SCHOOLEY, Lydia A. (1839-1923)

SCHOOLEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/14/2020 at 09:17:24

Lydia Ann Schooley
(October 5, 1839 – June 5, 1923)

Lydia Ann Gocknaur was born in Columbia, Ohio, October 5, 1839 and died June 5, 1923, aged 83 years and 8 months. Ever keenly alert and active, hers was an eventful life, though she always avoided the spectacular. At the age of fourteen she began teaching school, with pupils several years her senior. She was a strict disciplinarian and a vigorous instructor. On December 18, 1861, she quit the school room to become the wife of W. H. Schooley. Six children came to their home, five of whom survive her, little Charlie preceeding her when but a lad. Following the stirring times of the Civil War, the family moved to Iowa, where she amply proved her right to a place on the long list pioneer heroins who in so large a measure laid the foundation of our country’s greatness. For a few years they lived on a farm in Belmont Township, during which time, with her husband, she united with the United Presbyterian Church of Lacona under the pastorate of Rev. Andrew McCartney.
In 1869 they moved to Indianola where she has since resided, having lived in this city almost fifty-four years, and the one house since 1883, almost forty years. About thirty years ago she became associated with the International Bible students association. She never permitted herself to become mentally rusty, but even in the past few weeks scanned the daily papers, keeping watch of the great international events. She leaves five children, Mrs. Leila May McNaught of Indianola; Mrs. Mignonette Hurd of Hughson, California; Frank H., Claresholm, Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Magnolia McCleery, Los Angeles, California; and Emma Voila, with whom she spent her last years in the old family home. Also twelve grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. With sympathetic interest in her fellow men and profound belief in the God she confessed, she reached the ripened years of a good old age, and truly passed away as “one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
[copied from a scrapbook of newspaper clippings at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa]