Lydia Ann (Benge) Danforth

BENGE, DANFORTH, HOUSTEAD, LYON, MCCLEARY, WOODWARD

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 5/20/2006 at 16:09:46

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 13, 1920

Lydia Ann Danforth

Lydia Ann Danforth, second child of Alfred and Margaret Benge, was born in Madison County, Indiana, on Jan. 15, 1844, and departed from this life, by accidental burning, on Oct. 6, 1920, her age being 76 years, 8 months and 21 days.

At the age of 11 years, she came to Winterset, this county being one of the very first white persons to settle here. Later, in 1860, she was united in marriage to William R. Danforth, to whom nine children were born, three dying in infancy. The surviving ones are A. E. of Buena Vista, Colo., G. J., Frank, Charles, Stella and June. These have all grown to manhood and womanhood in and around Winterset. Besides these there are nine grandchildren, born to the following: A. E., one; Charles, three; Mrs. Stella McCleary, three and Mrs. June Woodward, three, George Houstead is the only great grandchild.

Religiously she was a member of the Church of Christ, having been baptized into that faith when a girl and has lived that faith from her baptism until the hour of her death. Her husband, William R. Danforth, who preceded her in death two years ago was of the same faith. They lived it together and in it they were happy. Two sisters, Elmira Benge and Malisa Lyon, survive her.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 13, 1920
Page 4, Columns 4 & 5

Lydia Ann Danforth

Lydia Ann Danforth, second child of Alfred and Margaret Benge, was born in Madison county, Indiana on the 15th day of January, 1844 and departed from this life by accidental burning, on October 6, 1920, her age being 76 years, 8 months and 21 days.

At the age of eleven years she came to Winterset, this county, being one of the very first white persons to settle here. Later in 1860 she was united in marriage to Wm R. Danforth to which union nine children were born, three dying in infancy. The surviving ones are A. E. of Buena Vista, Colorado; G. J., Frank, Charles, Stella and June. These have all grown to manhood and womanhood in and around Winterset. Besides these there are nine grandchildren, born to the following; to A. A., one, Charles three, two Mrs. Stella McCleary three, and two Mrs. June Woodward three. George Houstead is the only great-grandchild.

Religiously she was a member of the Church of Christ having been baptized into that faith when a girl and has lived that faith from her baptism until the hour of her death. Her husband, William R. Danforth, and who preceded her in death two years ago, was of the same faith. They lived together and in it they were happy.

Two sisters, Elmira Benge and Malissa Lyon, survive her.

Today as we reflect upon the way she has come we cannot refrain from meditating upon the pioneer days with which she was so closely related. In the truest and fullest sense of the word she was one of the pioneers of this great middle west. She came at a time when the path was unbroken and when only brave spirits moved forward into the unknown. Sometimes we misunderstand this spirit and the purpose for which these brave souls moved forward in those early days. But we are coming to realize that, while they came primarily for their own sakes and their families, they came for your sake and mine. They broke the forest and crossed the plain, not only for themselves, but for those who were to follow in their train. Our comfortable homes, our splendid cities, are intricate system of railroads, and all the modern benefits we have at our disposal to have come to us through their toils and hardships. “They rest from their labors, but their works do not follow them.” Let us not forget that we owe these brave pioneer souls a debt of gratitude that we can never pay. We can only cherish their memory and keep alive the fire of love in our hearts for them.

The end of her life came suddenly and unexpectedly. Scarcely before friends and loved ones could gather to say good bye she was numbered with the dead. Within only a few hours after the accident he passed into the great unknown, learned the wonderful secret of life eternal, and gazed with rapt vision upon the city whose builder and maker is God.

In these last trying hours it seems that an unknown power was good to her. She had hoped and prayed that when the hour came, there would be no suffering and no pain. She like all of us even including the Lord himself, wanted to escape the pang of pain and suffering. This was natural, and her wish and prayer were granted for there was no suffering and no pain. As was published she repeated time and again, when asked if she was in any pain, that she felt no pain and was not suffering. The thought that she could pass out without pain and suffering must have been a sweet and consoling thought to her.

Her passing will be a distinct loss and shall be felt very keenly. She was a friend and neighbor and mother. In these circles she will be missed most especially by those who have been closely associated with her and who have become united with her and ties of earnest love. Upon the loved ones, the immediate family, will the greatest pang fall. There will be for them that aching loneliness and sorrow that will seem hard. But time will lighten the burden, and the light of future days will brighten their spirits though the sadness will never pass entirely away.

The funeral was held Friday afternoon, October 8, from the Church of Christ. The sermon was delivered by Dr. N. C. Carpenter, pastor, and burial followed in the Winterset cemetery.