TERRY, Lucy Jane - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

At the age of 102 years, Mrs. Lucy Jane Terry one of the oldest women in Indiana, passed quietly into the sleep of death at 8 o’clock Thursday evening. The life of the centenarian came to a peaceful end at the Home Hospital where she had been taken Sunday morning after a physical breakdown. Infirmities of age caused her demise. Mrs. Terry was regarded as the oldest person in the county and this section of the state and was one of the extremely few centenarians this community has ever known. For the past 30 years she had made her home with a son, Charles Terry at 421 State Street, West Lafayette. She was possessed of a remarkable physique, though small of stature and was active until a few days ago.  Her long life was marked by the absence of illness.  Last Saturday however, she suffered a breakdown and after being taken to the hospital Sunday, gradually grew weaker until the end came.  It was her lot to live during the terms of 25 presidents of the US, all of whom save three have passed on. She passed through wars ranging from petty Indian struggles to the great world conflict of 1914 to 1918. She saw the nation advance from the primitive colonial ways to the highly developed social and industrial order of the 20th century. Mrs. Terry was an active church member for 85 years. Her span of life was particularly remarkable bny reason of her good health and strong vitality and youthful spirit.  Mrs. Terry was a member of an old New England family, her ancestors having been among the first settlers in this country. She was born Nov 25, 1820 in Simsbury, Conn, the daughter of Loren and Rachael Lury Weston. Receiving her education in Connecticut, she then taught school for a number of years in her native state and in New Jersey.  In March, 1852 she was married to Charles M. Terry also of a prominent New England family and the couple went to Rochester, PA for residence where Mr. Terry conducted a pharmacy. Two years later, in 1854 the couple moved to Attica, Ind from where the family moved to Lafayette coming here in 1865, since which time Mrs. Terry had been a resident of this community.  Mr. Terry followed his profession as a druggist here and for seven years was a member of the drug firm of Terry, Jennings and Harvey which operated a pharmacy at the site of the Hub Clothing Store, Fifth and Main streets.  He retired because of ill health in 1871 and died July 4, 1893. The family lived in the city for seven years and then moved to West Lafayette.  Mrs. Terry was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 85 years and was affiliated with several of its auxiliary organizations.  She was a member of the woman’s foreign missionary society of the church from the time it was organized.  She was a charter member and the first president of this society in West Lafayette and at the time of her death was president emeritus of the local body.  Mrs. Terry was a regular attendant at its meetings until she was 99 years old, three years ago. She was active in Sunday School work for 74 years. She retained her membership in the First Methodist Church of West Lafayette until the time of her death.  Failing eyesight and hearing during the past 10 years have made it necessary for her to remain indoors a large part of the time. She insisted on doing household duties however, until she collapsed last week and busied herself daily in this manner.  Her mind was active and alert and kept abreast of the times, always manifesting interest in civic and political activities. She voted in the presidential election of 1920 a few weeks before she passed her 100th birthday.  Mrs. Terry had made many friends during her long and useful life.  Four children were born to the union, three of whom survive, as follows: Charles Terry and Mrs. Jennie Whitsel of West Lafayette and William Terry of Lafayette. Another son, Frank died some years ago.  Eight grandchildren also survive, among them Dr. OP Terry, Purdue physician. She was the last survivor of her immediate family. The body was taken to the Templeton parlors to be prepared for burial.  The funeral will be held at the West Lafayette Methodist Church Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with interment in Greenbush cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church Monday from 11:30 to 2 o’clock and may also be viewed at the undertaking parlors before that time. Mrs. Terry was a member of a family which was unique for its longevity. Two sisters died recently after passing the 80-year mark. A brother lived to be 86 and another 75.  Her mother was 75 years old at the time of her death her father died at the age of 56.