Moxley, Lydia 1851-1947

MOXLEY, DART, BENTLEY, BARNS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/13/2014 at 20:50:37

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Thursday, Jan. 1, 1948

MRS. LYDIA MOXLEY
DIED THURSDAY,
AGED 96 YEARS

Mrs. Lydia Moxley, widow of Anson Moxley and mother of Mrs. Blanche Bentley of Grinnell, died Thursday in a local nursing home at the age of 96 years. She had lived in the community for 78 years. Funeral services conducted by W.F. Overhulser were held Saturday afternoon from the James Funeral Home with interment in Hickory Grove cemetery. Music was provided by Mrs. Roscoe Dempster and Mrs. Dolph Miller. Pall bearers were Leonard Newton, Chester Newcomer, George Palmer, George Buck, John McIlrath and Austin Palmer.

Lydia Dart, daughter of Ann and Ezra Dart, was born in Jefferson, N.Y., on Jan. 13, 1851 and died in Grinnell on *Jan. 1, 1947. Early in her life she was married to Anson Moxley in New York state. Soon after their marriage they came to Iowa where they established a home and where they became pioneer residents of the territory north and west of Grinnell. Into their family six children were born. The three who are still living are Mrs. Blanche Bentley of Grinnell, D.T. Moxley of Gilman and Mrs. Mabel Barns of Red Wing, Minn.

When Mr. and Mrs. Moxley came to Iowa they became pioneer members of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist church, as it was then known, and gave years of faithful service to the church and the community. Both of them worked hard and become well known in the community for their unusual physical stamina and sterling characters. After many happy years on the farm the Moxleys moved to Grinnell, where they lived on Elm street until a year ago. Mr. Moxley died seven years ago.

For the past seven years Mrs. Moxley has been an invalid but she retained a keen interest in her neighbors and in life around her. She was known for her cheerful disposition and for her ability to get the most out of life. Had she lived until Jan. 13 she would have been 97 years of age but during the last few months she has grown gradually weaker until she finally went quietly to her Father's House. Mrs. Moxley will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her family and the community will miss her but all will be richer for having known her.

Transcriber Note: Death date appears to be wrong in this obituary. She likely died in late *December, 1947. Tombstone in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Jasper County is also mis-dated 1851-1948. John R. Smith, of the Smith Funeral Home, informs us that "Lydia's date of passing was January 1, 1948 according to the James-Schaliske Funeral Home records."