Died in Oklahoma

  Nancy Lane Appleby, one of the oldest women in Oklahoma died at the home of her son-in-law, W.N.C.C.A. Fox at Sedan, on Thursday, April 15, 1909.

  Grandma Appleby was born in Roan county, Tennessee, February 4, 1818 and was 91 years old at the time of her death.  She was married to Amon Bond, May 29, 1834.  He died from an accidental gunshot wound in the spring of 1837, leaving her a widow with two small children, after which she immigrated to Polk county, Missouri.

  She was married to James Appleby April 9, 1840 near where the town of Morrisville is now located.  They lived in this community until he died, April 21, 1869; so for forty years she had lived a widow.  While she kept her home she managed her affairs in a judicial manner, but as age poor health were telling on her and her children all married, she finally broke up housekeeping, sold the old farm place and made her home with her children.  Since 1885, she had lived alternately with Maggie Mitchell of Utopia, Kansas and Amanda Fox of Sedan, Oklahoma, yet she was greatly attached to Polk county, so long her home, and too the Bolivar Free Press as long as she could read and was always anxious for the paper to arrive that she might hear the old home news, and since she became so blind she could not read at all she was still anxious to hear what was in the home paper.

  Her children living are:  Jane McKnight, Wishart, MO.; W. R. (Wm. Robert) Appleby, Hamilton, Kansas; Jemima Anderson, Morrisville, MO.; Amanda Fox, Sedan, Oklahoma; J. M. (James Matthew) Appleby, Mountain View, Okla.; E. A. (Eagleton Argyle) Appleby,Grenola, Kansas; Maggie (Margaret Isabel) Mitchell, Utopia, Kansas;  Sintha (Synthia Orlean) Brower, Springfield, Mo.

  Among her descendents now living are 8 children, 99 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren.  Her oldest daughter is 74 years old and the youngest 52 years old.

  The deceased had little chance in getting an education but became a great reader and was a very interesting talker.  In her late years he was fond of describing the conditions of the country before the war and it was a great privilege to her friends and relatives to listen to her descriptions of scenes witnessed by so few people now living.  She was converted at an early age and joined the Presbyterian church and during her long life was ever a faithful and consistent member.  She used to say that in her childhood she never attended Sunday school but once, yet it had been a help to her all through life.  She was of a modest and retiring disposition, with a kindly heart and ever ready to help wherever needed.  She was a true mother to her large family and to the last was comforted by the fact that she had done her best to set before her children the highest ideals.

  Her home during the last months of her life was at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fox.  Everything possible was done to make her last days pleasant.  She suffered greatly but bore it all with a patient spirit, trusting in Christ on whom she leaned until the last.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Simon Keron of the M. E. Church assisted by the Rev. J. G. Harshaw. district superintendent.  It was a beautiful and impressive service.  She was laid away in Elmwood Cemetery (nr. Mt. View, Oklahoma) to await, the resurrection of the just.  J.G.H.

(Appleby Heritage note: text within parenthesis added by Appleby Heritage).