Hodge Podge Friday - Niblick (Ft Wayne, IN)

Mrs. John Niblick Dies This Morning

Prominent Decatur Woman Dies Today

   Mrs. Mary Jane Studabaker Niblick, 86, member of a pioneer Decatur family, and a prominent social and church worker, died this morning at 6 o'clock at the Adams County Memorial Hospital.  Death was attributed to old age.

   Mrs. Niblick, widow of the late John Niblick, was born in Decatur on August 6, 1855, the daughter of Judge David and Harriet Evans Studabaker.  Her family was among the first settlers in the community.

   During her entire life the deceased was an ardent member and worker in the First Methodist Church and one of the city's foremost club women.  She and her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, shared the distinction of being the only two presidents of the Decatur Library Board.   During the first World War, Mrs. Niblick served as head of the Adams County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  In 1906 and 1907, she was president of the eighth district of the federation of woman's clubs.  She was a member of the local Shakespeare Club.

   In addition to being an ardent worker of the Decatur WCTU, she was a charter member of the missionary society of the First Methodist church and an organizer of the ladies aid society of the church.  She later became a charter member of the women's society of Christian service, which was formed in 1940 by the uniting of the home missionary society, the ladies aid society and the women's foreign missionary society.

   She was a graduate of the Glendale Women's College in 1875.  On May 18, 1876, she was married to Mr. Niblick.  He preceded her in death on May 4, 1930.  She was the last member of her family.  Three sisters and two brothers preceded her in death.

   Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. A. D. Suttles of Decatur, Mrs. O. P. Edwards of Leipsic, Ohio, and Mrs. H. H. Stoner of Chicago. Two sons, Jesse D. and Burton S. are deceased.  Six grandchildren and four great grandchildren survive.

Funeral Monday

    Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence, 222 Jefferson Street, with Rev. R. W. Graham officiating.  Interment will be in the mausoleum at the Decatur cemetery.

   The body was taken to the Zwick funeral home.  It will be returned to the residence Sunday and may be viewed there after 2 p.m. until time for the services.

[Obit courtesy of co-contributor, Jim Cox]