BERKLEY, Lydia 1832-1909

BERKLEY, LAW, BAIL, SPIDEL, BEAL, MILLER, JOHNSON, MUHTER

Posted By: Merikay Mestad (email)
Date: 8/22/2009 at 17:02:20

DEATH TAKES HEAVEY TOLL / MRS. LYDIA BERKLEY CLOSES LIFE SPAN OF 77 YEARS.

Death’s toll touched Waterloo heavily in the past 48 hours and among those who were summoned by the grim messenger was Mrs. Lydia Berkley, aged 77 years, and a woman renowned and honored wherever she was known. For the past six years she has been a resident of Waterloo and for 35 years prior to that time she resided in Carroll county, Ill., where the first home was made when the family emigrated from her native state of Pennsylvania.

The decedent was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 11, 1832, and her death was chronicled this morning at 6 o’clock at the home at 506 Eleventh street west. She was the widow of Ezra J. Berkley, who died in this city four years ago. Four sons and three daughters reside in Waterloo. One daughter, Mrs. Harry Law, resides in Los Angeles, Cal., and another daughter, Mrs. Samuel Bail, resides in Washington, Pa. The children living in this city and who were present at the death are Clayton M. Berkley, John O. Berkley, Norman J. Berkley, Edward M. Berkley, Mrs. William Spidel, Mrs. Charles M. Beal and Miss Lizzie Berkley, who, with the brother John O. Berkley, resided with the aged lady. There were two sons who died at the old home in Illinois several yeas ago in their young manhood.

The maiden name of Mrs. Berkley was Lydia Miller, daughter of Jacob D. Miller of Somerset, Pa., a minister of the German Baptist Brethren church, of which church the decedent became a member in her childhood. There survives of her brothers and sisters Judge Jay J. Miller of Pittsburg, PA; Daniel S. Miller of Somerset, Pa.; E. A. Miller of Carleton, Neb.; Mrs. John Johnson of Huntington, Pa.; Mrs. Jacob G. Miller of Carleton, Neb., and Mrs. Eliza Muhter of Modesto, Cal. A large number of the early Pennsylvania friends and relatives of the deceased lady reside in Waterloo and Black Hawk county.

The immediate cause of death was paralysis and the result of a shock which she received about ten days ago from a fall out of an invalid chair.

Funeral services will be conducted at the home and at the Dunkard Brethren church Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment will be in Elmwood cemetery.

--Waterloo Semi Weekly Courier (23 Feb 1909:3)

--Waterloo Courier (Monday, Feb 1909)