Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-09-13
PIONEER WOMAN DEAD.
Sarah W. Frink of Packwaukee, Mar
quette County, Ends Hon
ored Life.

died at her home in this place Septem-
Der 4, after a painful and lingering ~
ness, took place September 8 at 5:3O
p. m. The services, by her direction,
were held on her own lawn, beautiful
| with flowers which had thriven under her
| skiilful care. and the casket rested be-
meath her favOrite tree. Rev. Il. IL. BOtel-
er, the Presbyterian minister of the vii
lage, conducted the simple ceremony, con-
| sistlng of prayers and a few remarks.
Then friends and neighbors, all of whom
| had known her from childhood, accompa-
MED the funeral cOrtege to the cemetery,
| located only a few rods from her old
home, and within plain view of it; and
| there, just as the shades Of night We're
falling, all that was mortal of truly
remarkable woman was laid to rest.
A Native of Long Island.
Sarah w. Frink was born in New
town, Long Island, May y, 1910. She
| Whitson and Hannah Coles Willis Whit
son, the former of whom was born and
raised in the same town. Mrs. Whitson,
| who was a native of Crowneck, now
! Koslin, Long Island, was niece OF
| Elias Hicks, one of the most noted
! Quaker preachers of the United States.
! 4 deep impression was made upon the
mind of Sarah by the historic assocla-
tons amid which she passed her early
! days. The old house at NeWtown IN
which she first saw the light bore the
marks of a British cannonball by which
| it was struck during the Battle OF Long
Island During her young girlhood she
! spent four years visiting relatives III
! Hampstead, Jamaica, and FLUSHING,
whose traditions, like those of NeWtoWn,
are rife with memories OF the early
! QuakerS.
The Winning of the Wilderness.
The Whitson family moved to Wiscon-
sin in 1851, travelling by boat through
the lakes and by ox-team from Milwau-
! kee to Packwaukee, where the father
'homesteaded'; 3UU acres Of land some
two miles south of Buffalo Lake. Here,
! by industry and thrift, was section OF
| primeyal wilderness converted into one
of the most productive farms in the
county of Marquette. Here was estab-
lished a well-ordered, cheerful home,
whose hospitality was broad and hearty.
| The travelling stranger, and even the
| bands of WinnebagO and Menomlnee In
| dams on their way to their annual
| dances at point on the Fox river be-
| low the homestead, were accustomed to
| seek shelter here, and were never turned
away. Sometimes three dinners day
were served up in this hOspltable abode
and a welcome went with each. Among
the early settlers of the region the Whit
son home was recognized as center OF
social life. The picture of the we'll
managed farm in its setting OF untamed
nature is still freshly preserved in the
memories of survivors of those pioneer
| days. Wild deer bounded over
the neighboring hills. Bears were nu-
merous in the woods. This was the
exterior aspect of the place. Another
| picture which rises in the memory is that
/ Of the domestic interior, with the tire
less mother and her two daughters seat
ed at their spinning wheels, the mother
"
the large one There was work for ev-
cry waking hour. The wool from the
many sheep raised on the farm was dyed
and spun and woven and wrought into
garments by the deft hands of the wOn-
en- of the household. In the intervals of
their tasks, they found time for culture.
Happy Married Life.
Sarah Whitson was married in 1870
to Chester Frink, Jr., son of Chester
Erlnk, ST., another pioneer settler OF
! Packwaukee, who was of Puritan stock,
and came out from Connecticut. 1t was
a happy union. Among the congenial
pursuits Of husband and wife was ar
chaeology. Together they explored many
of the Indian mounds with which the vi
cinity CT Packwaulee abounds, and their
home was yeritable museum of relics
stone and copper arrow heads, axes and
hammers, pottery and calumets. Royce's
Point and other localities which have
been recently explored by historical So
cities, We're long ago familiar to Mr. and
Mrs. t'rlnk. Mr.. Frink died in 1891
The widow preserved his cherished col
lections as he had left them, and de
lighted to exhibit them to visitors in
terested IN the subjects which had inter
ested him. During all her life
! she was fond Of pets and plants
everything helpless or beautiful found
favor IN her eyes, and the bird, the cat
! or the dog, which made its way to her,
! was sure of a comfortable existence.
Her garden teemed with flowers and
rare shrubs and plants in a condition of
thrift which bespoke intelligent and low
ing attention. About a year ago, short
ly before her health began to fail, Mrs.
Frink, joined the Society of Friends, a
branch OF which exists in Chicago. She
VIII be remembered by all who ever en-
| JOyed the privilege of her acquaintance
as a remarkable woman, with education,
refinement and culture which would
have graced any home in the laad, and
with a sweet soul as we'll as a bright
| mlnd-a woman Warm-hearted, affection
ate and true
The Whitson Family.
Mrs. Frink is survived by numerous
relatives Her fathers family, consist
ing OF SIX children, was as follows: /.
Ann ii. Whitson, who is still living in
Packwaukee; . Sarah jackson; 8.
Abram Whitson, who left home in 1860,
and was last heard from in 1862 at
Umatilla. Ore, when he was about start
ing for Wyoming territory, which was
to have been killed by Indians; f. Daniel
Whitson, who died at the family home
stead July II, 1905, and was buried be-
side his parents; 5. Townsend w. Whit
son, living on and owning the original
farm; 6. Edward W. Whitson, who is
now engaged in the numbering business
at Tomahawk, Wis. David Whitson, q
| brother of Abram Whitson, resided for
many years near Madison, where he is
! survived by two married daughters.