The Newtown bee., 1902-07-04
LITCHFlELD COUNTY.
NEW PRESTON
MRS SARAH C. WHITTLESEY.

| Cs
Your correspondent is called, this
week, to mention the close of another
life here, which has been connected
with the best interests of this village
for nearly three quarters Of century,
in the person of Mrs. Sarah A., widow
of the late Gould {. Whittlesey. Her
death occurred on Thursday morning
of last week at the same home where
occurred her birth on July IL, 1927.
! Reared and married and widowed
| under the same roof, where her life
continuously has been passed, what
more complete than that her last days
on earth should be passed and ended
in the same dwelling? This house,
whose erection dates back to 1855,
where Gen Putnam and Gen Washing
J ton found comfortable and agreeable
resting place during the American
Revolution, and which has remained
all these years in the hands and pos
session of certain Cogswell and
descendants, VINO caused its erection,
where Mrs Whittlesey's late husband
found her years before the last CEN
fury had reached it's meridian height
by commencing select school within
its doors and so we'll did his own
knowledge of her most estimable vir-
tues advance that quite early in her
life she became his bride and, for more
than so years his faithful, devoted
wife. Nearly all this time Mr. Whit
tlesey remained an instructor of the
young here and hundreds thrC ughout
the United States to-day retain pleas
urable and profitable recellections of
their youthful experiences at Mr.
Whittlesey's Select School in this
village. While Mrs Whittlesey did
not, to the writer's knowledge, assist
him publicly in the duties of this
school, she did help and encourage
him greatly by her devoted life and
service, to continue nearly 40 years in
his life cause. She was truly a home
woman and in that home at all times
and under all circumstances her face
beamed with Christian cheerfulness
and during many of these years, a few
of his pupils of each sex from time to
time were sheltered and fed and kept
while here at school, under her most
beneficial Influence. 1t is thus i'm
possible to tell how great has the
example of such good woman been in
this community the past half century.
Many have and will rise up and call
her blessed by their own personal
acquaintance and remembrance as
they now realize that she has gone.
Since her husbands death in 1899, her
own personal and physical ailment has
been made known to the public. AS
long as he lived, the secret rested, for
his sake, alone with her but the
malady could not be suppressed long
after his deceaSe and for nearly two
years she has known her life was surely
drawing to its close by a cancer.
Most patiently has she submitted to
all pain and weakness and inability to
move about her home in long accuS-
toned way and still she did for herself
without assistance just as long as,
possible. Nearly two years ago her
sister, Mrs Elizabeth Pickett, decided
to leave her home in Sherman and
come here to reside with her; which
by intirmities proved to be her last
home, as she preceded to the grave her
sister, by five weeks. Since Mrs
Pickett's death. Mrs Whittlesey felt
the last strong link binding her to
earth was severed and her decline was
more rapid. Her death was peaceful
and calmly her eyes closed in their
last long sleep, looking hopefully,
trustingly forward to the glad awaken
ing and recognition of SO many kindred
spirits in the higher and better realm |
who had preceded her in their flight.
The church here, of which she has
been a member ever since its organiza-
tion in 1853, feel it has lost most
faithful member who was ever ready |
with good works to show her allegiance |
thereto. For many years she was an
active Sunday school worker and |
teacher and in this report the writer
fondly remembers her as connected |
with his early boyhood life. No face