GAYLORD, Helen Mar (nee Lamb) 1836-1918
LAMB, GAYLORD
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/30/2010 at 20:40:41
HELEN MAR (nee LAMB) GAYLORD -- 1836-1918
Old Settlers Death:
Helen Mar Lamb was the sixth child of Allen and Mary Lamb. Her Scotch parents of Glasgow came as bride and groom to America in 1823 and became pioneers in Pennsylvania, and then in West Virginia, followed by Illinois and then Floyd county, Iowa.
Helen was born on March 9, 1836, in DuPage county, Illinois.
Helen's education began by attending school when her two older sisters were not able to go. Spelling books and Testaments were their reading books. For their other reading they read their father's favorite books, Burn's Poems and Dick's Mental Philosophies. Helen taught school in the home district.
Helen Lamb and Edson Gaylord, a pioneer in Rock Grove township, Floyd County, Iowa, were married on July 22, 1857. He had met her on this way here to Iowa from Connecticut in 1853.
She taught school here in the early 1850's.
Twice a year she would whitewash the sides and overhead of the two-story log house with extra applications when beating rains came through small openings in the chinking.
Indians now and then camped near and peeked in at the doors and windows. Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord were among those who never quit for Indians or poor crops. Like many pioneer women, there were no homes in which she had not acted as nurse, and without pay in money. The family moved into their present brick home in 1872.
Of her three children, the oldest and youngest, Wallace E. and Vienna H. are living at the same old home. A daughter, Myrtie, died at the age of 3 1/2 in 1869. Her husband, Edson Gaylord, passed away March 18, 1914. She mothered three nieces and nephews at different times.
Mrs. Gaylord was actively engaged in all praiseworthy work of the community.
She was conscientious. She was always dependable and very informed in English literature, both classic and current, and in political and other matters concerning the world's progress and history. She had a social, merry spirit and could not long hold hatred in her heart.
Of good constitution, naturally her health had been apparently improving for a year or so. Her fatal sickness was only 10 hours, a cold, sudden and severe, with indigestion brought heart failure on Wednesday, January 23, 1918. Her mind was very clear to the last when she beautifully voiced the communion of her soul with God.
The funeral was held at the spacious home on Sunday, January 27, conducted by a former pastor and friend, Elder G. A. Hess, of Mount Pleasant. A large number of beautiful tokens were present and a large number of friends united in paying tribute to her memory.
Interment was in the family lot in the Rock Grove Cemetery.
Among those from out of town were: Mrs. Buena Burr of Charles City, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Chehock and Mrs. Julia Jackson of Clear Lake, John Curphey of Spirit Lake, and Mrs. Carl Edgington of Nebraska.
[31 JAN 1918]
Based on a biographical story submitted to IaGenWeb by Joan Edmonson, Sept. 30, 2010
Link to Biographical Sketch
Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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