to buy a farm, then sickness and a broken limb with other misfortune made it hard work to get along."

He helped to survey the county and to lay out the town of Bethany. It is also said to his credit that he killed the only bear ever captured by any man in Harrison county, this was on the ground where New Hampton now stands. His was a rugged nature, well adapted to endure the privations and exposures incident to pioneer life. He was an industrious, hard working man, honest and honorable in his dealings with men. His reputation and record is clean all the way back. Those who knew him best, say he was too careful about his character to accumulate much property. He would not do a dishonest thing, nor would he engage in anything that was not strictly right. When a young man, he was converted at a religious meeting held in a private home, for there were no churches in this county then. He was a charter member of the Edson class, now known as the Hazel Valley Methodist church. He remained a faithful member of the Methodist church for more than thirty years, when he changed his church relations and joined with the United Brethren church, in which fellowship he remained to the end of his life. He frequently expressed his unwavering faith in God and in his salvation. During his last days he declared that all was well with his soul. Like a candle burned out, he ceased to live in the flesh and went to live with God. During the last four years he had been tenderly cared for in the homes of his sons, John and Harvey. Now he has been ushered into the better home no made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The three remaining sons, John, Harvey and Thompson, were with him and ministered to him the last days of his life and were present when the end came, and together they buried him tenderly away. A short service was held at the family residence on Sunday morning, Nov. 5th at 9 o'clock by Dr. Carothers, after which the body was taken to the Logsdon graveyard, fourteen miles northwest of Bethany, and there interred by the side of kindred dust to await a glorious resurrection.