Mount Morris Index (Mount Morris, Illinois) November 29, 1923

Mrs. Lydia Coffman

Many Mount Morris people were grieved to learn last Saturday morning of the death of Mrs. Lydia Coffman, mother of Oliver Coffman of this place, whose home was in Polo.

Mrs. Coffman had been in failing health for some time and death had been expected for some time. She was a sister of Mrs. D. W. Young and Mrs. George Young of this place and was known by many residents of our town as being a kindly lady with a ready smile for all those with whom she came into contact.

Lydia Wagner Coffman, the daughter of Joseph and Susan Schecter Wagner, was born July 6, 1844 in Oregon Township and departed this life at the home of her grand-daughter, Mrs. Perley Brenner, at Polo Saturday morning, November 24, 1923, at the age of 79 years, 4 months and 18 days. She was the fourth of a family of thirteen children, ten of whom have preceded her across the silent river called Death, while three, Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Young and Mary Ellen Young of Mount Morris and Albert Clinton Wagner of Fairbury, Nebraska, live to mourn her death.

On February 21, 1864, she was married to Harrison Coffman at the old home one mile west of Oregon and then moved to three miles northeast of Polo where she resided until 1899, when she and Mr. Coffman moved to Polo. Here they lived in their own home until the death of Mr. Coffman, five years ago, for which time she made her home with her granddaughter whom she raised from infancy.

The deceased was the mother of five children, four boys and one girl, the daughter Mrs. Lillie Arnold, having preceded her in death. There remains to follow her to the land Beyond, her four sons; Oliver, Mount Morris, Archer J., Albert C. and Fayette H., all of Polo; two sisters, one brother, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren, besides a host of friends.

At the age of sixteen, upon hearing the Gospel preached, she was united with her Lord in baptism in Bork River and since that time she remained a member of the Christian Church, from which church funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon, the pastor, Rev. David P. Morris officiating and she was laid to rest in Fairmount Cemetery by the side of her husband.

Contributed by Jane Edson

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