Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-06
MOTHER HOLIDAY DEAD.
She Was Probably the Oldest Resident
Of Wheeling.
PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY YES
TERDAY MORNING AT THE AGE
OF NINETY SEVEN SOMETHING
OF HER USEFUL AND ACTIVE
LIFE-POSSESSED AN EXCEL
LENT MEMORY THE HOLIDAY
GENERATION.

LIFE-POSSESSED AN EXCEL
LENT MEMORY-THE HOLIDAY
GENERATION.
Mrs. Lydia W. Holiday, well known
to many as Mother" Holiday, died
from the infirmiles Of her advanced
age at the residence of her son, Harry
C. Holiday, of South Eoff street, yes
terday morning at S:15 o'clock. The
deceased observed the ninety-seyenth
anniversary of her birth on the 18th OF
last month, and vac therefore probably
the Oldest resident in the city. 1t may
be truthfully said that she possessed all
the traits OF true womanhood, endear-
ing her TO the hearts of all with whom
she became acquainted. She was taken
i'll on Wednesday of last week, and
from then on became worse gradually.
Early Wednesday morning she went TO
sleep and remained in this condition
until yesterday morning, when she
passed peacefully away. The Jews Of
her demise soon became known and
occasioned profound sense of regret
among her many friends.
Mrs. Holiday was born in Colum bia
county, Delaware, On September 18th,
1902, and was the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Samuel Wilson. 1t was in 1911
that, in company with her parents, she
went to Freeport, Harrison county, 0,
to reside. At the latter city in 1922,
she was married to w. r. Wilson.
In 1888, accompanied by her husband,
she came to Wheeling, and here spent
the remainder of her life Her hus-
band, who has been dead for some years,
was in the service of the government,
being surveyor of this port for two sue
cessive terms under President Grant
Her father, Samuel Wilson, was a wood
contractor. She was the mother of
seven children, only three of whom are
living. The surviving children are
Harry c. Holiday, Mrs Sarah Connol-
ly, mother of Hon. Benjamin Connolly,
and Mrs. F. H. Higgins, mother of Will
and Miss Bessie Higgins and Mrs. A L.
White, all of this city. Mrs Connolly,
who is the oldest of the children, is
seventy-eight years of age.
The four children that have died
were Mrs Rebecca Lancaster w. w.
Holiday, T. j. Holiday and John w.
Holiday. The latter was colonel of
the Fifteenth West Virginia regiment
during the civil war, and died in 1884,
at the age of forty-five. He has one
daughter living in Steubenville. Ohio.
W. w. Holiday died here in 1863 and
was thirty-six years old. T. ]. Holiday
died at Columbus. Ohio, three years
ago, in the sixty-fourth year of his
age. He is survived by a daughter,
Mrs. Mary Give, of Cleveland, Ohio,
and who is the mother of two children.
Mrs. Rebecca Lancaster, who was for
ty years old, at the time of her death,
left two daughters, Mrs. Analisa Moore
and Mrs. Mary Blair. The former re-
sides in California and has son and
daughter, and the latter lives at Den
yer, Colo. and is the mother of three
children. Mrs. Holiday was a sister
of w. P. Wilson, who died here in
1875, aged seventy-five years. 1t was
for Col. John w. Holiday that Holli-
Gay Post, G. A. R., of this city. was
named.
Mrs Holiday became quite prominent
in this section during the civil war
through her untiring efforts to allie
viate the hardships and su1ferings of the
soldiers. She rendered aid to many
veterans in their hour of need and they
in expressing their appreciation Of her
kindness, fittingly termed her Moth
err" Her life was most useful and
active one.
Unlike many others who attain a
great age. Mother Holiday main
tanned full possession OF her faculties
and She was ever able ard deli~hted
TO recount to those about her many
incidents OF interest of her early life.
manifestlng a remarkable memory.
She was member Of the First Chris
tian Church and was MS oldest mem
Der 10 this city.
The arrangements for the funeral will
be completed to-day. The interment
will likely be made al Nj. Wood GEM
etery and members of the Grand Army
will act a. nall haarers