Lydia (Hollingsworth) Holaday (1911)
BROWN, DABNEY, DELONG, HOLADAY, HOLLINGSWORTH, MURRAY, NEWMAN, TAYLOR, WALTON, WICHER
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 8/23/2010 at 08:47:14
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, July 13, 1911
Page 4Obituary
Mrs. Lydia Hollingsworth Holaday, one of the oldest residents of Madison county, died last Saturday evening at eight-thirty, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Caroline Murray, on West Green street. For a year, Mrs. Holaday had been in failing health for the infirmities of age, though no specific disease had attacked her splendid constitution. For over two weeks, she had been suffering from the results of a slight fall, and from the intense heat, so that the end came more suddenly than expected.
The funeral services were held Monday morning at ten o’clock from Mrs. Murray’s residence. They were conducted by Rev. J. H. Stewart of the First Baptist church, and were simple and impressive, as befitted the character of her for whom the friends gathered sincerely mourned. Though she had outlived nearly all her close acquaintance, the affection in which she was held was shown by the numerous gifts of flowers which lightened the gloom of the occasion. The pastor paid a little tribute of appreciation to the memory of one so well fitted from her life to serve as a model of Christian faith. Misses Edith Hyder and Jean Cash, and Dr. Chas. Leech and Glen Tate sang “Abide With Me”. The interment ceremony at the cemetery was very brief.
The majority of Mrs. Holaday’s relatives live too far away to arrive in time for the service. Those present were: Mrs. Royal Brown of Greenfield, Mrs. Caroline Murray of Winterset, daughters; William Holaday of Greenfield, Henry Holaday of Massena, and Milton Holaday of Council Bluffs, sons; Mrs. Elizabeth Murry Newman of Winterset, Mrs. Jas. Taylor of Des Moines, granddaughters; Mrs. Rebecca Hollingsworth DeLong, niece, and Mrs. Raymond Walton of Winterset, grand niece.
Lydia Hollingworth Holaday was born in Union county, Indiana Nov. 23, 1819, so she was close to ninety two years of age at the time of her demise. Her ancestors were a Quaker family prominent in the history of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, as pioneers and nation builders. Born in the Friends’ faith, she was the greater part of her life unable to attend a church of her belief. Yet, she lived always according to its greatest spirit, being a deep and untiring reader of the bible, and a searcher for its hidden and inspired meanings. Her early life was spent near Kokomo, Ind., and at Danville, Ill., where her father was a land owner, and a progressive citizen, honored and beloved by his fellows. They early joined the westward march of the “pathfinders” coming to Iowa in 1847. One brother, Dr. Wm. Hollingsworth, settled at Washington, Ia., another, Hon. Jeremiah Hollingsworth, locating at Richland, was a member of the Iowa Congressional Assembly, and a framer and signer of the state constitution of this state.
Mrs. Holaday was one of a family of twelve children, but one of whom Mrs. Ruta Wicher, has survived her. At nineteen, Mrs. Holaday was married to George Holaday, afterward a resident of Winterset, owner of the St. Nicholas hotel and judge of Adair county. The young people cleared a farm in Keokuk county, living near Richland for several years. In 1854, they moved to Adair county, and in 1858 to Winterset. Here Mrs. Holaday spent the rest of her long life, after the death of Senator B. F. Murray, living constantly with her daughter, Mrs. Caroline Murray. Of the eleven children born to Mrs. Holaday two died in infancy, her oldest son, Samuel, having died six years ago at Massena, Iowa, and a daughter, Else 20 years ago, at Denison, Texas. Her second son, Miles, lives at Tulare, Calif., Milton at Council Bluffs; William at Greenfield; Henry, near Massena, Iowa; her daughters, Mrs. Emily Brown, at Greenfield; Mrs. Pauline Dabney at Oakland, Calif., and Mrs. Caroline Murray at Winterset. Her counsel and principles to her children were priceless; and they have always revered her character and true religious faith. Her long life was unfailingly helpful and unselfish, charitable and steadfast.
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