Lucia A. Mills

MILLS, WRIGHT, WHITELEY, FORGERY

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 3/20/2009 at 19:08:50

Lucia A., daughter of Sarah A. and Evander Wright, was born near Bonaparte, Iowa, Sept. 29, 1852. After the death of the father the family moved to Bonaparte where the deceased grew to womanhood. One June 15, 1879, she was married to Lott H. Mills, after which their home was made at Rozetta, Ill., for several years. They later removed to her former home in Bonaparte where her husband was engaged in the grocery business.

Three children were born (one dying in infancy) and on April 18, 1892, the husband and father died after a brief illness, leaving the mother with the care of two children, which trust she carefully and lovingly kept, their welfare and interests being her chief aim in life.

The past seven years have been spent in Des Moines, keeping house for the son, a task of love she faithfully performed. She transferred her membership from the Mt. Zion Baptist church, Bonaparte, to Forest Avenue Baptist church of Des Moines, where she was a participant in all the church life there.

Mrs. Mills was a quiet home loving woman whose religion was a personal every day experience, and her chief interests were bound up in her children and their lives. Her last illness was very brief. Having been blessed with wonderful health all her life she naturally over estimated her strength and a slight weakness following tonsillitis was lightly thought of. Just a week before her death acute rheumatic fever developed, complications arising which in a few days became very serious.

She passed away Wednesday, May 25th, 1921 at 4:45 P.M., after having had all that medical aid and loving hands could do, done for her. The remains were taken directly to the funeral parlor and the following day sent to her old home for burial, being accompanied to the train by friends of the Forest Ave. Church and City Post Office.

The two children, Mrs. Gertrude Whiteley of Bonaparte, and Thurlo J. of Des Moines and one sister, Mrs. A. E. Forgey of Washington, Iowa are the near surviving relatives.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library