Obit: Biddle, Richard Sr. (1859 - 1945)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Biddle, Newhouse, DeWorth, Bowman, Heiser, Witt, Riche

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 10/18/1945

Biddle, Richard Sr. (22 MAY 1859 - 16 OCT 1945)

Dick Biddle, on of the old timers and pioneers of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), died at his home in the town of Reseburg on Tuesday morning, Oct. 16, 1945. He was found dead in bed. Mr. Biddle had reached the age of 86 years. He was in good health with the exception of failing eyesight and hearing during the past year. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Thorp Funeral Home. An obituary will be published next week.

(Follow on in 10/25/1945 Thorp Courier)

Richard Biddle Sr., 86, passed away at his home in the town of Reseburg, Tuesday morning, Oct. 16th, 1945.

Mr. Biddle is another member of the "Old School" of Clark County pioneers. He came to the United States from Ontario, Canada, where he was born on May 22nd, 1859.

As many of the old timers who settled in this vicinity, he located in Reseburg, and took part in building the railroad which made it first trip through this territory in 1881.

In later years he took part namely in logging, driving logs on the North and South forks of the Eau Claire River, Black river, Popple River, Yellow River and Hay Creek. He was also employed in the Nye, Lusk and Hudson sawmill for a few years. And then he located on his property, which he had purchased.

He became a citizen about that time and was married in 1891 to Virginia Newhouse. This union was blessed with a family of eleven children, who grew to maturity on the homestead in the town of Reseburg.

Mr. Biddle was a good neighbor and friend, an indulgent father and ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in need.

He leaves to mourn six sons, Richard Jr. of Sheboygan, William, Dennis, Andrew and Frank of Thorp, and Johnnie of Greenwood; and five daughter, Clara of Milwaukee, Rose (Mrs. Wm. DeWorth) of Marshfield, Johanna (Mrs. Dale Bowman), St. Paul, Florence (Mrs. Matt Heiser), Thorp, Elsie (Mrs. Harry Witt), of Owen; and one sister, Mrs. Katherine Riche, Denver, Colo., and eighteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Thorp Funeral Home on Friday at two p.m., Rev. F.H. Sprengler officiating. With songs by Colleen Biddle, accompanied by Mrs. Leslie Hansen. Interment was made in the Reseburg Cemetery.

Pallbearers were: Arthur Kuester, Emmet Frese, John Barth, Herman Doege, Mike Heiser and Joe Dobzanski.

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