Mortley, Mary Jane 1835-1923

MORTLEY, LANE, HAYHAN, GRAHAM, WATERS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/25/2011 at 18:51:49

MRS. WILLIAM MORTLEY

Mary Jane Lane was born in Livingston, Ontario, Canada, Nov. 7, 1835, and passed away January 9, 1923, at the home of her son, James Mortley, at Lockman, Iowa, at the advanced age of 88 years, 2 months and 2 days.

She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Lane and was of French descent.

She grew to womanhood in Canada and was married to Mr. Hayhan. To this union three children were born, two girls and one boy. Both daughters passed away when but a few years of age. Later Mr. Hayhan also passed away and Mrs. Hayhan and her son, James, came to the States.

In 1876 she was united in marriage with William Mortley, Civil War veteran, in Hampton, Ill.

The same year they came by ox team to Poweshiek county, and settled in Westfield, where they built one of the best homes in the neighborhood at that time. Her son, James, lived with them on the farm until he was grown.

She was a true friend and neighbor, always ready and willing to help anyone in the time of sickness or trouble, and went night or day when called, often wading through very deep snow to get there, for in those days the roads and fences were often buried beneath great snow drifts during the winter months.

There are many people in Westfield and many others who have moved away who will always remember her many deeds of kindness.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Mortley were members of the United Brethren Church that was held in a school house a short distance north of Bethel church. When the meetings were finally discontinued they attended the Bethel M.E. church.

In the winter of 1920 their home was completely destroyed by fire, only a few pieces of the household goods being saved. From that time on both Mr. and Mrs. Mortley seemed to fail noticeably in health. About the last of December, 1922, they were taken to her son's home in Lockman, where they could be cared for, but Mrs. Mortley lived only about two weeks to enjoy the comforts of her son's home.

She will be greatly missed in the Westfield vicinity where she has lived such a useful and unselfish life for so many years.

She leaves to mourn her death, her husband, her son, James Mortley, and his wife, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Graham of St. Johns, Mich.; Mrs. Hannah Waters, of Leamington, Ontario, and Margaret Lane, of St. Paul, Mich.

Transcriber Note: Buried Oakview Cem., Troy, Monroe Co. Iowa