The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-05-26
GENESEE PIONEERS
CALLED BY DEATH
MRS. SARAH GILLETT AND THOS. r.
MAXWELL CALLED HOME
Mrs. Gillett Was Aged 81 and Mr.. Max
well II; Both Were Residents More
Than Half a Century
GILLETT

GILLETT
One of the earliest pioneers of this
section and perhaps one of the most
aged persons in the entire state, passed
from the scene of life's activities last
Sunday evening, May 2l, 1916, when
Mrs. Sarah Gillett, who for the past
three weeks had been staying at the
home of her son, Isaac, in this village.
was called to the great beyond. Sarah
Misner was born in Ulster County,
N. Y, Aug. l, 1918, and was, there
fore, at the time of her death 81 years,
9 months and 20 days of age. When in
her 10Th year she was united in mar
riage with Nelson P. Gillett and with
her husband and family came to Michi-
gan in the fall of 1858, settling on a
farm which Mr.. Gillett had purchased
in the then wilderness of Vienna town.
ship, and to the boundaries of which no
road had at that time been surveyed.
Here the hardships incident to pioneer
life were cheerfully undertaken in the
hope that industry might bring its re-
ward of independent livlihood and a
competence for old age. But the hus-
band and father, through an inscrutable
and pathetic decree of fate, was des-
tined not to see the fruition of his hopes,
being killed, about eighteen months
after settling in his new home, by tree
which hetwas telling in the process of
clearing the land for crops. The be-
reaved mother. whose eldest child was
then but sixteen years of age, coura-
geously took upon herself the care of
her family and the reclaiming of their
home from the wilderness and the fact
that she reared her children to respect
able, useful manhood and womanhood,
and that the old forest home, still in
their possession, has been transformed
into some of the most fruitful lands in
this section, is the most eloquent testi-
monial that can be offered to the excel
lence of her character. She was typi-
cal American mother of the pioneer
days, brave, industrious, self-sacrific-
ing, charitable and devoted; of stock
from which has sprung the finest hu-
man qualities that our present-day CIV
ilization knows. Truly, her epitaph is
written large in the smiling fields and
myriad comforts which we today enjoy
and which she helped to bring into be-
ing. Notwithstanding her advanced
age, Mrs. Gillett remained remarkably
active and in full possession of her fac
ulties until about three years ago, when
she began to fail perceptably, her de-
cline having been slow but constant
since that time. For many years past
| it had been her custom to divide her
time between the families of her three
sons and her eldest granddaughter,
Mrs. o. M. Field. all of whom felt it a
rare privilege to have her with them.
Mrs. Gillett was the last surviving
member of family of two brothers
and six sisters, her last sister having
preceded her in death about year ago.
In her immediate family she is survived
by three sons, William, of Mt. Morris
township; Isaac, of Clio, and Nelson, of
Vienna township. There are also eight
grandchildren as follows: Mrs. o. M.
Field, Harry, Ralph, Leslie, Earl, Eve
lyn, Murray and Bertha Gillett; also
four great grandchildren, Howard and
Elsie Field, and Lyle and Gilbert
Gillett. All of these friends will have
in their bereavement and throughout
all their lives the inspiration that must
spring from memories of the character
so long and worthily sustained by the
departed. Mrs. Gillett was a charter
member of the Southwest Vienna M. E.
Church, attached to the charge at Mt.
Morris. AS consequence of this the
funeral services were held from the M
E. Church, at Mt. Morris, on Wednes.
day afternoon, Rev. J. d. Halliday Off.
ciating. Interment was in the family
lot in Mt. Morris cemetery.