Lombard Esther01

Waupaca Paper

November 12, 1903

Mrs. L.A. Lombard

Esther Ann Cooledge, daughter of Oliver and Mary Cooledge, was born in Plymouth, Vt., on the 13^th day of August, 1835. Her parents were Methodists, her father’s home being a stopping place for Methodist preachers. She, in her girlhood days, joined the Congregational church and for years sang in the choir.

On the 3^rd day of March, 1855, she was married to Walter W. Purves.

Of this union four children were born: Mary L., Ida S., Arthur F., and Willie. Of these four children, two, Ida and Willie, died in infancy. Mary L., when she was sixteen years old; the fourth, Arthur F., now resides in Viola, Minn. Mr. Purves enlisted when the rebellion broke out, in the Union army, and died in the hospital at Paducah, Ky., early in the war.

On the 10^th of December, 1863, she married Lemuel A. Lombard and came to live on the farm near Waupaca and to care for his children and for her own babies. Of this latter union six children were born, five girls and one boy. Of these, one, a girl, died when but five days old. The others survive the mother: George A., who lives at Big Falls; Lillian B. Perry, of Oakfield; Jennie E. Peterson of Wausau; Hattie T. Hall of Crystal Lake, and Jessie R., who stayed at home and took care of her mother.

Mrs. Lombard has been in poor health for a number of months, the action of her heart being very irregular, but had not complained of feeling any worse of late. She retired on Friday night much relieved in her mind because of the completion of some repairs in the house saying, “Now, Jessie, we can be comfortable.” A few minutes later she said, “I am hungry.” Jessie offered to get her a lunch but she refused, so she arose, went down stairs, ate a light lunch and again retired. In a few moments she heard one of her children cough, and true to her mother instinct, she arose again, saying, “I am going to get George some cough medicine.” After attending to this she again retired and in a few minutes Jessie said, “Mother, you are breathing hard. Do you feel worse?” “I don’t feel very badly, yet,” was the reply but in fifteen minutes she was gone.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon from the home, Rev. Geo. W. White officiating, with interment at Lakeside cemetery.