Eliza Abbott Root 1823-1916

ROOT, ABBOTT, BUCHANAN, STYLES

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 11/25/2005 at 17:51:25

The Clinton Advertiser Saturday April 15, 1916 p. 6 Eliza Abbott Root one of the oldest residents of Clinton County, died at her home on Third street, April 14th, at 10:30 p.m. the immediate cause of her death being a severe cold which developed into bronchitis, which together with her advanced age speedily overcame her vitality. Conscious to the last she recognized her friends and relatives, and ever watchful and solicitous, protested against giving her so much attention, fearful that she would inconvenience them. Mrs. Root had a partial stroke of paralysis some five years ago which affected her sight, nevertheless, she superintended the every detail of her household duty, and could not be persuaded to allow such to fall into other hands, and even in her last sickness her mind was ever bright and active, desiring to know whether such customary matters had been taken care of. Mrs. Root was one of the original members of the First Congregational church of Lyons, Iowa and was one of the last of the faithful organizers who had been active in the maintaining and superintending of its destinies. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and neighbors, and no woman was better knwon than "Grandma Root" among the Woodmen and Woodmen circles and organizations; frequently she was the recipient of resolutions and presents, tokens of love and remembrance, and was the subject at banquets and entertainment. Eliza Abbott Root was the youngest daughter of Joseph Abbott of the long line of English Ancestry, notable among which are John S., C. Abbott, historian, and Lyman Abbott. She was born August 7th, 1823 and reared upon a farm redeemed from wilderness by her great grandfather in the mountains in Hampdem Co., Mass., coming from a sturdy puritan family. Her father was killed at the advanced age of 84 years. Her mother and the wife of Joseph Abbott was Polly Buchanan of English and Irish lineage. Her grand father was an officer in the Revolutionary war, as was also her husband's grandfather. She taught school in a little school house adjoining her father's farm for a number of years, after which she was united in marriage to Aureliius C. Root, moving with him down to Chester which was in the valley and the terminal of the railroad. Her husband conducted a general store, and had at one time some forty salesmen on the road carrying merchandise in trunks hauled on wagons, called travelling stores. In 1953 he came to Belvidere, Ill, as cashier of a bank, coming to Lyons in 1854 and built the building which now stands at the corner of Second and Main street in which he established the first bank, she following from her home in Massachusetts in 1855, and has been a resident since that time, at her late home. Mr. Root died at Lyons, Iowa, June 21st, 1881, having been very prominent as a business man. Active in the interest of the public schools. Holding many prominent positions of trust, political, social and otherwise. To Aurelius C. Root and Eliza Abbott Root was born four sons and two daughters. The late Joseph Cullen Root, known through out the country as the founder and organizer of Woodcraft, who died at Hendersonville, N.C., Dec. 24th, 1913, Harriet L. Root, died at Lyons, Iowa, Dec. 26th, 1875; Abbott A. Root of Cleveland; Belle E. Styles of Topeka, Kansas; Charles L. Root and Herbert D. Root, of Lyons. The latter four survive her. She also has nine grand-children, and six great-grand children. At the time of her death she was 92 years, eight months and seven days old. Funeral services will probably be held Monday.

The Clinton Advertiser Monday April 17, 1916 p. 6 The funeral of the late Mrs. Eliza Abbott Root was held at 2 o'clock this afternoon fromthe home of South Third street with Rev. Woodfin of the Congregational church and Rev. McAulay of the Presbyterian church in charge of the service. The floral displays were of the best and the body was interred in a huge bronze casket in Oakland cemetery. Among the floral offerings there was a piece from New Era camp of this city and another from the W.O.W. Sovereign camp at Omaha, Neb. Burial was private and the casket was attended by six grandsons of the deceased: Aurelius C. Root and Chas. W. Root, both of this city and Harry J. Root, Alonzo I. Root, Earl R. Stiles and Orson Stiles, all of Omaha, Neb. Besides the above persons from out of the city were, Mr. and Mrs. Abbott A. Root and daughter, Annabelle, of Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. George D. Stiles of Topeka, Kan., Mrs. H.J. Root, of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. Alonzo I. Root of Omaha, Neb.