Forgotten Angel: The Story of Lydia Moss Bradley

January 12 Failing fast. Comatose condition, pulse very irregular—evidence of a dropsical condition arose with swelling of feet and limbs. With this new ailment, pain increased tenfold, making last hours terrible beyond description. Yet remains calm and even has a sense of humor. Tells nurse, “Katie, just take me and throw me out under the old elm tree. I’m not good for anything any more.”

January 14 Comatose condition. Mumbles incoherently at times. Throat is such that she cannot take nourishment.

Unconscious for last 24 hours. Sunday night, heard to say, “Why don’t they let me die?” Suffering worst at night. Swelling suddenly left feet and limbs and considered bad omen by physicians. Now giving heart stimulants and opiates to relieve pain.

January 16 Rallied slightly. Hammond called on her in early a.m. Lydia unable to talk but as he left the room he heard her mutter, “good-bye.” Lydia dies at 7:15 a.m.

There was no problem with funeral arrangements.

Lydia had made all preparations months before, asking that the services be held at her home and that her remains be buried in Springdale Cemetery beside Tobias in the family plot that held the remains of her father, mother, Laura, the five other children and the children of William Moss.

Lydia was the last “real” daughter (first generation descendant) of a Revolutionary War soldier in the Central Illinois area. Records of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C. record one Annie Knight Gregory as the last real daughter in the nation at the time of her death in 1943.

Later that year, in July, Lydia’s home on Moss Avenue was sold to Jacob Schnellbacher for $14,000.

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