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Depression-era resilience

Beyl, Lillian Francis

Introducing Lillian Francis Beyl

🕊️ Meet: Lillian Francis Beyl Mobley (1890–1953)

Matriarch. Homemaker. Quiet Architect of Legacy.

Lillian Francis Beyl was born in the chill of January 1890 in Columbus, Indiana—so quietly, in fact, that the earliest record of her birth didn’t even list her name. Yet the life she built would ring louder than any document.

Known lovingly as Lillie, she was the daughter of Jacob Beyl, a French-born carpenter with calloused hands, and Margaret Kern, a strong-willed daughter of German immigrants. From the start, Lillie lived in a house that spoke the language of hard work, faith, and resilience.

She married James Everett Mobley at nineteen and bore at least ten children—some she raised to adulthood, some she mourned too soon. Through every move, every era, every ache and joy, Lillie was the constant: the woman behind the meals, the mending, the music of daily life. She lived through wars and depressions, through the rise of modern Indianapolis and the fading of horse-drawn wagons, all while nurturing a home filled with life and noise and need.

Lillie died in 1953, leaving behind a family tree that still blooms with her strength. She’s buried beside Everett in New Crown Cemetery—a woman not remembered for headlines, but for holding a family together in a world that rarely paused to thank women like her.

Want to know more?
Her full story—including census clues, family mysteries, and quiet triumphs—awaits on her family page.

This page is dedicated to her memory—and to the memories still waiting to be shared.

Have a photo? A story? A pie crust recipe with her handwriting in the margins? Share it below. Because Lillie Beyl Mobley didn’t live to be famous. She lived to be family—and that’s the kind of story that deserves to be told.

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Viola Mildred Beyl

Introducing Viola Mildred Beyl

Featuring: Viola Mildred Beyl (1914–2000)

Pull up a chair and settle in—this page begins with Viola Mildred Beyl, though you may know her simply as Mildred. Born in 1914 to a bakery family in Indiana, she grew up with flour in the air, laughter in the kitchen, and a head full of curls.

She went on to become a Buchanan, a mother, a homemaker, and the heart of every room she entered. Her life stretched across nearly a century of change—but no matter where she lived (and oh, did she move!), Mildred left a trail of kindness, food, and unforgettable stories.

This space is part of an ongoing tribute to the Beyl family line, starting with Mildred and branching outward to include the many names and generations connected to hers.


✍️ Share Your Memories

Did you know Mildred? Have a favorite story, recipe, or quirky family trait that reminds you of her? Add your voice in the comments section below. Even a single word—like “gardening” or “card shark”—helps keep the past alive.

🌿 Want more than just the highlights?
Visit the Family Page for Viola Mildred Beyl to see the timeline, photos, and deeper roots of her story.


📜 What’s Inside

  • Family records & photos
  • Census and city directory entries
  • Connections to the Buchanan line
  • Grave marker & Find A Grave memorial
  • Personal stories and reader memories

Whether you’re part of the Beyl family or just wandering through the branches, you’re welcome here. Mildred’s story is the starting point—but this tree has deep roots and plenty of shade.

With care,
Kris

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