Who Was John Henry Wilcott?
Born: December 25, 1870
Death: February 28, 1964
Place of Birth: Jay, New York
Location of Death: Hilger, Montana
Burial Location: Winifred Cemetery northeast corner of the Wilcott homestead, Hilger, Montana
In about 1909, having been associated with the Faith for just a few years, and with no experience in frontier living, John and Eliza, his mother, set off for Montana as Bahá’í pioneers, living in a tent when they first arrived.
Eliza earned a reputation as a “bush doctor” and traveled far and wide administering her herbal remedies and delivering babies. She served with her son for 10 years until her death in 1919. John was at his post for 35 years before even seeing another Bahá’í, except for his mother. His lively correspondence with believers throughout the country and commitment to pioneering kept him going.
After 53 years at his post, in 1962, John finally got electricity and had a telephone installed so that life could be a little easier for his wife and him. He had pioneered and survived frontier life for over half a century before getting amenities.
That was also the year when his wife, Johana died, after 44 years as his companion and helpmate. John was in his 80s. With his companion and helpmate gone, he moved to Great Falls to be with his son, Norman. But he did not like city life, so, he returned to his pioneering home and homestead for his few remaining years.
"After more than another half-century since his passing, the wind-swept log house he built was still standing – a physical symbol of his perseverance." (Image and text: bahaichronicles.org/john-h-wilcott)
"Two years after Johana died, in 1964, he finally left his pioneering post for the Abhá Kingdom. He was buried on a parcel of the northeast corner of his homestead that he had given to the village of Winifred as a cemetery. He was laid to rest between the graves of his mother and his wife. " (Image and text: https://bahaichronicles.org/john-h-wilcott/)