Mrs. William (Elizabeth) Spensley Lightfoot

SPENSLEY, LIGHTFOOT

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 10/15/2002 at 21:15:46

MRS. WILLIAM (Elizabeth) SPENSLEY LIGHTFOOT

Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque Dailey Times
May 3, 1881

OBITUARY

Mrs. Elizabeth Lightfoot, a lady much respected and beloved, died at the residence of her step-son, Mr. Ralph Spensley, at Asbury, Dubuque county, April 26, aged 76 years. The remains were taken to her home in Potosi, and buried the following day in the cemetery at British Hollow. Mrs. Lightfoot was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came with her husband, John Spensley, --the father of Mesers. Ralph and John Spensley, of Dubuque county, Iowa-- to America and settled first in Philadelphia, in the year 1832. The following year they removed to Dubuque, then a mere mining camp consisting only of one log tavern, a store and a few cabins. Indians were plentiful enough in those days, and the old lady was often heard to remark about them, and of having shaken hands with Blackhawk who was at that time a prisoner. Her husband's health failing, he left her and returned to his native land in the hope of that climate's benefiting him, but his hopes were vain. He never returned, and she was left a widow in a strange land with four little ones to guide and protect uncheered by a husband's loving aid and counsel.

What that time of trial must have been for the delicately matured woman, only they may know who like her have drank deeply of the bitter waters of afflictions, but the God of the widow and fatherless protected her. She bore her trials with examplary patience and cheerful resignations doing her duty faithfully in the sphere of life in which it had pleased her heavenly Father to place her.

In 1838 she married Mr. Wm. Lightfoot by whom she has three children living, two sons and a daughter. Mr. Lightfoot died in the year '60, April the 16th. Mrs. Lightfoot had been a devoted member of the Methodist church from her earliest years, and her life throughout was marked by that gentle submission to the will of the Divine Master which characterizes the true Christian spirit. The hope of the unseen glories beyond was the guide of her early youth, the safeguard of mature years, its fair promises the beacon that brightened the sombre clouds that so oft o'ershadowed her pathway and led her peacfully through the valley and shadow of death. Her life work is done; the faithful wife and mother has fulfilled the task appointed and gone to her reward.

With weary feet I near my journey's end,
The heavenly anthems reach my listening ear;
I long for rest, Angel of Peace descend,
Guide me still onward, fain would I draw near.

The golden gates are standing yet ajar;
With eager tread the portal now is past;
All earthly scenes are distant, dim afar,
And heaven is won, the goal is reached at last.
H. L. V.