LINDLEY, Sarah Woody
Source: An obituary, written by her brother, Levi Woody and read at the funeral services by his son, W.B. Woody
Sarah Woody Lindley was born September 28, 1843. Died at 9:00 p.m., March 29, 1926; age 82 years, 6 months, and 1 day. She was the third daughter and seventh child in a family of 10 children - five boys and five girls - of James and Margaret Hall Woody and last survivor of the girls, leaving behind only two brothers, Lot L of Berkeley, Calif and Levi of this county. All of her brothers and sisters, except he two oldest - Jehu and John - were born on the farm now owned and occupied by Frank Maris, in Liberty Township, Parke County, Indiana. All lived there until maturity, except sister Jane who died when 5 years of age. Starting in life in the beginning of the more than four score years ago, most of the conveniences of today were undeveloped and scarcely thought of - hence had to use and be used by, crude conditions that would be disheartening now. All, or largely so, of the clothing for the family was made at home, and most of it from cloth woven on hand and treddle looms in the home. With a wonderful and efficient Mother and governor, she was early assigned her part in varied tasks that the needs of such a household demand. She played well her part and in the childhood and girlhood days had her full share in its many pleasures and pastimes. What schooling she obtained, which was a fair knowledge of the common school course in the Rush Creek school of that time, was gained after she had walked two miles each morning and two miles home each evening with no gravel roads and no bridges across streams. But by real experience in Life's rugged school she obtained an efficient knowledge of home work, that served her well when the responsibilities of a home of her own came to her. This began December 4, 1862 when she was united in marriage with George Maris Lindley, her first lover; and by whom she bore 10 children - all of whom are living except one son, John Milton who died February 13, 1873; and two daughters, Lydia Jane who died March 9, 1899, and Anna V who died November 1, 1908. They occupied the 160 acres of land that George inherited from his father and on which they built a good home - where all the children grew to manhood and womanhood and went out from to found homes of their own. Her husband died August 18, 1900 and after a time of trial conducting a widow's farm she decided to sell her farm and move to town. This she did, buying a home in Kingman in which she lived until she had an attack of the flu, when she was cared for at the home of her son, Miles J. Afterwards, during her last sickness she was at the home of her son, Lot where she died. She and George each were members of the Friends Church by birthright, but neither one took any apparent special interest in church work until the Great Revival of 1868 that occurred at Rush Creek and spread to all the Friends and many other churches of the entire country. She entered very earnestly into the Spiritual life at that time and has ever since maintained a very special belief in genuine Spiritual work and was placed on the Records of the Church in which it acknowledged her gift as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ. She held very marked and conscious views and understandings of Gospel Truth as declared in the Scriptures - and for the belief of which she was willing to suffer. She loved her children and to the best light granted her labored and earnestly prayed for their temporal and Spiritual blessings. She saw her children converted - some active in church work, others silent believers, and one son, Paul in the active service of the preaching of the Gospeal (and a soul winner) which gave her much comfort of soul. And so her Book of Life closes; and leaves forever fixed its record only to be known and read by the aid of memory - which will come in after years as a benediction to her loved ones in times of trial. She leaves five sons, two daughter, 19 grandchildren, nien great grandchildren, two brothers and many relatives and friends. All of her children were able to be present with her during the last hours of her life. She had made her own arrangements for funeral services requesting that her son, Paul preach her funeral but owning to illness he was unable to attend the services which were conducted from the Rush Creek Church Thursday morning April 1, 1926. They were in charge of Rev. Noah Dixon of the Friends church assisted by Rev. H.a. Lashbrook of the Kingman UB Church. Interment in the Rush Creek cemetery. -- kbz
