| Notes |
- Chariton Leader, June 21, 1906
Lydia Jane Werts Rockey was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, on April 11, 1850. When she was five years old she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Werts, to Lucas County, Iowa. At the age of twelve she united with the Presbyterian Church, then just organizing in Russell, remaining a faithful member until her death. She was united in marriage to Philip A. Rockey on March 14, 1883. Two children were born to them, a daughter, Myrtle, who survives, and Geo. Werts, who died at the age of eight months. About two years ago Mrs. Rockey became ill, and the trouble being her lungs, it was deemed wise to try a change of climate. With her husband and daughter, she spent almost a year in travel through the south and west, returning home last September. The last months of her life were spent among relatives and friends, who ministered to her gladly. She live in Christian life more sweetly than, when in greatest suffering, never complaining or growing discouraged, trying always to ask as little services of those attending to her as possible. Death came to reliever her at near 8 o'clock on the morning of June 14, 1906. She leaves besides her husband, and daughter, a mother, six brothers and three sisters. To those who are nearest her, she has left a memory that is great comfort in sorrow. In her home she was always a gentle and most kind wife and mother and her influence spread abroad was such that she never knew an enemy. Funeral services were held from the Presbyterian Church, Saturday at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. McGaughey. Words fail to express one's sentiments in a case of this kind and they seem but a repetition of what has been said thousands of times before, for death always appears in many ways the same grim monster, but this aspect should not be so forbidding and terrifying when, as in the case of the one who succumbs in prepared to go and dies calm in the faith of the Savior.
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From the book: The John Jackson and Esther Ann Werts Family History, compiled by Philip W. Allen, 1994
Lydia was born on the farm of her parents. Janie was the name used throughout her life. She was five years old when the family move to Iowa where Janie and her brothers and sisters attended Ragtown school. On March 14, 1883 she married Philip A. Rockey, a banker at Russell. In only a few years, Janie developed a cough that did not respond to treatment and before long she was losing weight rapidly and was very weak. The diagnosis was tuberculosis, called 'consumption' in those days because it seemed to consume the body. The only treatment known for the disease was fresh air and a warm climate. Elizabeth Allen Harling remembers as a small girl visiting Aunt Janie with her mother Mabel Werts Allen when Aunt Janie was in bed in a tent set up close to the front porch of the Werts house in Russell. Elizabeth was put on a chair just inside by the door of the big tent and her mother sat and visited by Janie
s side farther inside the tent.
There is a collection of letters, the first written on November 14, 1904 from Janie to her sister Mabel. It tells of the train trip taken by Janie and her mother Esther Ann to El Paso, Texas, where she was met by Mr. Harry Larimer. The train was more than seven hours late, causing them to arrive at 1:30 in the morning. Mr. Larimer waited for them and took them to a boarding house nearby. The next day they found a more suitable place where they could do some cooking. Janie had periods of severe illness and said in a letter they were very blue and homesick and were anxious for Philip and Myrtle to come. Myrtle was at school at Simpson College studying music, especially piano. By April 25, 1905 Esther Ann wrote that Philip had arrived, and they had all moved to National City, CA, where he had found a job hauling 'one thing and another'. Janie s Aunt Lydia McCurdy was there also, to keep Janie company. Esther Ann was going home the first of May. Myrtle went to be with her mother when school was out and wrote on May 29, 1905 that she was taking piano lessons there in National City. The last letter from California was written August 23, 1905 by Myrtle and told of her Aunt Lydia going to San Diego to purchase new clothes. She bought a black voile dress and planned to have a dressmaker nearby make a jacket to go with the dress.
Janie could not be left alone. She would have severe chills followed by a high fever and was very weak. They must have brought her home after that letter was written and she died June 14, 1906 in Russell where she was buried.
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1859 - 1906
