LILLARD, Henry Louis "Lou" Jr.

LILLARD, JOHNSON, YADON, SMITH, GIBSON, CHERRYHOLMES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/9/2015 at 03:05:04

Obituary ~ Henry Louis "Lou" Lillard, Jr.
December 06, 1862 ~ October 14, 1915

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, October 21, 1915

LOU LILLARD, who resides on a farm near Leroy, shot and killed himself at his home Friday evening of last week just at the supper hour. He used a shot gun and utilized a window stick in pulling the trigger. The charge of shot struck him just below the heart and death was almost instantaneous.

MR. LILLARD had not been feeling well for some weeks and on Friday evening was seated at the table with his wife and son eating supper. Suddenly he arose from the table and walked into another room, MRS. LILLARD and son thought nothing of it and continued eating their meal until the report of a shot gun came from the room in which MR. LILLARD had just gone. They found him lying with blood flowing from a wound just below the heart.

Physicians were quickly summoned but nothing could be done. It is believed that illness had caused a temporary derangement of MR. LILLARD's mind and while in that condition he had decided to end his life. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of all.

The funeral was held Monday having been delayed awaiting the arrival of a daughter from the west.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

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The Garden Grove Express
Garden Grove, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, October 28, 1915

Henry Louis Lillard was born near Garden Grove, Iowa, December 6th, 1862 and departed this life at his old home October 14, 1915, aged 52 years, 10 months and 8 days. On March 11, 1886 at Garden Grove, Iowa, he was united in mariage to Flora A. Johnson by Rev. Robert Beer. To this union were born three children, Mrs. Lena Yadon, of Bozeman, Montana, Mrs. Helen Smith of near Weldon and Maurice, who resided at home with his parents.

Lew (sic), as everyone knew him, was highly respected by everyone, he has spent all his life in this neighborhood with the exception of three years spent in Montana. His father, Henry Louis Lillard was a soldier in the Union army and being there at the time of his son's birth he never saw his father or knew a father's love. At the age of four years his mother married William Gibson who was a father to him in every respect. His only sister, Mrs. Carry Gibson Cherryholmes died 26 years ago leaving a little baby girl whom he helped care for.

Mr. Lillard will be greatly missed by all his friends and at his home where he was greatly loved by all. He was a kind and loving husband and father, always thinking of his family before he did himself. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, three children, three grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends.

The funeral was from the M.E. Church at LeRoy Monday, October 18th at 10 a.m. conducted by Rev. Duling. He was laid to rest in the Garden Grove Cemetary.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015