26 June 2010

Obituary--Mrs Lovilla B Martin

An obituary of another pioneer, died at the age of 97. What a life she appears to have led. Makes one wish you could sit down and chat with her about the changes she saw in her lifetime.

From the 23 October 1913 Fremont Times-Indicator:

Mrs Lovilla B. Martin

Mrs. Lovilla B. Herkimer Martin, (lovingly called Grandma martin by the entire community), was born in the town and county of Otsego, New York, May 20, 1816. She began teaching school at the age of sixteen years and continued in that work until she was twenty-six, when on November 17, 1832 she was married to William S. Martin. In 2852 them moved to Clinton, Lenawee county, this state, where she taught in a young ladies' seminary. From here they moved to Newaygo in 1855 and one year later to what was then a very sparsely settled wilderness in Dayton township.
Mrs Martin taughte her last term of school in the district where she resided at the age of fifty three. She lived on the farm in Dayton continuously until the death of her husband twenty years ago, when she came to Fremont to live. The last few years of her life she divided her time among her children. The last two years were spent with her son, Mike, and family. And here she passed from her long earthly pilgrimage, to the city that hath foundations, October 15, 1913, at the age of 97 years.
Three of her children survive her: George H., late of Dayton township, but nowNorth Dam, Oregon; Mrs Helen M. Upton of Thompsonville, and Michael D., of this city.
Eleven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren, together with scores of other relatives and friends mourn their loss. The funeral services were held last Friday afternoon from the home of her son, M. Martin, and were conducted by Rev. R. W. Paul, Interment in the Evans cemetery.

Such a full life she lived! I always love the mini-sermons these obituary writers snuck in: "to the city that hath foundations". These quotes and phrases were so common then in the obituaries. Today's obituary writers could learn a thing or two from these earlier writers.

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