Lydia Furrow was born August 14, 1822, the first child of William Simpkins Furrow and Elizabeth Jane Maxson Furrow. Eleven siblings followed after her. On March 24th, 1847, Lydia married Albert Dennis Sheppard Ayers in Clark Co, Ohio. They had 13 children. Based on the children's place of birth, sometime between 1853-54 Lydia and Albert moved, with their family of five children to Illinois. Three children were born in Illinois between 1854-Dec of 1857. In September of 1856, Lydia's parents, and some of her siblings, moved from Logan County, Ohio to Franklin, Richardson County, Nebraska, and were instrumental in starting the Longbranch Seventh Day Baptist Church. (See obituary of her father, Wm. S. Furrow).
Lydia and Albert followed the family to Nebraska in 1858. Their last four children were born in Franklin, Richardson Co., Nebraska.
Lydia's husband, Albert, died in January of 1879; he died of "consumption," an epidemic passing through the area in the 1860's and 1870's. Lydia lived another 10 years. US Census Records for 1880 and 1885 show her son, Luther, living with her. Luther married a local girl, Rowena Babcock (d/o Joshua G. & Charlotte L. Babcock), on August 22, 1887; one and 1/2 years later, Rowena died, on March 7, 1889, at the age of 24. Lydia died 15 days later, on March 22, 1889. Luther died on Feb 3, 1890, at the age of 28. It makes one wonder what happened that all three of them died in less than one year.

Of the 13 children, Mariah is the only one to live into old age (84). She died in Riverside, California.

Four children lived into their 20's and one son lived to be 3 years and one daughter lived to be 2 years of age. The other six children died at birth or within a few months.

(Biography written by Jean Jorgensen (FAG#47179150); information retrieved from RootsWeb.com: They Came to Milton, by Jon Saunders and memorials posted on FindaGrave.com