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Delia Wainwright
1803 - 1906
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Ripe Old Age.
To but few people was given the lease of life which terminated in the death Thursday night of Mrs. Delia Wainwright at her late residence, 510 [South, assumed] Second Street. Born at the beginning of the nineteenth century she has passed a life remarkable for good health, until its close. She was in the best of health until a week ago when a final breaking down of the system set in, but her death came peacefully, the last moments being passed in a sleep which encompassed time and eternity. When the end came, present at her bedside were her faithful companion for many years, Miss Fannie Vander Bie, and her granddaughter, Mrs. Joseph Ball (Ida Sprague) of Milwaukee. Up to three years ago Mrs. Wainwright was able to come down town and look after her own business interests and shopping, and was frequently a visitor with her friends, but since that time she has remained at home but was able to attend to her own wants.
Mrs. Wainwright was born when this republic was in its infancy at Middlebury, Vermont, September 29, 1803 and when twenty years of age was married to Alfred Wainright, June 1, 1823. After the death of her husband in Montpelier. Vt., June 12, 1852 she came west and took up her residence here with her daughter, Mrs. Emily Sprague. Since the latter’s death, December 22, 1898 she has resided at the old home in Second Street, her companion being Miss Fannie Vander Bie who for several years has looked after her comfort and welfare.
To but very few people are given the privilege of reaching the age of more than five score years and still retain most of their mental and physical faculties, but Mrs. Wainwright was one of the favored few. One would think with the weight of over a century in years resting upon her that her faculties would be greatly impaired but such was not the case. She was able to be about the house and took great interest in what was going on in the world, reading the daily papers and magazines which interested her. Mrs. Wainwright has lived under the rule of every president of the United States with the exception of the revolutionary war and was one of the oldest, if not oldest residents of Wisconsin.
Her marvelous health was due in great part to the efficacy of cold baths which habit she kept up all her life until a few years ago. During the later years of her life she was troubled with deafness but otherwise was in the complete possession of her faculties.
Mrs. Wainwright was the mother of one son, George. who died at Bismarck, N. D., November 26, 1902. Six grandchildren survive: Mrs. Joseph Ball, Charles Sprague, Milwaukee; Eugene and Fred Sprague, Minneapolis; Mrs. William Mercer, Chicago; Mrs. A. C. Brown, Tawas City, Michigan. Ten great grandchildren also survive.
The funeral was held
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home on Second St. and was conducted by
Rev. T. B. Thompson, pastor of the Congregational church and the interment was in Oak
Hill cemetery. WR 01 31 1906
History of Watertown, Wisconsin