Lucy Ann (Preston) Scovill (1822-1914) Obituary

OLDEST WOMAN VOTER IS DEAD
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MRS. LUCY A, SCOVILL PASSES AWAY, DEATH RESULTING FROM INJURY
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FRACTURED HIP IN FALL
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Had Made Rockford Her Home for Over Half a Century - Funeral Service to Be Monday
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Mrs. Lucy A. Scovill, Rockford's oldest woman voter at the township election last April and a resident of this city for more that a half century, died this morning at 12:30 o'clock at the home of her son H.F. Scovill, 1044 Peach Street.

Mrs. Scovill's death was directly due to an accident sustained on the morning of Memorial Day. Mrs. Scovill had prepared to attend the exercises of the day when she fell at the home, sustaining a fracture of one hip.

In her old age the injury and shock proved too great for her to combat and she had been sinking gradually all week.

Lucy Ann Preston was born in Camden, Oneida County, New York, Nov. 13, 1822. She was married in 1847 to Stephen J. Scovill and in 1854 they came west, settling in Ogle County, where the family resided until 1862, when they came to Rockford, this city having been her home since.

Mr. Scovill passed away 37 years ago last April, and since that time Mrs. Scovill had been making her home with her son, Hector F. Scovill. Surviving are four children, one son and three daughters; Hector F. Scovill, Mrs. George Waddell, Mrs. Marie L. Irons and Mrs. Mary E, Bickford, all of Rockford, and three step-children, Henry T. Scovill, of Evanston; Homer W. Scovill, of Los Angeles; and Mrs. Mable R. Gray, of Rockford. The late Horace C. Scovill, City Clerk of Rockford for many years, was a step-son. Hiram Scovill, who lived in Byron, and Mrs. Thomas Leake, who resided in Dixon, both of whom are dead, were also step-children.

Mrs. Scovill had a sweet, lovable disposition, her only aim being an unselfish desire to live for the good of others and her life was spent in that way. She was keenly interested in civic affairs of the day and one of the proudest days of her life was on April 7, last when she cast her first and as it chanced to be her last, vote in the eighth precinct of the Fourth Ward. She was the oldest woman in Rockford and one of the few over 90 years in Illinois to vote in the election.

She was an earnest and consistent Christian, converted in her childhood. She first became a member of the Congregational Church but was enrolled under the Methodist faith after coming west. She had been a member of Centennial Church of this city since its organization and took deep interest in the work of that congregation.

Mrs. Scovill was one of a family of five generations, the youngest of the five being William Stewart Scovill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram T. Scovill, of Champaign, Ill. Mrs. W.W. Bennett, wife of Mayor Bennett, is a granddaughter of Mrs. Scovill.

The funeral service will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home, 1044 Peach Street.

Rockford Daily Register Gazette
Rockford, Illinois
Saturday, June 6, 1914
Page 1

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