The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-04-23
Mrs. Cordslia l. WaIdron.

WICn tne school lie OF whole gen
GRAFTON of Owosso boys and girls
Modest, quiet, retiring, seemingly
frail in body, she possessed vitality
of spirit that carried her through
trials before which stronger wpmer
have failed.
She was born at Malone N. Y.
August II, 1884. About the year ot
1850, when she was a girl of sixteen
her father removed to Owosso. That
Journey by boat and horse team
through the almost trackless wilder
ness to the then modest village OF
Owosso was an oft repeated story OF
the old days. Hiram l.. Lewis, faith
err ami son of the same name, her
father and brother, this was a name
wrought into the early history OF
Owosso's struggling days.
The family Joined the little Con-
gregational church and Became
quickly identified in a multitude ot
way with the life of the village.
Following family traditions Cor
della Lewis began at eighteen to teach
school work that occupied many
of her after years. Six Mile Creek,
the Burke and Dewey neighborhoods,
were among those to whom she min
isterei in those days.
One day she met Travers M. Wal
dron, and from that time began the
all-too-brief romance of her life.
There are a few still in Owosso who
were present at the modest little
wedding at the Old Lewis home, fifty
years ago last December. Some of
these friends followed her to the
cemetery last Tuesday.
Soon the happy young couple NOV
ed to what was then a far-away
country down in Egypt" of southern
Illinois. there at Patoka, a little
town on the Inninois Central they
lived their brief married. life, and
there was born the only child. AL
ready the sounds of war were ring
ing through the land. and the young
husband heard and responded to his
country's call.
The mother was left in her trouble
to make the long journey back to
Owosso and friends with her three
months old boy. Then came the
long days of waiting and the nights
OF anxiety. Grant was surrounding
Vicksburg, and the husband was
stationed on a Mississippi transport
near the city. Then came the news
of sickness partial recovery, relapse
and death. The wife and mother was
a widow, and the year-oli boy an
orphan. Only the grim struggle for
existence for the boy and herself
kept alive the mother heart during
those dark days. Friends there were,
but they had their own burdens to
bear. The struggle for bread fell
largely to the frail mother.
When her son George was five years
old Mrs. Waldron again took up her
school work, this time in Owosso.
For the following thirteen years, with
only short rests she continued teach
ing in the primary department.
Hundreds of boys and girls remem-
Der her today as their first teacher.
She taught until her own boy had
completed his OwCsso education and
was ready for college. Then in the
summer of 1880 she went with him to
Oberlin. All through the seven years
of his college and theological prep
aration she was his constant guide
and inspiration.
When school life was over and
George began his first parish work at
Benson, Vermont. now at last she
for the first time since the husband
left her she could settle down to the
enjoyment of her life. But her ac-
tive mind and body would not rest,
and in the life Of the church she
found ample opportunity.
All through the years that followed
she continued to live with and in her
boy. There were three years in
Vermont, then three years at Three
Oaks, Michigan, then came a journal
istic opening, and for nine years the
home and work were in and near
New York City.
Seven years ago the family remov-
ed to Florida and established home
on "a little plantation five miles north
Of Miami. Here followed several
quiet, restful years where her poor
body, worn through the long life of
anxious toll, seemed to grow young
er again in the balmy abr Of Florida,
and now grandchildren helped to en-
rich the life.
Probably the happiest years of all
were the last two, spent at OrmonJ,
Fla. The boy was back again in the
and doing the work she low
Ed best. Weak and tired through she
might be, she would delight to walk
into church leaning upon her two
little grand daughters, and no one en-
ioyed the services better than did
that fond mother.
Three weeks before she died she
was in church for the last time. The
Monday night following she was talk
IN with congestion of the lungs. Only
the absence from home of her boy
kept her alive that night. But she
would see him and so the crisis pass
ed. The worn-out body could not |
respond to that indomitable will and
there was a gradual sinking.