Rather than looking on the Internet, I should have gone back to the envelope containing the newspaper clippings. Today's entry was there although this one was originally written in the Argus-Champion, Newport, NH in April 1969.
I had never intended to post an obituary on my blog. I started this just to find out a bit more about my middle name. Yet, somehow, in some weird way, I feel obligated to include this. The next time search engines visit to index my eJournal and images, a larger piece of Sylvester Kiggins will continue to exist!
Vesty Kiggins, 102, dies
By Madlon Karr
Death stilled the oratory of Sylvester W. Kiggins this week.
No more will the fraternal organizations he loved so well hear his recitation of 'Deacon Slocum' and the 'off-ox'.
Two months into his 103rd year, his body gave out. He died Monday morning at his home on 110 N Main St.
HE HAD returned home recently from the Claremont Nursing Home where he had been convalescing for surgery for a broken hip which he suffered in a fall at his time. Until the accident, he had continued his activities which included daily constitutionals, weather permitting, replete with his familiar top hat and Boston Post Cane, and attendance at club meetings and card parties.
Mr. Kiggins was born in Concord March 6, 1867, but had lived in the Newport-Lake Sunapee area most of this life. He resided in Goshen for many years, and was the owner of a retail grocery store, Perry and Kiggins. He also had operated a trucking business. He was educated in Claremont and Goshen schools, and was noted for his recitations.
DURING HIS LIFETIME, he owned 30 new automobiles. The first was a 1908 Ford and his latest, which he purchased when he was 97 years old, was a Datsun. On his 98th birthday, he announced that he could no longer get a driver's license because of failing eyesight.
He was a registered Republican and took pride in the fact that he was the first citizen to cast his ballot at the polls for many years. On his 100th birthday, he received congratulations from Pres. Lyndon B Johnson, which he read personally to his birthday guests, as well as telegrams from many senators and congressmen. Although feted, he did the entertaining with his oratory at this tribute.
HE WAS ONE of the oldest Grange members, if not the oldest, in New Hampshire, having received a 75-year membership pin two years ago. He was a member of Sunapee Mountain Grange, Goshen, and when he was 98 years old was still helping chop wood for the Grange Hall stove. He was also a member of Cold River Valley Pomona Grange and former member of Sullivan County Pomona Grange and the New Hampshire and National Granges.
He was a longtime member of the Newport Lodge, Knights of Pythias, which presented a life membership to him at his 100th birthday party. He was the oldest member of the Pythaian Lodge in the United States.
He was married to the late Jennie Hurd.
He is survived by a niece Miss Mabel Simpson, Concord.
Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in the Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home by the Rev. Robert Curry, minister of the South Congregational Church. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Knights of Pythias memorial services conducted by present and past Grand Lodge officers of the Dominion of New Hampshire and Grange memorial services were conducted in the funeral home last evening.
Senate adjourns for Vesty Kiggins
CONCORD - Sylvester Kiggins, who died in Newport Monday in his 103rd year, was honored by the New Hampshire State Senate yesterday. Sen. Harry Spanos, Newport, moved that the Senate be adjoined in respect to him, and it was. Newport officials wonder who now gets the Boston Post cane and will welcome suggestions.