A continuation of the John Frederick Harmening story, with the spotlight on his oldest and only surviving daughter, Lydia, who married William Moll. After the death of Carl, her brother, and Amelia, her stepmother and aunt, Lydia took care of the large estate of her family. Her obituary appeared in the Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, on January 4, 1960. She inherited the business acumen of her father and continued in positions of importance until her death at 92.
"MRS. MOLL DIES AT AGE OF 92 IN W. SPRINGFIELD
WAS VICE-PRESIDENT OF LOTUS CHINA AND GLASS, MOTHER OF PRESIDENT
Mrs. Lydia H. Moll, who in late life had added a career in retailing to her previous success as a homemaker, died in her home at 1339 Riverdale St., West Springfield, Saturday at the age of 92.
Known as 'Gram'
She was a vice-president of the Lotus China and Glass Co. of West Springfield and mother of Edward H. Moll, its president.
Mrs. Moll, who had been in good health until the day after Christmas, was known to everyone in the West side store as 'Gram.' Even her own children used that term of endearment in addressing her.
The store was a major part of her life and she had participated wholeheartedly in the Christmas season. Among other things, she had made more than 3000 bows that decorated holiday packages.
Mrs. Moll had been active in the company ever since its first store was started in Auburn. She came to West Springfield when a Lotus store was opened in a former house and, with other members of her family, occupied an apartment in the rear. She retained that apartment after the store moved about 10 years ago into a new building on the opposite side of Riverdale Street.
In First College Class
Mrs. Moll had been the only surviving member of the first class to be graduated from Defiance College in Ohio - in 1888. There were only nine in the class. Defiance College has been in the news nationally during President Eisenhower's administration because its president, Dr. Kevin McCann, served for a period as an assistant to the President.
Mrs. Moll has continued her interest in the college since her graduation and had been able to supply to its alumni publication the only remaining picture of the first class.
Mrs. Moll has found time for some travel and had been to Alaska, Cuba, and the West Indies, among other places. Her prime interest had been the store and its problems and her son credited her attention with keeping him and others alert to opportunities.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Women's Relief Corps and the Methodist Church.
Married in Ohio
Mrs. Moll was married in Ohio to William E. Moll, who died in 1916. They had nine children, five of whom are living. She went to Worcester in 1942 from Toledo, Ohio, to live with her late daughter, Lydia, and was associated in the Lotus store in Auburn. In 1953, she moved to West Springfield to assume her interest in the Riverdale operation.
Mrs. Moll was the daughter of the late Frederick and Anna Maria (Hecht) Harmening, born March 23, 1867, in Defiance.
Besides her son, Edward H. Moll, of Longmeadow, who is the former vice-president of the American Bosch Arma Corp., she leaves another son, Carl H. of St. Joseph, Mo.; three daughters, Esther, Elizabeth and Estella, all at home; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
There will be visiting hours today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Curran-Jones funeral home in West Springfield. Services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Mansfield funeral home in Defiance. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.
In lieu of flowers, the family has stated any contributions to the building fund of Defiance College would be appreciated."
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