Lydia was the daughter of Lucius and Tryphena (Fisher) Read. The home of Lucius Read, abolitionist, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Slaves were secreted in the basement of the barn and then taken north hidden under canvas covered wagons. Much of the information of the underground railroad is attributed to Lydia. She became editor of The Byron Express from 1899-1912. In speaking of the newspapers policy, she is reputed to have said it was strictly Republican, because what else could be expected of anyone brought up on the underground railroad. Lydia remembered passengers arriving at night. She said the last group through Ogle County came through Byron in 1862. There were 13 on a bobsled covered with hay. Source: The Byron Museum District.
Lydia married William F. Artz, physician and druggist of Byron on 19 Feb 1874. Together they had two sons, William Thomas Artz born 15 Nov 1874 and Rodney Artz who died in 1879.
BYRON'S OLDEST NATIVE RESIDENT IS DEAD AT 80
Fall Injuries Fatal to Mrs. Lydia Artz
(Special to the Register-Gazette)
Byron, April 22, Mrs. Lydia Artz, 80, Byron's oldest native resident, died at the home of her son, William, Sunday after an illness of six months which followed injuries sustained when she fell and broke her hip.
Mrs. Artz was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lucious Reed, pioneer residents of this section and was born in the historic "brick house" here said to have been used during the Civil War as an "underground station" for refugee slaves.
She attended local schools and was graduated from Byron high school in 1868, with the second class to receive diplomas. There are only two other members of this class still surviving.
In 1874 she was married to Dr. William Franklin Artz, a Civil war veteran who died five years later.
Two children were born to them. William and Rodney, the latter dying in 1879. The son William and ten grandchildren survive.
Following the death of her husband, who operated a drug store here in addition to carrying on a general practice, Mrs. Artz remained in charge of the business for more than 19 years.
In 1898 she purchased the Byron Express, local weekly, and acted as its editor until it was sold to its present owners, Albert L. Hall & company, in 1911, since which time she and her son William have resided on a farm tract north of Byron.
Mrs. Artz affiliated with the Congregational church here in early girlhood and had always been prominent in all its activities. She was also a member of the W. R. C. and of several local literary clubs.
As editor of the local weekly she proved a tireless worker in community improvement projects. A clever writer, she interspersed a bit of humor in all of her articles that added interest to their perusal. Long after she had disposed of her interest in the paper she was a constant contributor to its columns.
Her remarkable memory was demonstrated on dozens of occasions when she addressed alumni meetings and other gatherings on her reminiscences. As a friend and advisor to younger persons in the vicinity, she will be remembered always.
Funeral services are to be held at the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Leland Porter, officiating. Burial will be at Byron cemetery.
(Daily Register-Gazette, Rockford, IL., Mon., Apr. 22, 1929, pg. 1 and 22)
Lydia married William F. Artz, physician and druggist of Byron on 19 Feb 1874. Together they had two sons, William Thomas Artz born 15 Nov 1874 and Rodney Artz who died in 1879.
BYRON'S OLDEST NATIVE RESIDENT IS DEAD AT 80
Fall Injuries Fatal to Mrs. Lydia Artz
(Special to the Register-Gazette)
Byron, April 22, Mrs. Lydia Artz, 80, Byron's oldest native resident, died at the home of her son, William, Sunday after an illness of six months which followed injuries sustained when she fell and broke her hip.
Mrs. Artz was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lucious Reed, pioneer residents of this section and was born in the historic "brick house" here said to have been used during the Civil War as an "underground station" for refugee slaves.
She attended local schools and was graduated from Byron high school in 1868, with the second class to receive diplomas. There are only two other members of this class still surviving.
In 1874 she was married to Dr. William Franklin Artz, a Civil war veteran who died five years later.
Two children were born to them. William and Rodney, the latter dying in 1879. The son William and ten grandchildren survive.
Following the death of her husband, who operated a drug store here in addition to carrying on a general practice, Mrs. Artz remained in charge of the business for more than 19 years.
In 1898 she purchased the Byron Express, local weekly, and acted as its editor until it was sold to its present owners, Albert L. Hall & company, in 1911, since which time she and her son William have resided on a farm tract north of Byron.
Mrs. Artz affiliated with the Congregational church here in early girlhood and had always been prominent in all its activities. She was also a member of the W. R. C. and of several local literary clubs.
As editor of the local weekly she proved a tireless worker in community improvement projects. A clever writer, she interspersed a bit of humor in all of her articles that added interest to their perusal. Long after she had disposed of her interest in the paper she was a constant contributor to its columns.
Her remarkable memory was demonstrated on dozens of occasions when she addressed alumni meetings and other gatherings on her reminiscences. As a friend and advisor to younger persons in the vicinity, she will be remembered always.
Funeral services are to be held at the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Leland Porter, officiating. Burial will be at Byron cemetery.
