Lydia Ann Conard Chandler ~ The First Matron of the Friends Boarding Home in Waynesville

Lydia Ann Conard Chandler, originally from Highland County, Ohio near Careytown (daughter of Joseph [b. 9th month 22nd day 1805-d. 4th month 6th day 1854] and Rebecca Good Conard [b. 1st month 20th day 1809-d.1st month 2nd day 1885]), lived 16 years after her husband's, Aaron B. Chandler's, death. It is not surprising that Aaron B. would marry a well-educated woman. She had attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana after her graduation from high school. Lydia, her parents, three brothers and three sisters were Hicksite Quakers who first belonged to Miami Monthly Meeting in Waynesville. They later helped to establish a Hicksite Meeting near their farm, Clear Creek Meeting. Shortly after her father’s early death when Lydia was 4 years old, the family moved into New Vienna, Ohio in Clinton County. According to her obituary (see below), most of her life was spent in New Vienna, except for her time in school in Indiana and her tenure as the first Matron of the Friends Boarding Home in Waynesville. However, there is some evidence that she also had lived in Columubs, Lima, Toledo and Blanchester, Ohio for a while. She is buried in the Masonic & I.O.O.F. Cemetery in New Vienna, Ohio. Her tombstone reads, "Lydia Conard Chandler, 1850-1931, Wife of A. B. Chandler". Her death notice in The Miami~Gazette reads as follows: "Mrs. Lydia Chandler, wife of the late Aaron Chandler, passed away Monday at her home in New Vienna. Mrs. Chandler was the first matron of the Friends Boarding Home, serving in that capacity for about nine years. After the death of Mr. Chandler she removed to her former home at New Vienna." Her death certificate is dated 3rd mo. 23 day 1931, Volume #6547, Certificate # 14392. (See below to read her full obituary in The New Vienna Reporter).

There is an indication in the Miami-Gazette, that Lydia was hired into another “Matron” job after Aaron B. Chandler’s death. The newspaper reported on Wednesday, January 17, 1917 that "Mrs. Lydia A. Chandler, who has been in Blanchester since early fall, has secured a very lucrative position in the Boys Cottage at the Ohio Masonic Home at Springfield, Ohio." The Boys Cottage is no longer extant. In 1917 Lydia was 67 years old when she took on this job. It is most likely that she was unable to stay in this position very long due to her age. Officials at the Ohio Masonic Home in Springfield were unable to find her employment record. She is reported as living in New Vienna in June of 1917 (Miami-Gazette, June 13, 1917).

Lydia was also a dedicated member of The Order of the Eastern Star. Lydia Conard (before her marriage to A. B.) affiliated with Miami Chapter #107, Order of the Eastern Star in Waynesville on June 11, 1906. The Miami-Gazette reported on June 13, 1906:

". . . After the regular routine of business had been disposed of, Miss Lydia Conard, Matron of the Friends Home, was given a cordial welcome into the local lodge being admitted from a Toledo organization, after which light refreshments were served."

She was an active member. On December 10, 1906 she was installed as Chaplain of Miami Chapter. In 1908 she served on many investigating committees. On December 14th, 1908, now as Lydia Chandler, she was installed as Warder. The following are more examples of her activity. The Miami-Gazette reported on December 3, 1913:

"INSTALLED OFFICERS: Messrs and Mesdames J. E. Janney, J. C. Hawke and C. M. Robitzer and Mesdames A. B. Chandler, F. H. Farr and Maybelle Fitzgerald motored to New Burlington and attended the installation of officers for a new chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star at that place Tuesday evening. Mrs. Hawke acted as installing officer. After the work, a sumptuous banquet was served. All report a splendid time."

In the February 11, 1918 Minutes of Miami Chapter #107 is found the following entry: "Sister Lydia Chandler asked for her demit as she can not attend here any more and wishes to join at New Vienna (#327)." Lydia was received into the New Vienna Chapter #327 on April 5, 1918. The night before her funeral an Order of the Eastern Star funeral service was conducted in her honor (see obituary below).

Aaron B. and Lydia had bought a home on Fourth Street in Waynesville when she retired from the Friends Boarding Home as Matron in 1910. There home was located on Lot #9 and a part of Lot #10 in the Thomas’ Addition to the Village of Waynesville (see Deed Book #101, Page 543). On May 1, 1917, Lydia and her stepson, Walter D. Chandler, transferred the Deed to William S. Graham (see Deed Book #102, Page 387). The Miami-Gazette reported on November 22, 1916:

"W. S. Graham purchased the A. B. Chandler home on 4th Street last week. This property is very desirable and will make the Graham’s a fine home. Mrs. Chandler moved her goods to Blanchester last week and will make her future home at that place. Her many friends here in Waynesville regret her leaving town."

Lydia Conard Chandler was widely liked and admired for her dedicated service as Matron of the Friends Boarding Home. During her waning years she lived at the Friends Boarding Home during the winters. According to the Friends Boarding Home Day Books she lived at the Home as a transient boarder from January 1st, 1928 to March 8th, 1928, from July 7, 1929 to August 18, 1929, and from November 23, 1929 to April 21, 1930. She kept in contact with the residents of the Home and with the Chandlers after Aaron B.’s death. There are many references in The Miami-Gazette to her visits to Waynesville: "Mrs. Lydia Chandler of New Vienna is visiting relations here over Thanksgiving" (November 28, 1917), "Mrs. Lydia Chandler of New Vienna, spent several days last week with Edwin Chandler and family. Edwin Chandler and family entertained at dinner Friday evening, the following guests: Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith, Mr. Will Smith and daughters Misses Esther and Virginia, Miss Willy Ann Gently of Selma, Ohio and Mrs. Lydia Chandler of New Vienna" (July 30, 1924), "Mrs. Aaron Chandler, former Matron of The Friends Home, is spending a few weeks at the Home" (January 11, 1928) and "After spending several weeks at The Friends Home, Mrs. Lydia Chandler returned to her home in New Vienna last Thursday" (March 14, 1928).

