Alfred Lothrop 1810-1905

LOTHROP

Posted By: Transcriber
Date: 11/9/2002 at 20:50:36

Villisca Review newspaper dated: February 9, 1905

NEARLY 95 YEARS OLD

Mr. Alfred Lothrop was born at Windsor, VT, March 18, 1810, and died at Villisca, Iowa, February 4th, 1905, aged 94 years, 10 months and 16 days. During his boyhood his parents removed to Dover, Maine, and engaged in farming, where the educational facilities afforded were the common school, and that very limited. In June, 1831, he was united in marriage with Deborah Ann Robinson, the daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Robinson, a Baptist minister of prominence in Maine and neighboring states at that time and in subsequent years. Shortly after his marriage the subject of our sketch entered Waterville College, where he maintained himself and prosecuted his studies by working upon a nearby farm mornings and evenings and other odd times and teaching during vacations. Completing his collegiate course he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church and thereafter filled pastorates at various places until 1852, when, from some physical disability, his voice became impaired and he removed to Lowell, LaSalle County, Illinois, and engaged in farming, preaching occasionally.

There were born to him of his first wife seven children, three sons and four daughters. One son, J. S. Lothrop, and three daughters, Mrs. Belle Lathrop, Mrs Adria Stephens and Mrs. Ella H. Ewin, now survive him. His wife, Deborah, died at Rutland, Illinois, in 1883, and was buried in that county, at Lowell, Illinois, by the side of whom the deceased was laid to rest. A few years after the death of his wife he removed to Iowa, locating first in Chickasaw County and later at Villisca. He was married the second time in 1892 to Mrs. Martha S. Andrews who survives him.

While residing on his farm near Lowell, Illinois, he embraced the doctrines and teachings of the Adventists and severed his connection with the Baptist Church. In all of his long life he was ever conscientiously true to his convictions of the right, and the path of duty as given to him to know; consequences that might follow his chosen course, he never considered and regarded results only so far as they justified his actions. His life was simple and pure, and he leaves an untarnished name as the heritage of his children and sorrowing companion.

Funeral services were conducted by the writer, assisted by Eld. A. J. Bolster, at the home of the deceased, where a goodly number were present to pay their respects to the aged brother and to gaze on him who so peacefully is resting in death's embrace where he must remain until the Life Giver comes and breaks the bands of death and restores our brother to immortal vigor in the Kingdom of God. Written by H. D. Fillmore