February 19, 1916
Another old and esteemed resident of the Percival neighborhood has been gather to his fathers.
Vincent W. Lord died at this home three and one-half miles southeast of Percival, on Saturday, February 19, aged 66 years and one month. He was born in Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, January 20, 1850. He came west with his widowed mother when he was 16 years of age and located on what is known as the Dr. Blanchard farm. Here he lived the rest of his life, with the exception of a short period of the time spent in Nebraska.
He was maried to Rosa L. Keyser, February 2, 1873, at church at the Ricketts schoolhouse, by Rev. Monroe. To this union eight children were born, seven sons and one daughter: James Franklin, George Russell, Emmet Eugene, Sturgis Adolphus, Charles Allen, Eleanor Jane and William Burton. All were married but the youngest son, and all live here except one son, Sturgis, of Grindstone, South Dakota.
Mr. Lord was identified with the up building of the southwestern part of Fremont County, and held various offices of trust. He was a man of noble principles and morality. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school at the Ricketts' schoolhouse for nine years, and filled the office faithfully. He resigned this office last December on account of ill health and was never able to attend afterward. He was a man very much devoted to his wife and family. For the past five years his health had been failing, but he was bedfast only two weeks.
Sometime after coming to this locality Mr. Lord's mother married Dr. I. D. Blanchard, one of the hsitorical figures in early Fremont county annals. Mr. Blanchard was an old friend of John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame, or notoriety. The Blanchard home near the present town of Percival was one of the stations on Brown's "Underground railroad" and he and the fugitive slaves en route to Canada found refuge and protection there. Dr. Blanchard knew of Brown's intended raid of Harper's Ferry and plainly foreseeing what the outcome would be, vainly tried to dissuade him from his wild design. Dr. Blanchard was also a sort of patron saint to Fred Lehmann when he drifted into Fremont county, a homeless boy.
Mr. Lord, besides many friends, leaves a wife, eight children, nine grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Ella McCann, of Stockton, Kansas.
The remains were laid to rest in the Blanchard cemetery last Sunday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. H. M. Strong, pastor of the M.E. Church of Thurman. A very impressive open air service was held at the grave. A large assemblage had already gathered when the minister arrived. The day was ideal and the hour will not soon be forgotten.
Information & Photos submitted by Robert Allen Lord - February 2010