It was also mentioned in The New Vienna Reporter that the Society of Friends shared in Lydia’s Estate. Miami Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends of Waynesville is given $100.00 under the terms of the will of Lydia A. Chandler, filed in Probate Court. It is evident that Lydia Conard Chandler loved the Friends Boarding Home and Miami Monthly Meeting.

VIENNA WOMAN EXPIRES AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Mrs. Lydia A. Chandler, 80, Dies At Home in Village Monday Morning
[Wilmington Journal-Herald, March 24, 1931]
Aaron B. Chandler’s Second Wife

These obituaries were found in the Genealogy Room,
Clinton County Historical Society, Wilmington, Ohio

Mrs. Lydia A. Chandler, 80, of New Vienna, died at her home Monday at 10 A.M. after a lingering illness of several weeks. Death was due to infirmities.

Mrs. Chandler was a long-time resident of New Vienna, having lived there for the past 65 years. She formerly was a resident of Waynesville. She was the widow of Aaron B. Chandler. She was the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Conard, and was born in Highland County.

Mrs. Chandler was a member of the Hicksite Friends Church at Waynesville, and for the past several years had spent her winters in the Old Friends Home there.

She is survived by a step-son, Walter Chandler of Honolulu, three nieces, Mrs. Geneva Phillips and Mrs. W. A. Newby, of New Vienna, and Mrs. E. S. Creed, of Chicago, one nephew, Charles Conard of Hillsboro, and two great nephews, Charles Chaney of this city and F. L. Conard of Washington C. H.

CHANDLER RITES HELD AT VIENNA WEDNESDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Lydia A. Chandler, 80, of New Vienna, were held Wednesday afternoon at the home of her niece, Mrs. Geneva Phillips, of New Vienna. Judge Hugh J. Wright was in charge. Interment was made in the Conard family lot in New Vienna.

THE NEW VIENNA REPORTER
OBITUARY OF LYDIA A. CHANDLER

[. . .various families of Friends] from Pennsylvania settled in Highland, Ohio, near Careytown, forming a religious society of Hicksite Friends. One of these families was that of Joseph and Rebecca Good Conard, who found their home on what is now the Henry Sanders farm in 1846, and to whom was born in 1850, a daughter Lydia A. Here with three brothers, Lewis, Charles and Frank, and three sisters, Sarah, Suzanna and Martha, she spent her childhood in that spiritual atmosphere so characteristic of their religious faith and grew into beautiful womanhood with a spirit marked by gentleness and serenity.

From the country and village schools she continued her education at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. A few years after the father’s death, the family moved to New Vienna, Ohio where she has spent most of her long life. Some years were given in beautiful ministry as Matron of “The Friends Home”, in Waynesvile, O., and with the meetinghouse close by, she found a Christian fellowship, which has ever been a happy memory. It was here in 1908 she married Aaron Chandler, but this happy companionship was for only a few short years, he passing away in 1815, leaving a son, Walter Chandler, now in Honolulu. She was loath to leave those kindred associations to return to her old home town but there was awaiting for her a real welcome by her many friends who have been blest by her quiet, beautiful life and would pay a tribute of love to her today.

In her home we found hospitality, beauty and orderliness; she loved beauty in flower and fabric as was manifest in garden and the plying needle; she never lost that social charm; she did not grow old in spirit for hers was broad and fraternal; hers was an understanding heart, not one that longed and sought for trifles light as air, but lived in thought so pure and good, grateful for the Eternal things; her life was one of kindly ministry and serene faith fraught with the sympathy that cheers.

On the morning of March 23, 1931 she slipped away after some weeks of weariness and restlessness—the journey of four score years was complete.

“Life, we’ve been long together,
Through pleasant and thru cloudy weather;
‘Tis hard to part when friends are dear;
Perhaps ‘twill cost a sign, a tear;
Then steal away, giving little warning,
Choose thine own time.
Say not “Good night”, but in some brighter clime.”

ATTEND FUNERAL: Out of town people attending the funeral of Mrs. Lydia A. Chandler were, Mr. & Mrs. H.E. Conard of Columbus, Dr. Robert Conard, Judge & Mrs. Hugh J. Wright, Miss Ellen C. Wright, Mrs. Emma W. Hale, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Chaney, of Wilmington, Mr. & Mrs. F. L. Conard of Washington C.H., Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Conard and Dr. Ella Blackburn, of Hillsboro, Mr. Levi Lukens of Waldo, Mr. Alonzo Larkin and Mrs. Peter Adams of Highland, Mrs. Burch Trent and Mr. R. K. Larkin of Leesburg, Dr. & Mrs. J. R. Coleman of Loveland, Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Mendenhall, Mr. & Mrs. A. S. Curl, Mrs. Anna Cadwallader, Mrs. Mary Adams, Mrs. Ella Meredith, Mrs. Lena Hartsock, Mrs. George Harsock, Mrs. Mame T. Brown, Mrs. Frank Elbon, Mrs. Frank Miller and Mr. & Mrs. Seth Furnas of Waynesville.

ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR: On Tuesday evening, after the regular meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star, a beautiful service was held in Memory of Mrs. Louis Penn and Mrs. Lydia Chandler. The solo by Mrs. Katharine Williams added much to the impressiveness of the service.

Also see:
Timeline of the Friends Boarding Home and Further Information:
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/Chronological%20Notes%20about%20FBH.htm

Aaron B. Chandler~ Biography, Speech and Obituary:
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/
Aaron%20B.%20Chandler%20Life%20and%20Obituary.htm