Person:Abigail Lamb (6)

When the spirit of Mrs. Abigail Dugger was called home Saturday morning at 8:30 o'clock, Bloomfield lost one of its most useful women. For almost forty years this had been her home and during all these years her constant aim had been to scatter sunshine, to assist those who were in trouble or in need and to bring happiness to her home and her friends.

Saturday morning, December 19, she was in her usual health, and while going about her household duties she slipped on the ice at a rear door of her home and fell backwards in such a manner as to break her right limb at the hip joint and caused other injuries. From the results of this fall she never recovered. Her improvement was very slow, but after many weeks she was able to be lifted from her bed to a chair, where she spent some time each day for a few weeks. Although she had gained this much ground other complications arose. Pneumonia developed and for many days she was dangerously ill but she seemed to get rid of the fever and hopes for her recovery were again entertained by her friends. But all these troubles were writing a pitiful story; her vigorous constitution was undermined; her power of resistance was gone; her will power was shattered. Unable any longer to retain sufficient nourishment she gradually declined from exhaustion and early in the week it became apparent that the end was near. After Thursday she was no longer conscious, and Saturday morning just before the dawn, after fourteen weeks of suffering, Death came to her relief and all that was mortal returned to dust, and her spirit returned to God who gave it.

Her maiden name was Lamb and she was born August 8, 1841, in Jackson township this county; died March 26, 1904, aged 62 years, 7 months, 18 days. Her parents, John W. and Patsey (Green) Lamb were natives of North Carolina, who came to Indiana in 1835 and three years later settled in Jackson township. Many years later, in their old age they removed to Bloomfield to spend the remainder of their days with their daughter, Mrs. Dugger and each died at a ripe old age, the father in 1889 and mother in 1899. Nor were these the only ones who from time to time made her home their home. During her lifetime scores, perhaps hundreds, of relatives and friends found a home under her hospitable roof—many for only a few weeks, some for a few months, and some for years. Since 1872 Mrs. Nora A. (Lamb) Maddock had made her home with Mrs. Dugger, her aunt, as had also Robert B. Richeson since 1888.

She was one of a family of seven children—four girls and three boys—and she is survived by all of her brothers and sisters, who are Hiram Lamb and Calvin Lamb, Owensburg; Mrs. James (Elizabeth) McDowell, Springville; Mrs. Matilda Hatfield, Mrs. Rachel Gilliland and John T. Lamb, Bloomfield. She comes of a long-lived family and doubtless had she not met with the accident she would have been spared yet for many years of usefulness.

She was united in marriage November 2, 1865 to Francis M. Dugger, the sweetheart of her youth whose homecoming she had patiently and anxiously awaited while for almost four years he bravely helped to fight the battles of his country in order that the Union might be preserved. She and her husband moved to Bloomfield in 1866, when the latter was first elected county sheriff and here she made her home almost continuously till the time of her death.

In 1859, while in the bloom of young womanhood, she obeyed Christ, uniting with the old Church of Christ congregation at Bethel, near the place of her birth. She was one of the thirteen charter members of the Bloomfield Christian church, which was organized December 26, 1874. Her Christian life as well as her home life was beautiful and was an inspiration to all who knew her. For faithfulness in attending the services of the church she was a model She was always in her place unless sickness or something entirely beyond her control prevented. In almost every department of church work she took an active interest, devoted much of her time to the work and contributed liberally of her means. Much demonstration was not hers, for she was unassuming and in all things her tastes and habits were very plain, but her faith in the Savior was of the kind that abides and sustains to the uttermost. In her home she was always cheerful, thoughtful of the comfort of others, kind and generous. In largeness of heart none surpassed her. Ministering to others was her peculiar delight. No one ever asked for bread and turned away hungry from her door, and she was never happier than when entertaining her friends.

The attachment which she held for her husband was unusually strong. To him and to his interest she was thoroughly devoted. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereft companion, left alone, and to the brothers and sisters and to the other relatives some of whom by close association were passionately fond of her. She was a true and noble woman, and though gone, her influence will abide. It is a great comfort in her family to know that the community is better for her having lived in it, and that she was prepared to enter into the life immortal.

The funeral services were in keeping with her life—plain and simple, and were held from the family residence at two o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by her former pastor, Rev. B. M. Blount, of Irvington, assisted by Rev. L. F. Drash. The large assemblage of friends and the wealth of floral offerings were farewell tokens of the esteem in which she was held. She will long be missed and none can fill her place. All that was mortal was tenderly laid to rest in Bloomfield cemetery to await the Resurrection morn.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Greene, Indiana, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432)
   p. 301B.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Find A Grave.

   Find a Grave

3.   Greene County, Indiana. The Bloomfield News. (Bloomfield, Indiana)
   [unknown date].