Lucinda (Lee) Middleton (1839-1926)

BAKER, LEE, LYONS, MIDDLETON, PAINE, SHOENHAIR

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

The Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, October 14, 1926
Page 1, Column 1

OCTOGENARIAN ANSWERS CALL

Mrs. Elmore Middleton, 86, Laid to Rest in Rose Hill Cemetery Sunday Afternoon

Mrs. Elmore Middleton died at her home on South Commercial avenue last Friday afternoon, Oct. 8, 1926. She was 86 years, 11 months and 20 days of age. Without pain and without a struggle she passed to the great beyond.

Mrs. Middleton was one of the real pioneers of this part of Iowa and had an active part in the early development of this community, driving across the country from Iowa City in an ox cart in 1858, and settling in this locality. The nearest trading point was Iowa City and Mr. Middleton had to make frequent trips to Iowa City with his ox team to get wheat ground into flour and for other necessary supplies. Both Mr. and Mrs. Middleton lived to see the country develop into the garden spot of the universe. And they were of material assistance in this development. A very fitting resume of Mrs. Middleton’s long and useful life, is contained in the following obituary prepared by her pastor, Rev. W. G. Muhleman:

Obituary
(By Rev. W. G. Muhleman)

A remarkable life has just passed into the realms of the Great Beyond. Eighty-six years, 11 months and 20 days ago, Oct. 18, 1839, Lucinda Lee was born in Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. It was here where she grew to womanhood.

In 1858 she was united in marriage to Elmore Middleton and came with him to Iowa. They arrived at Iowa City on the train, where they were met by friends with an ox team who brought them to Wright county. Their first winter In Iowa was spent with fifteen others in a house 14 feet square. Their first home of their own was built of black walnut logs on the farm now occupied by their son, J. C. Middleton. This house was paid for with money received from the sale of furs taken along the Boone river. They lived there till in l884 when they moved to the home now owned by their son, Sam Middleton. From here they moved to the home now occupied by their daughter, Mrs. Frank Shoenhair.

Mr. Middleton passed away Sept. 11, 1912. Mrs. Middleton lived till Friday, Oct. 8, 1926 when she too went the way of all the earth.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Middleton: Orilla (Mrs. D. D. Paine) who died in March, 1913; L. B. Middleton of Washington, D.C.; J. C. Middleton of Eagle Grove; Mrs. Harriet Baker of San Francisco, Cal.; Mrs. Achsa Lyons of Keytesvllle, Mo.; Mrs. Grace Lyons of Rumsey, Cal.; Sam Middleton, and Mrs. Frank Shoenhair of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Mrs. Middleton is survived by seven children, thirty-eight grandchildren, and sixty-six great-grandchildren, or one hundred and eleven living descendants, also an only sister, Mrs. Clara Middleton of Gothenburg, Neb.

She has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and she has ever been a loyal Methodist in all of her thinking. She joined the local M. E. church by letter in 1888 when Rev. W. A. Black was pastor.

Mrs. Middleton with her husband experienced all the hardships and privations as well as the unusual experiences of pioneer days. She enjoyed a unique experience. She has never been sick, and never in all her life employed the services of a doctor until two years ago when she was operated upon for cataract.

She lived a long and useful life and when the clock of life began to run down she asked that she might be taken home. The last thing she said was to quote the lines of an old hymn which runs:

"I will meet you in the morning
Just inside the Eastern Gate,
And you won't have long to wait."

Funeral services were held in the M. E. church Sunday afternoon at 2:30. The services were conducted by W. G. Muhleman. Interment was made in the Rose Hill cemetery.

October 18, 1839 – October 8, 1926