Lydia Dolby

 

LYDIA
(BROWN)
DOLBY
*
1848-1911
*

A true and faithful wife. A wonderful mother. A good Christian woman. An example for all to follow. What can be said of a woman who had so many virtues? I will let the following stories tell of her.

Lydia Dolby Obituary
Seymour, Webster Co MO
Mans life on earth, how breif, yet we, with nature, hold the high belief,
E'en When our hearts are breaking then death is, but the vital way
Darkness the shadow of the day, And sleep the door to waking.

Mrs Lydia Dolby was born at Clearfield, PA May 11 1848, she married Abraham Dolby Feb 20 1870.

After several years, they came west, seeking a new home. 8 Children, 3 boys and 5 girls, were born into the family and until the death of Bro Dolby, who died May 21 1903 death had not invaded the home. Mrs Lydia Dolby remained his widow. Until the reaper whose name is death gathered her life, and wafted her immortal spirit home to the haven of rest.

Mrs Dolby was converted at the age of 14 , was a member of the M E Church of Seymour. During her sickness the most of the children were at her bedside. The other children lived at too great a distance to be there for the funeral services. Death came to her Thursday Morning at 3:00 AM May 25 1911 aged 63 years and 14 days.

The funeral services were conducted by the Pastor of the M E Church, Friday Morning at 11: 00 AM Interment was made in Seymour Cemetery
Signed: Pastor

(Sallie Love, a friend of Orah Dolby wrote this letter to Orah upon the death of her mother. It is a beautiful tribute to a Mother.)

Springfield, Mo.
June 2, 1911

Dear Miss Dolby:

The black bordered envelope containing the news of your Mother's death came this morning and I hasten to write you a few lines to say, "I feel the loss of a Friend in your Mothers going away, and truely sympathize with you, for you have indeed been bereft."

I see your Mothers name was Lydia which stands for good works. And most truely did your Mother weave into her daily life the virtures for which this name stands.

I met your mother when she first came to Missouri. She was at that time a young woman, with a kindly winsome face that would attract attention in any gathering. She was modest and retireing at first acquaintance, but when one came to know her she was social and took a kindly interest in everything that tended toward culture or the improvment of the people. She had high and pure ideals of what she thought people ought to be. And I am sure she labored with all diligence to inspire her children to live nobly. These influences are left behind as the sweet incense of her Godly life. You, her sons and daughters will feel this more and more as the years go by, for a life such as hers lives on in precept, in teaching and in influence that only eternity may reveal. You were fortunate in having had such a good woman to watch over you in childhood and later, to advise and counsel you for so many years, But the years grew heavy with time and the nimble body so full of life and activity grew tired of carrying the burden of life, and she would have rested beside the still waters, and dreamed of the eternal City, whose builder and maker is God.

With an eye of faith she saw the future, with listening ear she heard the command, "Come up higher," and her spirit took its flight to be with the loved ones gone before. " She is not dead but sleepeth." Her children have much to encourage them to follow in her foot-steps. God grant them grace and faith to do this, is the prayer of one who knew and loved her for her splendid traits of character.

Mr. Love joins me in sympathy and kind regard to each of your family.
Sincerely, Sallie Love.

(Orah Catherine Dolby wrote the following about 2 years after the death of her mother)

LYDIA BROWN DOLBY - Born in PA May 11 1848 Died at the Home Farm near Seymour MO May 25, 1911.

She was the Mother of nine children, eight lived. Three Boys and Five Girls. Children never had a better mother. So kind, So gentle, so generous, so unselfish, so patient. Honest, quiet, hard working, good Christian. Never very strong but never complained. Always busy doing her full share and if I could only have known Mamma and known myself as I do now. I feel I might have made her life easier and happier and my own life county for more. I feel now I ought to have and now I wish I had gone home when Papa left us to have been a help and comfort if possible my sisters and brothers.

These two years since Mamma went away I see life so differently and how lonely I have been. How sorry I am that I missed all those years with my Dear Little Mamma, Sisters and Brothers. I feel that we might have been so much to each other and what a help to me to have had mammas love, sympathy, instruction and advice. I feel I could have been a better woman. But I thought I was doing right by staying here helping myself and helping Mamma with a little money.

Dctor Farnsworth and Dexter were all so kind and good to me. They were all so kind, so considerate of me, so thoughtful for my happiness, that I did not realize what I was missing by being away from my own home and people until I lost my loving Mother and home. Then I seemed to loose their friendship. No one can ever know how it hurt me, how it crushed the very life and spirit out of me. To feel that I was loosing the friendship of such good people. People that I had loved as I have always loved them. I did try to hard to please them all. To do my very best. I gave up everything to try to help and please them. I did so want their respect. Wanted them to care a little if possible for me. What could I have done to change them so. For all those ten years they seemed to care and were so kind and thoughtful of me. I care so much for them it cuts so deep to have feel as they seem to. If they could only forgive whatever it is. I am so sorry.

Because of this, it makes me miss Mamma so much. If I only had mamma at home to do for, to love and take an interest in. And mamma dear to love and to love me. I starve for love. When mamma came to die, she told us to be good and good to one another. I am trying in my own way to do as she said. How I want her here, to be good too. When I go to town I see so many things I want to get for her. I think now of so many, many ways I might be good to her, if I only had her now. May 12, 1913 was Mothers Day, also my Mothers Birthday. I wore Panseys for her. She would have been sixty five and how I miss her every hour of my life.