(Daily Register-Gazette, Rockford, IL., Mon., Apr. 22, 1929, pg. 1 and 22)
Lydia was the daughter of Lucius and Tryphena (Fisher) Read. The home of Lucius Read, abolitionist, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Slaves were secreted in the basement of the barn and then taken north hidden under canvas covered wagons. Much of the information of the underground railroad is attributed to Lydia. She became editor of The Byron Express from 1899-1912. In speaking of the newspapers policy, she is reputed to have said it was strictly Republican, because what else could be expected of anyone brought up on the underground railroad. Lydia remembered passengers arriving at night. She said the last group through Ogle County came through Byron in 1862. There were 13 on a bobsled covered with hay. Source: The Byron Museum District.
Lydia married William F. Artz, physician and druggist of Byron on 19 Feb 1874. Together they had two sons, William Thomas Artz born 15 Nov 1874 and Rodney Artz who died in 1879.
BYRON'S OLDEST NATIVE RESIDENT IS DEAD AT 80
Fall Injuries Fatal to Mrs. Lydia Artz
(Special to the Register-Gazette)
Byron, April 22, Mrs. Lydia Artz, 80, Byron's oldest native resident, died at the home of her son, William, Sunday after an illness of six months which followed injuries sustained when she fell and broke her hip.
Mrs. Artz was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lucious Reed, pioneer residents of this section and was born in the historic "brick house" here said to have been used during the Civil War as an "underground station" for refugee slaves.
She attended local schools and was graduated from Byron high school in 1868, with the second class to receive diplomas. There are only two other members of this class still surviving.
In 1874 she was married to Dr. William Franklin Artz, a Civil war veteran who died five years later.
Two children were born to them. William and Rodney, the latter dying in 1879. The son William and ten grandchildren survive.
Following the death of her husband, who operated a drug store here in addition to carrying on a general practice, Mrs. Artz remained in charge of the business for more than 19 years.
In 1898 she purchased the Byron Express, local weekly, and acted as its editor until it was sold to its present owners, Albert L. Hall & company, in 1911, since which time she and her son William have resided on a farm tract north of Byron.
Mrs. Artz affiliated with the Congregational church here in early girlhood and had always been prominent in all its activities. She was also a member of the W. R. C. and of several local literary clubs.
As editor of the local weekly she proved a tireless worker in community improvement projects. A clever writer, she interspersed a bit of humor in all of her articles that added interest to their perusal. Long after she had disposed of her interest in the paper she was a constant contributor to its columns.
Her remarkable memory was demonstrated on dozens of occasions when she addressed alumni meetings and other gatherings on her reminiscences. As a friend and advisor to younger persons in the vicinity, she will be remembered always.
Funeral services are to be held at the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Leland Porter, officiating. Burial will be at Byron cemetery.
(Daily Register-Gazette, Rockford, IL., Mon., Apr. 22, 1929, pg. 1 and 22)
Lydia married William F. Artz, physician and druggist of Byron on 19 Feb 1874. Together they had two sons, William Thomas Artz born 15 Nov 1874 and Rodney Artz who died in 1879.
BYRON'S OLDEST NATIVE RESIDENT IS DEAD AT 80
Fall Injuries Fatal to Mrs. Lydia Artz
(Special to the Register-Gazette)
Byron, April 22, Mrs. Lydia Artz, 80, Byron's oldest native resident, died at the home of her son, William, Sunday after an illness of six months which followed injuries sustained when she fell and broke her hip.
Mrs. Artz was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lucious Reed, pioneer residents of this section and was born in the historic "brick house" here said to have been used during the Civil War as an "underground station" for refugee slaves.
She attended local schools and was graduated from Byron high school in 1868, with the second class to receive diplomas. There are only two other members of this class still surviving.
In 1874 she was married to Dr. William Franklin Artz, a Civil war veteran who died five years later.
Two children were born to them. William and Rodney, the latter dying in 1879. The son William and ten grandchildren survive.
Following the death of her husband, who operated a drug store here in addition to carrying on a general practice, Mrs. Artz remained in charge of the business for more than 19 years.
In 1898 she purchased the Byron Express, local weekly, and acted as its editor until it was sold to its present owners, Albert L. Hall & company, in 1911, since which time she and her son William have resided on a farm tract north of Byron.
Mrs. Artz affiliated with the Congregational church here in early girlhood and had always been prominent in all its activities. She was also a member of the W. R. C. and of several local literary clubs.
As editor of the local weekly she proved a tireless worker in community improvement projects. A clever writer, she interspersed a bit of humor in all of her articles that added interest to their perusal. Long after she had disposed of her interest in the paper she was a constant contributor to its columns.
Her remarkable memory was demonstrated on dozens of occasions when she addressed alumni meetings and other gatherings on her reminiscences. As a friend and advisor to younger persons in the vicinity, she will be remembered always.
Funeral services are to be held at the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Leland Porter, officiating. Burial will be at Byron cemetery.
(Daily Register-Gazette, Rockford, IL., Mon., Apr. 22, 1929, pg. 1 and 22)
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