Harlan H. Biddick, son of Richard and Ann Biddick was born June 28th, 1857, in the town of Mifflin on the farm now occupied by
his brother Harry. Here he grew up into manhood, developing traits of honor and of industry,
which followed him through his life. April 3rd, 1884 was an important step in
his life, as on this date he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ruth Alcott (Surname Correction - Alcock - GWP)
. The young couple formed a home on the farm two and a half miles southeast of
Livingston, they have continuously occupied until his death. Here were born to
them six sons and three daughters.
This was indeed a home in the true sense of the word; here the children had
instilled into them lessons of love, patience, endurance, and faith that fadeth
not away. Not only were the children blessed with such a home, but their son Dave's two boys: Clarence barely three years of age and Charles eighteen months old, were tenderly cared for after their mother's death, and
no parents could have been more tender nor more thoughtful for their happiness
and best interests. Relatives and friends in the community came to look upon
this home with love and joy, and many will remember the many benevolent acts,
they were recipients of.
The deceased was not a man of many words, and few knew of the many kind deeds
he accomplished, tilling the soil he developed a thinking mind, and learned to
deal with justice and mercy to his fellowmen. For several years Mr. Biddick's
health had been failing, yet he was around and tending to his affairs as usual.
On Monday April 8th, 1929, Mr. Biddick took a business trip to Madison with his
son Ralph, and while on his way to a relative's home, death came very unexpectedly.
An old man going along highway
Came at evening cold and gray
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
The old man crossed at the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him,
But he turned when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
On the Thursday evening previous to his death, Mr. and Mrs. Biddick had
celebrated their forty-fifth wedding anniversary, and Mr. Biddick's death took
place just forty-five years from the day they started housekeeping.
The passing on of Mr. Biddick severs a union of two who had not been mother and
father to their own children and grandchildren, but to the community at large.
A bond of love and sympathy existed between this couple that only death can
sever for a time, and yet this is not death, what seems so is transition. May
we emulate the virtues of this worthy life and help to lessen the burdens of
those with whom we come in contact.
Two children preceeded Mr. Biddick in death, a babe in infancy, and Ernest, five years ago. Besides his wife he is survived by seven children: Mrs. Bessie Matthews of Arthur, Wisconsin; Mrs. Cecil Joynt of St. Paul, Minnesota; Eugene of Argonne, Wisconsin; Dave, Will, Nell, and Ralph of Livingston, also three brothers, Edwin A. of Montfort, Adolphus R. and Harry E. of Livingston, and four sisters, Mrs. Laura Andrew, Mrs. Annie Peat, and Mrs. Almond Iverson of Livingston, and Mrs. Ida Fosbinder of Preston. He also has sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
(Grindell, Marcia Rundell, Ruth Sue Allen, George Wm. Phillips, The
Rundell-Biddick Picnic Association History, Salt Lake City : Filmed by the
Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989
, Page #: 177-178, Family History Library (FHL), 35 North West Temple, Salt
Lake City, UT 84150, USA, Film #: 1421941 Item #: 3.
Compiled by Marcia Rundell Grindell and Ruth Sue Allen. Edited and researched
by George Wm. Phillips. Privately published Platteville, Wisconsin:
The Rundell Biddick Endowment, 1983.)
