Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-10-30
FANNY FERN DEAD.
fbe Last Illness of the Wife of Parton,
the Biographer-The Funeral To-
From the N. Y. Sun of SATURDAY..

Fbe Last Illness of tho Wife of Parton,
the Biographer-1he Funeral To-
Day.
From the N. Y Sun of Saturday.
Sara Payson Willis, the wife OF
James Parton, the biographer and es-
sayist, died IN her late residence, 300
East Eighteenth street, at O'Clock
| Thursday evening. Mrs Parton was
known in the literary world as 90 Fan
ny Fern, and her loss will be sadly felt
| by the thousands who have derived
| pleasure from her light and genial es-
says. She was in the sixty first year of
her age, but her mental powers were
unimpa1red, although disease has for
years been undermining her physical
| frame. see5~e F-
Mrs. Parton was sister of the poet,
Nathaniel P. Willis. She was born in
Portland, Me-, in 1911. While still a
small child her father removed with
his family to Boston, and IN that city
she spent her early years. She was
e. ucated In Hartford, Conn, by Miss
Catharlne Beecher, who esteemed her
as clever and capable, but not bril-
liant girl.
While still very young she married
Mr.. Eldridge, of Boston, and in 1850
she was left widow in straitened cir
cumstances, with three children. To
support herself and little ones she be
gan to write sketches for the Boston
weekhes, under the name of Fanny
| Fern" She became famous at single
bound, and her pseudonym is now as
familiar as a household word. In 1856
she was married to Mr.. James Parton,
and since that time her writings have
been voluminous. It is said that
Mr.. Bonner has paid her the magnii-
cent sum of $3.50, 900 for her contribu
tions to the Ledger alone.
Mrs. Parton has been afflicted for
many years with infammatory rheuma-
tism. She has been able to ride about,
however, and walk in her garden-she
was an ardent admirer of flowers -un-
til this fall. She passed last summer
at he villa in Newport. Her right ann
was so affected as to be powerless, and
she has not left her room since her re-
turn to the city. She was forced to sit
IN an easy chair, her arm being sup
ported by frame. To lie down caused
intense pam and difficulty in breath
ing. In this chair, where she has sat
for two months, she died, surrounded
by loving friends, and her eyes resting
on the beautiful flowers which were her
comfort in life
She was perfectly conscious to the
last moment, and sent messages or her
love to distant friends. A short time
ago she told her husband that she was
shocked when she saw strangers view
ing the remains Of the late Alice Carey
in DIR. Deems church, and one of her
last requests was, Let no strangers
look upon my face" whispered as the
breath of life was passing from her
She had always entertained strong
aversion to ostentatlous funerals, and
her wishes IN this respect will be full
filled to the letter by her friends.
Early on Thursday morning she
knew her end was approaching. At 3
o'clock in the afternoon she called her
family around the arm chair in which
she expired-for her sufferings pre-
vented her from resting on bed. Sad
ly did every member respond to the
summons. In the little circle were DIR.
Parton, Miss Eldredge, the dying lady's
daughter, her two sisters, Miss Julia
Willis, Mrs. Bumstead, and little
grandchild DR.. Sturges, her physi-
clan, came in at that moment and Joined
the group. .Ghe authoress. whose life
was rapidly ebbing, called each to her
side and said a few words of admonl
ton till she reached the last. When
the little grandchild came to her she
directed Parton to send her early to
bed, and if her death occurred that
night, not to tell the child till to-mor-
row. 6A .s #a
Soon after this sad scene, Dr. Sturges
stepped forward and felt her pulse
The authoress fixed her gaze upon him
and asked firmly:
Doctor, am L dying
The Doctor answered eyes"
Her pulse had almost gone, and she
presented unmistakable traces OF her
approaching demise; but the announce
ment of the physician made no impress
sion upon her. At half past six O'Clock
those around her noticed that she was
unusually still. They felt her pulse
it had stopped. She had just closed
her eyes as if to sleep. A mirror was
placed to her lips; but its continued
brightness revealed the fact that she
had breathed her last.