Obituary for Mrs. Isabella Saville Williams (1819-1899)
The Troy Free Press, Troy, MO, 24 March, 1899, page 8, column 2.
Mrs. Isabella WILLIAMS.
Mrs. Isabella WILLIAMS (nee SAVILLE, a family name dating back through a long line of
noble ancestry), was born in Manchester, England, Oct. 23, 1819. When she was six years of
age her father with his family came American [sic] and located in Philadelphia.
She was married in Philadelphia to Robert WILLIAMS and in 1868 Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS moved
to Troy, where their genial, kindly ways and wide-open, hospitable doors soon won for them
a host of friends. After the death of her husband, some 12 years ago, Mrs. WILLIAMS moved
to Lebanon, Mo., where she made a beautiful home near her daughter, Mrs. Wm. D. NOEL.
Here, with occasional visits to her son, Chas. WILLIAMS and family, and other friends in
Troy, she lived until her death on the evening of March 15.
Mrs. WILLIAMS was reared in the Episcopal church and from infancy lived in its communion a
faithful, conscientious Christian life. After brief funeral services at her home in
Lebanon, her body, accompanied by her immediate relatives and a number of friends, was
brought to Troy for interment. Funeral services conducted by Rev. C.W. LATHAM were held in
the Presbyterian church last Sunday morning, after which all that was earthly of a mother
in Israel was laid to rest in the cemetery. The pallbearers were B.W. WHEELER, P.G.
SHELTON, J.M. MCLELLAN, J.A. JACKSON, T.W. WITHROW and L.J. HENRY.
Mrs. WILLIAMS was a woman of fine financial abilities and a lover of all things beautiful.
She built a lovely home in Lebanon with a large conservatory attached and well kept
grounds, all blooming and fragrant with flowers. Here, as always, she lived a sweet,
unobtrusive life, "full of good works and alms-deeds which she did," whether she
stood in her garden as was her wont and dispensed flowers to the school children as they
passed, or visited the sick with words of cheer and delicacies prepared by her own hand,
or fashioned a garment for love's sweet sake, or gave of her abundance to those who were
in need. As she lived, so she died, a beautiful Christian death, calmly and quietly
awaiting the end, in the full possession of her mental faculties until the last moment.
There was no regret or shrinking back, only a loving farewell to the dear ones around her
bedside and a message to absent friends. "I cannot call their names," she said,
"but bid them all good-bye." Then with a joyous turning from earth and earthly
things, she lifted her quivering eyelids and reaching out her arms murmured, "Yes,
Father, I'm coming," and a moment after fell asleep.
Thus died a Christian, and although those who watched beside her bed could not see the
unfolding of the doors, they knew without a doubt that her pure spirit freed from the
trappings of earth had found its perfect rest. E.W.
File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Robert W. Taylor, 23 December, 2001.
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