OBIT: Mahlon P. LICHTY, 1931, of interest in Somerset County, PA and Garrett 
County, MD

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2012.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


MAHLON P. LICHTY

  Mahlon P. Lichty, last surviving child of the late Peter and Sarah Peek 
Lichty, the maternal grandparents of the publisher of The Republican and the 
writer hereof, passed peacefully away in an old folks' home maintained by the 
Church of the Brethren at Mt. Morris, Ill., June 25, 1931, at the good age of 85 
years, 1 month and 16 days, after an illness of two days.  Death was due to the 
infirmities of old age.
  This item will be of interest to a goodly number of relatives and old time 
friends of Mr. Lichty still residing in Somerset County, Pa., Garrett County, 
Md., and other parts of the country where The Republican has readers, who knew 
Uncle Mahlon and were very fond of him.
  Mr. Lichty was born in one of the old log houses still standing on the old 
Peter Lichty homestead near Boynton, now owned by Harvey Wright.  He was one of 
seven children, all of whom preceded him in death, one a brother who died in 
infancy, and five sisters, as follows: Eliza, wife of the late Simon Enos, of 
Milford Township; Nancy, wife of the late Samuel J. Livengood, of Salisbury; 
Susan, wife of the late William Nieman, residing in Iowa at the time of death; 
Elizabeth, wife of the late Hiram Bruner, of Jefferson Township; Mary, wife of 
Simon Arnold of Mt. Carroll, Ill.
  Mr. Lichty, though born of poor parents who died when he was still quite 
young, and badly crippled from boyhood as the result of cutting his left knee 
with a cooper's shaving knife, and being afflicted for years afterward with 
"white swelling" of the same knee, gave a good account of himself in spite of 
his handicaps.  He was naturally intelligent, as well as ambitious, and eagerly 
acquired such education as the country schools in his home neighborhood, could 
afford.  He also added to his store of knowledge by attending a normal school in 
Somerset during his youth.  He soon acquired enough education to teach school, 
and was a teacher in the public schools of Elk Lick Township when the late 
Joseph J. Stutzman was Somerset County's first superintendent of schools.
  He and his youngest sister, Mary, emigrated to Blackhawk County, Iowa, when he 
was but 20 and she 18 years of age.  The sister married and removed to Carroll 
County, Ill., where she died a few years after locating in the West.
  Mahlon taught school in the country district around Waterloo, Iowa, for 
several years, and in 1870 returned to Grantsville, Md., to clerk in the store 
of his brother-in-law, Samuel J. Livengood.  He was very popular as a salesman 
and attracted people of all ages and classes to him by his genial comradery and 
unfailing kindness and good humor, not to mention his ability as a story-teller 
and entertainer.  He was a member of the S. J. Livengood household in 
Grantsville until their removal to Salisbury in 1874.  He remained in 
Grantsville two years more as a clerk in the late Balthazer Welfley's store.
  In 1876 Mr. Lichty returned to Waterloo, Iowa, and again was employed as a 
teacher in Orange County, and improved his education and teaching ability by 
attending the state normal school at Cedar Rapids.  After remaining in Iowa for 
several years he moved to Mount Morris, Ill., to make his home with two of his 
widowed sisters, Mrs. Nieman and Mrs. Bruner, while he attended Mt. Morris 
College and acted as librarian of the college for a number of years.  He also 
taught school in Ogle County, Ill., for several terms.
  Resigning his position as librarian of Mt. Morris College, about 1890, Mr. 
Lichty emigrated to Cando, North Dakota, where he homesteaded a quarter section 
of Government land.  He proved up on his claim in the required time, and for a 
period of nearly 20 years prospered there as a farmer.  Having never married, 
and in his crippled condition not feeling able to engage in farming any longer, 
or in any other line of work or business, he sold his farm, reserving only a 
small corner on which he built himself a small house and lived retired for 
several years, engaging only in such light work as officiating as township 
clerk, secretary of the school board, community letter writer and newspaper 
correspondent.  He was a fine penman and an interesting writer and the local 
newspapers were always glad to receive and publish his articles.
  He was for many years a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren and 
after selling his farm he contributed $2,000 to the foreign missionary board of 
the church.  He also made liberal contributions to struggling churches.  When 
his physical and mental powers began to wane, he made over the residue of his 
estate to the Old People's Home of the Church of the Brethren at Mt. Morris, 
Ill., and returned to that town and entered the Home to spend the remainder of 
his days.  He passed the last ten years or more of his life in that institution 
where he was happy and contented and was frequently visited by relatives and 
friends.
  The only near relative who attended his funeral were a nephew, Nelson W. 
Nieman, wife and son, of Mendota, Ill.  In accordance with his request he was 
buried at Mt. Morris, between the graves of his sisters, Mrs. Nieman and Mrs. 
Bruner.
  Mr. Lichty's life was lived in five states; as follows: In Pennsylvania, 20 
years; Maryland, 5 years; Iowa, 10 years; North Dakota, 22 years, Illinois, 28 
years.  In the various places where he resided, he was a useful, efficient and 
highly esteemed citizen.

Meyersdale Republican, July 23, 1931