Mary (Ballard) Abbott (1856-1931)

BALLARD, ABBOTT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/3/2021 at 19:52:55

From Nevada Evening Journal January 12, 1931 (page 1)

MRS. MARY ABBOTT DEAD HERE TODAY

FUNERAL WILL BE HELD AT HOME OF HER SON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

Mrs. Mary Abbott, 76, native daughter of Story county, died at the home of her son Howard Abbott at 537 Ninth street, after an extended illness. Death was due to various complications incident to her advanced years.

The funeral will be held at the Howard Abbott home Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock, with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in charge. Interment will be in the Nevada cemetery by the side of her husband who died June 12, 1913.

The deceased was born a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Ballard, at Ballard's Grove, near Cambridge, January 17, 1856, and would have been 76 years of age had she lived until Saturday of this week.

She was married to William Abbott May 24, 1876. They lived for a year on a farm just south of Ames, then purchased the homestead northwest of Cambridge, where their sons were raised and where they lived until 27 years ago, when they retired from active farm life and moved into Nevada, purchasing wheat was then known as the Frazier acreage in the southwest corner of the city limits.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abbott. One son John died at the age of seven; while the others William of Ames and Howard of Nevada, survive the parents. There are also 5 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and two brothers. The brothers are Elias Ballard of Ames and John Ballard of Cambridge.

Since the death of the husband Mrs. Abbott had continued to keep up her home with a cousin J. W. Oglivie assisting in the care of the home.

Her health had been failing for the past two years. Some months ago she submitted to an operation of the removal of cataracts from her eyes. The operation was successful for a time, but of late she had again become blind, having been without sight since June.

She was taken to the home of her son Howard on Thanksgiving day and remained there since. About two weeks ago she suffered a slight stroke of paralysis and had been failing rapidly since.

During her days upon the farm she had been active in the Cambridge Methodist church, but since coming to Nevada her health had not permitted her to be active in affairs outside of the home.

The family will receive the sympathy of neighbors and friends during their hours of bereavement.