Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-01
A REMARKABLE LIFE.
Mrs. Elizabeth Heller to Celebrate
Her S4ti, Anniversary Next Week.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hellcr 10 celenfNte
Her s4th Anniversary Next Week.
WOODSTOCK VA. September 30
(Special)-Mrs. Elizabeth Heller. widow OF
Mr.. NORTH Heller, an ante bellum resi-
dent of Woodstock, is in many respects
rema rkable woman. Next Wednesday
she will celebrate the saith anniversary OF
her birth, when a considerable number or
her descendants will gather to do her
honor. Mrs. Heller is the mother OF ten
children. all of whom were girls. OF that
number six are living and are happily
married. Three died in infancy, and Mrs.
j. A. Snyder, the wife Of a prominent
Lutheran minister, died in 1862. She was
the mother of Mr. A. H. Snyder, the able
editor Of the Register, which IS published
a Harrisonburg. Va. The other children
living. and their residences, are as fol-
lows:
Mrs c. A. Holt. staunton; Mrs M
Shackman. Baltimore, Md; Mrs. NJ. Coff-
man, Mrs. P. A. Pitman, and Mrs w
L. Dosh. of this place. and Mrs. r. D.
Haslip, wife of the editor of the Daily
News, Staunton, Va. Mrs. Hasip was
born about two weeks after the death OF
her father.
During the past fifteen years the annual
reunion Of this family has become such a
fixed custom that all the members look
forward many months for the meeting
with the last Of that branch of the family
bearing the name Heller. This year the
happy gathering will be held at the home
of Mr.. NJ. Coffman, the cashier of the
Shenandoah National Bank, in this town.
Four years ago, while on visit to
her daughter, Mrs. NJ. Shackman. in Bal
timore, Mrs. Heller had the misfortune
to break the bone of her left hip by
;oI, el,
was sitting. She was carried to bed. and
the best medical aid procured but it was
generally believed then that owing to her
great age, she would never again see a
we'll day, and that her end must soon
follow. But Mrs. Heller SO successfully
conlbatted the monster death. that to-day
she is able to walk without assistance to
church. and requires little more help than
she would if the accident had never hap
pened.
Mrs. Heller is a niece Of Mr.. Adolph
Heller, who. in ante be!lum days. was
one OF the most successful business men
of this thrifty little place. This Mr.. Heller
is the man who told General Custer here
during the Civil War that he would meet
just such an end as he came to at the ia
nous Mountain Meadow massacre. His
prophecy was occasioned by the extreme
" inhuman trea tment accorded to de-
nlented Davy Getz. about whom so muci,
was written in the papers several years
ago Mr.. Heller told General Custer that
he would meet a violent death. and even
at this late date people in this section
who remember the incident shudder to
think of it.
No one in this county is more beloved
or respected by all classes than is Mrs
Heller. For many Years she has been a
member OF the local Reformed church,
and she is known far and wide for her
good works.
Mrs. Heller, as indicated. has six daugh-
ters living. There are twenty-three grand
children. and ten great-grandchildren
Her health at this time is better than it
has been for several years. and she bids
fair 70 round out nine decades. if not
mere.