Lost and Found

Omaha World Herald
November 27, 1920

LOST AND FOUND

LOST - Two gold rosaries and a wedding ring; one rosary has name of Mrs. Chauncy Abbott, Jr., on it; the wedding ring engraved "C. A., jr., to M. L. G. F. P. D., October 13, 1909." Were in very small leather pocketbook. Lost on Thanksgiving day, either in Omaha or Lincoln. Liberal reward. No questions asked. Chauncy Abbott, Jr. 840 First National bank building, Omaha, Nebraska.

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Notes:

"M.L.G.F." would refer to Chauncy's wife, Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald. I don't know what "P.D." would stand for. Any ideas?

October 13, 1909 was their wedding day.

News article about their wedding

Two weeks later, Lillian took her own life.

Wedding Wednesday: Lillian Fitzgerald and Chauncy Abbott, Jr

October 11, 1909


Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald, daughter of Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, was married yesterday morning at St. Theresa's - pro-cathedral to Chauncey Abbott, Jr, of Schuyler, in one of the most beautifully arranged weddings which has taken place in Lincoln. The ceremony was performed in the presence of' about 250 invited friends, who were also present at the reception which followed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Rector, 415 South Fifteenth street. The impressive ceremony was performed by Bishop Bonacum, assisted by Father Bradley and Dr. O'Loughlln.

The church had been elaborately decorated In pink roses and smilax. Four prie dieu in white satin were decorated with smilax across the front, the greenery placed In the form of large hearts. Pink tulle bows at the end of each pew formed part of the church decoration, and roses were everywhere to add to the beauty.

Mrs. Carrie B. Raymond presided at the organ, playing a program of music, with the Lohengrin bridal chorus as the introductory to the ceremony and the Mendelseohn wedding march as the bridal party left the church.

Those of the bridal party were Mrs. O. E. Rector, sister of the bride, [note: Mrs. O. E. Rector was the sister of Lillian's mother] who wore a gown of pink panne velvet, with elaborate trimmings of gold embroidery, the dress made princess, with a train. With this she wore a large gold cloth picture hat with pink plumes, and shoes of gold cloth.

She carried an old-fashioned bouquet of pink roses. Little Ruth Fltzgerald. niece of the bride, who was the ring bearer, wore a pink silk, with pink hat. The bride wore a white brocade satin. with an over-dress of white chiffon, which reached in drapery effect nearly to the floor, with a finishing fold of the chiffon and real point lace. The drapery around the yoke was of the same lace, and the dress was cut in the princess style, with a long train, and with this she wore a long veil, held In place by a spray of real orange blossoms. Long gloves were worn with this costume and a large bouquet of lillies of the valley was carried. The only ornament worn was a diamond heart, the gift of the groom to the bride.

The groom was attended by Isaac Lorenze of Milwaukee, and the four ushers were Paul Fitzgerald, Lincoln; Wells Abbott, Schuyler; John Sumner, Schuyler, and O. E. Rector, Lincoln.

At the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rector, where the reception was held following the ceremony, the decorations were entirely of pink roses and smilax. Smilax wound around the pillars and through the stair railings and baskets of the roses were placed in every nook about the rooms, with streamers of pink robbon, and above the large window in the parlor, where the bride and groom received the guests, were laid roses and smilax. In the dining room smilax and roses were arranged on the curtains and on the tables in great quantities.

Those in the receiving line were Mrs. O. E. Rector, Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, mother of the bride; Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Jr.

Those assisting in the dining room were Mesdames H. L. Lau, L. F. Searles, C. G. Crittenden, W. F. Kelley and W. M. Leonard. In the hall on the second floor Mr. M. Kelley of Greenwood and Miss Inman of Lincoln served the punch.

The gifts received by Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were elegant and numerous. A sliver coffee urn, which had been used by the great grandmother of the groom, was among the beautiful pieces of silver. A set of six pieces of solid silver from the groom's parents, a cabinet of silver and a chest of linen from the mother of the bride were among the gifts.

Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald wore a gown of black lace over silk, with diamond ornaments; Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Sr., wore a gray velvet dress embroidered in gold, with diamond pins.

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott left in the afternoon for an eight weeks trip to the Hawaiian islands. They will be at home late in the fall at Schuyler, Neb., where the groom is engaged in business.

Miss Fitzgerald is the daughter of the late John Fitzgerald, one of the old settlers of Llincoln and has made this city her home all her life. Mr. Abbott comes of a family who are also old settlers of this state.

Source: Nebraska State Journal, October 12, 1909
Lillian's relationship to me: First cousin, twice removed

Madness Monday - Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald Abbott death by suicide

The story of Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald Abbott has always saddened me.

Known as Lillian, she was the youngest child and only daughter born to John Fitzgerald and his wife, Mary Kelly Fitzgerald. Lillian was born to the couple on April 30, 1885. She was born into wealth, her father having amassed a fortune in the railroad contracting business and later in banking. The emigrant Irishman built his wealth from nothing and left an estate valued at more than $1.5 million at the time of his death in 1894.

The Fitzgeralds lived in what could truly be described as a mansion, known as Mount Emerald, close to the Nebraska state capitol building in Lincoln. Mount Emerald was Lillian's home.

When Lillian was born in 1885, a houseful of relatives were living at Mount Emerald. In addition to her parents and brothers, Edward (13), John (10) and Paul (4), the household included cousins Edward Cagney (25), James Toomey (17), Mary Toomey (18) and Mary Blake (22), children of John's married sisters.

John's brother, David, age 33, was living in the house, as were Mary Casey Kelly (my great great grandmother and mother-in-law of John Fitzgerald) and Nellie Kelly, sister of Mary Kelly Fitzgerald. Four servants also lived at Mount Emerald. By the looks of the house, they certainly seemed to have plenty of room!

After her father's death, Lillian's life as a young lady involved a lot of social activities and parties. In 1909, age the age of 24, she married Chauncy Abbott of Schuyler, Nebraska, an up and coming businessman in his own right. The wedding was attended by 250 guests at St. Theresa's pro-cathedral in Lincoln.

The child's first son, Chauncy, was born in 1912, followed by a second son, John Fitzgerald Abbott, in 1914. The baby lived only two weeks.

The news of Lillian's death at age 35 in 1920 was tragic, and it was reported in the press that she died in Omaha after suffering for two years from a nervous breakdown.

The events surrounding Lillian's death became known and the newspapers reported her death as a suicide. The press stated that she was found by her husband in the bathroom of the couple's Omaha home. He had climbed a ladder and broke in the bathroom window. When found, a revolver was still clutched in her hand.

Lillian is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska, next to her infant son, John Fitzgerald Abbott and her parents, John and Mary.