Lilly, Lucy Jane 1842-1930

LILLY, BARDWELL, BORDWELL

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/10/2013 at 19:31:22

Note: Maiden name could be Bardwell or Bordwell.

AGED WESTFIELD PIONEER CALLED

Mrs. Grover Lilly Came This Country In Covered Wagon

Westfield, Ia., Sept. 4. Special:

Lucy Jane Bardwell was born to Mr. and Mrs. Olin Bardwell at Ashfield, in Franklin county, Mass., August 16, 1842, and quietly passed away from this life on August 26, 1930.

She was united in marriage to Grover Lilly , May 12, 1861, and to the union was born five sons.

With the husband she started west during December, 1862, in a covered wagon by way of Ohio and other points to Wisconsin. In 1863 they moved to eastern Iowa where they lived in and near Dubuque, settling later at Waterloo. During 1871 they come to Plymouth county and settled on a farm near Le Mars. In 1877 they moved onto a farm on the Broken Kettle road and in 1884 they came to Westfield where they continued to live.

She was preceded in death by a son in infancy, her husband died October 28, 1907. Her son, Alonzo, in 1926.

Subject to sickness physically, but possessing a strong will, she but possessing a strong will, she demonstrated that where there is a will there is a way. There were no daughters and she built her life into those of her four sons and together they have done real team work. The devotion to each other reflects the strong personality of a mother whose influence will continue.

She was a charter member of the Congregational church and the writer has heard her say as a church people we differ from each other, politically, economically and educationally and socially, but we are regiously a part of a whole and must believe in each other and all for the same end.

A few years ago there lived in and around Westfield a number of her generation who have passed one by one till there are very few left. Among her closet friends was Mrs. Young of Le Mars, who was her junior by only a few months.

She is survived by her three sons, Hardy, Stanley and Olin; 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon in the home and conducted by Rev. Wilson of Fonda, Iowa, Rev. Wilson of being a pioneer pastor here. The remains were laid to rest in the Riverside cemetery at Akron. Mrs. Lilly had many dear friends who will deeply mourn her passing away.

Le Mars Globe Post
Thursday, September 4, 1930
Le Mars, Iowa