Lydia Ann (Letson) Lockridge (1841-1920)

LETSON, LOCKRIDGE, WORSLEY, WILL, DRYBREAD, ARMSTRONG, WALDRON, BALLIET, MILLER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/31/2021 at 14:39:00

From Nevada Representative September 10, 1920 (page 1)

PASSING TO LYDIA ANN LETSON LOCKRIDGE

Friday afternoon, Sept. 24, 1920, the generous supply of vitality bequeathed to Mrs. Lockridge by vigorous ancestry became exhausted and her weary heart ceased its beating. In the quiet hours of the Sabbath day in mortal stillness, she lay in her flower embowered burial casket--flowers that were simple, unconventional tokens of grateful and affectionate remembrance. In the fitting sunset hours of that ideal autumnal ay, the song was sung, the tribute paid and the prayer offered that constituted and appropriate and loving farewell service to the mortal life of a much beloved citizen. The funeral assemblage that gathered in her house and on its grounds was large in numbers, and included representatives of three generations, the fading past, the active present and the youth vanguard of the future. And notwithstanding the wide range of years compassed by the assemblage, all were sympathetic, all were friends, all grateful for some kingly word spoken or helpful service rendered by the departed neighbor and friend of all.

The tribute paid her life and character by her pastor, Rev. Dr. Shipman, was exceptionally appropriate. He emphasized her great and unvarying kindness to all the aged and the young, the lowly as well as the high. She was self-sacrificing not only in her own family relations, but likewise in her attitude toward the community in which she lived. Her hospitality was proverbial. It was of the double door, big chimney variety. Her Welcome was of the two-handed kind and made on feel at home at once. She had suffered much especially in late years in the matter of ill health and her occasions for deep sorrows along her pathway of life have been many. But her ills and griefs were not utilized as staples of conversation. Her spirit was uncomplaining and she seldom, if ever, invited the commiseration and pity of others. These and other --------- mortal and spiritual characteristics were mentioned and commen---. And all possessed merit and appropriateness because true. The writer has known Mrs. Lockridge for nearly a half century He has had a hand in the education of her children and been with her family in its sorrows an its festivities and bears willing and unhesitating testimony that all the kindly words spoken of the good woman who has passed beyond the veil are in full accord with the life she lived. In brief, in the words of those who knew her best "her life has been long, useful and self-sacrificing. Her spacious house has always been open to her family, relatives, friends and her friends friends."

Lydia Ann Letson was born in Hardin county, Ohio, January the 15th, 1841. She came with her parents to Iowa November 5th, 1858. Was married to Wm. Lockridge January 19th, 1860 and Nevada has been her home continuously since. Her husband, Wm. Lockridge, died July 22nd, 1903. To this couple were born eight children, four of whom (two sons and two daughters) have preceded the mother to the life beyond. She is survived by four daughters Mrs. T. P. Worsley, Mrs. L. A. Will, Mrs. J. E. Drybread and Mrs. Emmet Armstrong, all of whom have been with her during her long and critical illness.

There are also left to mourn her death, twelve grandchildren, three great grandchildren and three sister, Mrs. Dilla Waldron of Nevada, Mrs. Helen Balliet of Des Moines and Mrs. Rachel Miller of Cedar Rapids.

One of the interesting and especially fitting incidents of the services was the bearing of the burial casket by her three sons-in-law, T. P. Worsley, J. E. Drybread and Emmet Armstrong, and three of her grandsons, Arthur Worsley, William Drybread and George Armstrong.

Soon after coming to Iowa, Mrs. Lockridge united with the Methodist church by letter, having been a member of that church in Ohio. The burial was in Nevada's attractive cemetery beside kindred dead.