Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-02-25
TRIBUTE TO A PIONEER MOTHER
OF GRANT COUNTY
BeetoWn's Oldest Inhabitant. Mrs.
Washington M. Garner.

y w
and Ann Edwards, was born in Miner
al Point, Wis, the first child of white
parentage born there, September %,
1882. She came two years later to
Beetown, Grant County, her parents
being among the very earliest settlers
of the village They Immediately
opened boarding house for the many
seekers after wealth who came flock
ing to the newly discovered lead mines
of southwestern Wisconsin. Later this
"wayside inn" became widely known
for it's hospitable entertainnn ent-and
its gilded sign-Beetown House, with
the golden bees fiuttering about the
hive, was land mark for more than
half a century. November 1, 1849,
Mary Ann was married to Washington
M. Garner. Ten children were born
to their union. The happy couple
enjoyed the blessing of seeing all of
them reach maturity. Lutte, the baby
of the family, a fair maiden, and the
husband and father all preceded the
mother to the great beyond William
of Bloomington, Elizabeth, Mrs. Cart
Hickok and Julia, Mrs. Charles Wood
house of Dos Palos, California, Ida,
Mrs. Richard Pascoe, Toay and Chris,
Beetown, and Clara, Mrs. VIM. Flick
ner of Cassiville live to mourn good
mother. With them survive twenty
four grandchildren, eight great grand
children, two sisters and one brother,
Mrs. Louisa F. Rogers, Mrs. Julia Nc
Coy and Matt Edwards, ST., all of
Lancaster, a host of other relatives
and many friends.
At 2:3O a. m. January 20, 1914, after
a brief illness, Mrs. Garner entered
peacefully into the eternal rest, from
the home in which nearly all the chill
dren were born, and where most of
the years of her long and useful life
had been spent
She loved that old home, it was to
her a hallowed spot. Mr.. and Mrs.
Garner had wide acquaintance, they
were for many years proprietors of
the village hotel and for some years
kept a boarding house at the Black
Jack Mine. In fact they always kept
open house, hospitality, good cheer
and marked friendliness of demean-
or were characteristic of both. After
Mr.. Gamers demise in the winter of
1899, the loyal children would gladly
have lifted from the beloved mothers
ed long and with wonderful fortitude
and accomplishing submission had
taken the bitter of life with it's sweets.
There were good homes in which she
was always a welcome member She
was happy to be with her children
for a time, but her heart always
turned to the old home. She could not
be persuaded to sever all it's tender
ties. To her it was the dearest spot
on earth, every nook and corner
fraught with golden links of memory.
And SO they did not urge her, she was
well provided for. Miss Kite Klinger
one of the village teachers was with
her for companionshin Cozily and
happy they kept house together. In
the old habitation, amid the familiar
surroundings Of four score years, a
long, long time. She passed gently
away, only one wish ungratified, the
longing desire to see once again the
far-away daughters, her Lizzie" and
Julia"
The other children, except Chris,
who had left her but little before,
were at her bedside when the spirit
fed. Also the son Georges wife who
was to her as one of her own loved
daughters will miss the silvered head
from the window, the pleasant greet
ing from the kind old lips, the clasp
of the friendly hand. Another old
Beetown home henceforth but mem
DRY. To many memory fragrant with
neighborly kindness and helpful deeds.
Some one had beautifully said-It is
no wonder the grandest harps are
tuned to sing of "Home, Sweet Home"
No songs are sweeter than those heard
among the boughs that shade our par
ents' dwelling when some evening
hour found us gay as the birds that
Warbled over us. We may wonder
away and mingle with the worlds
strife, form new associations and fam
cy we have forgotten the home of our
birth, but around it there is woven
spell the influence of which neither
time nor change can break. We may
find climes as beautiful, may hap
friends as dear, but they cannot usurp
the place of our child-hood's home
The esteem in which Mrs. Garner
was held was manifested by the large
cOncourse of people who gathered at
the funeral. The village church could
not hold them. There were many
beautiful floral tributes. Rev. J. A.
Jamison conducted services. Six
grand-sons were pall-bearers. In the
Beetown burying ground where rests
many loved ones "gone before our
venerable friend now sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking" And with her
face no longer in sight old Beetown
won't be quite the same any more.
"Ah, when for me the day is done, and
falls the twilight huSh
And from each sapphire peak dissolves
the sunsets lingering flush
When one by one the slow stars kindle
in nights shadowy dome,
Then from my life's long wanderings
may evening bring me home"
B. D. S.
For the much kindness bestowed in
her illness, the respect attributed to
her memory, and the sympathy mani
tested in their sorrow, the children of
the late Mrs. Mary A. Garner are pro-
foundry thankful.