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Blockton News, Thursday, September 24, 1914, [p. 1]

Obituary – William Zike was born in Jackson County, Indiana, September 15th, 1835, and died at Arispe, Iowa, September 7th, 1914.

Mr. Zike was married to Harriet Poor in the year 1860 and to this union there were born ten children---three sons and seven daughters. One of the daughters, Martha Eva Coon, is deceased. The living children are Anna Bell Deibert of Hoxie, Kansas; Rev. S. [amuel] M. [iller] Zike, of Blockton; Hattie Florence Jones, of Benton; J. [acob] W.[endell] Zike, of Carnegie, Oklahoma; L. W. Zike of New Virginia; Mary Etta Johnson, of Walla Walla, Washington; Ida May Baker, of Jamison; Julia Elizabeth Raines, of Mount Ayr, Zelma Elender Baker, of Jam[?]. there are also forty-three living grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.

When about 30 years of age he was converted and joined the United Brethren church and remained a faithful member of that church.

He enlisted as a private soldier in the Civil War in Company H of the 120th Regiment Indiana Volunteers and served until the close of the war.

He was a kind father, a loving husband and a true Christian. His hard [words unreadable] are over, henceforth and forever he lives in the redeemed [words unreadable].

[Words unreadable] companion still survives. They have walked hand in hand as husband and wife for [words unreadable]. For over forty years he has preached the gospel. He appreciated her work and [words unreadable] faithful help. One son and grandson also are ministers [words unreadable].

The funeral was held in the Methodist Episcopal church at Benton Wednesday, September 96h, the sermon being preached by Rev. E. W. Curtis of Des Moines and interment took place in the Benton cemetery.

(Original source material is not in good shape. I have indicated missing words and sentences in brackets.)
received from Julia Johnson (#47176433)

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William & Harriet had at least 10 children: Anna, Samuel, Martha, Hattie, Jacob, Thomas, Mary, Ida, Julia & Zelma.

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It is possible he was born in 1833 from the age reported in the 1860 census. Every page in his Civil War Pension record reports 1835. I have found so many bad dates on stones, I don't trust them for date information. He is my Great-Great grandfather. If you want copies from the pension I have all 330 pages.

Contributor: Thomas Corey (48418396)