31 May 1818 - 29 January 1909

A hundred years ago come January, my Great Great Grandfather, John Brown Hilliard, was probably visiting his daughter in Shannon City and died. Or might have been sick and so went to his daughter's to live out his days. Back then, there were no old age pensions, no Social Security. If you couldn't work, you went to family or friends or to the Poor Farm.

Mary Frances Hilliard, daughter of John B. Hilliard, married Robert B. Austin, Sr. and they settled in Shannon City, IA for a spell. Times were hard and these folks, poor. When John B. Hilliard died there was no money for a gravestone.

One day a hundred years later, John Brown Hilliard's Great Great Grandson had an idea. He would find a stone, have it engraved and would set the stone all before the 100 anniversary of the death.

Gary Lewis Austin, G. G. Grandson of John Brown and Philena Moulton Hilliard, did find the grave site, found a stone, had it engraved and with the help of his children Robert Lewis Austin and April Grace Austin and two granddaughters, Robi and Ashley, set the stone this fine day, 23 November 2008, two months shy of the 100th anniversary of his death.