Lucy Farr called Lou by her family was born on March 23, 1845 in Anderson, Ohio. She was the second child of William and Azuba Predmore Farr who owned a farm in Anderson. Lucy moved with her parents in 1853 to Fulton County, Illinois she was eight years old. It took the family a month by covered wagon to travel the distance from Ohio to Illinois. She grew up on the family farm in Pleasant Township later renamed Ipava in Fulton County, Illinois. Always a helpful child Lucy did chores on the farm such as, helping her mother cook, milking the cows, sewing clothes, doing laundry, churning butter, and preserving foods. She met and married Lewis Swartzbaugh on January 11, 1871 who was also from Fulton County. She was 26 years old. Lewis was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania on December 18, 1848 to George and Mary (Foreman) Swartzbaugh. Lewis and Lucy did not think they could have children, but twelve years after they got married Lucy became pregnant at the age of 38. Tragically Lucy died on February 20, 1883 two days following the birth of a daughter named Edna, who was born February 18, 1883.
Most women gave birth at home during the 1800s, usually with the help of family and friends. Some women practiced as midwives, however, they did not have any formal training. Doctors were a last resort when there was a concern that the mother might die, but many times the doctors actually brought more risks than actual help. The danger of infection from a doctor’s assistance was very high. In the 1800s, doctors did not have training in obstetrics. (Lyra Radford, Curious Historian)
Women suffered the staggering mortality rate of one in eight when giving birth in the 1880s in the U.S.
Lucy Farr Swartzbaugh was 38 years old when she died. Little Edna Swartzbaugh died shortly after her mother on March 4, 1883. Both Lucy and Edna are buried at Montgomery Cemetery, Fulton County, Illinois. Three years later on November 21, 1886 Lewis Swartzbaugh remarried to Mary E. Costello Phippins in Eldorado Township, McDonough County, Illinois at the home of Samuel Farr, the brother of Lucy.
Farr's of Fulton County, Illinois 