Mrs. Lydia Chapman Stillman, wife of Maxson Stillman, died at the old homestead in Alfred, N. Y., Friday morning, April 24, 1891, aged 87 years, 7 months and 1 day.
She was born in East Hampton, Mass., Sept. 23, 1803; was married to Maxson Stillman Sept., 26, 1822, and came to Alfred, from Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1824, when the country was new, where, with her husband, she endured the toils and privations of a pioneer life, having lived on or near the farm where she died nearly sixty-seven years.
To this couple were born two sons and four daughters. Three of these - Mary A., Hannah E., wife of Eld. Stephen Burdick, L. Elvira, wife of Prof. H. C. Coon - have gone before to their rest. The other three, - Prof. J. M., Chester B., Hattie L. Stillman, and an adopted daughter, Anna - together with the aged husband, with whom she had lived nearly sixty-nine years, remain, with many friends, to mourn her loss.
Mrs. Stillman was a woman of rare virtues, prominent among which was her unselfishness, ever striving to help others and to add to their comfort; and her conscientiousness, which made her rule her life by her own stern ideals of right and duty. Her church home was the First Alfred Church, where her delight was, when able, to meet and worship with the children of God.
The funeral services were held at the residence of Prof. H. C. Coon, Sunday afternoon, and were conducted by Rev. Dr. Williams, assisted by Rev. Dr. Maxson. H. C. C.
