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Wayne County Newspaper Articles

Wayne County Newspaper Articles

Mrs. Julia M. White

Fairfield's Oldest Woman Passes.

The end has come on earth for Mrs. Julia Maria White.
   She had passed her ninety-eighth birthday anniversary on March 9th. Ten days before her death she suffered a stroke of paralysis which was followed by other strokes, and the end came peacefully last Wednesday afternoon, March 18, about the hour that the cyclone struck and did so much damage to southern Illinois. She was unconscious during the last days of her life.
   Mrs. White was one of the most interesting characters of this city. Aside from being the oldest person in the city, she was remarkable because of the unusual activity with which she got around, and the interest she took, at that age, in the affairs of life. Her activities were largely along religious life. She never missed a church service when her health permitted her attendance. She taught a Sunday School class for the greater part of her adult life or for more than 50 years in Fairfield, relinquishing the work only when the infirmities of age fell heavily upon her.
   She taught school for more than half a century or for 57 years. Her first teacher's certificate, (and she carefully preserved them all) was dated March 18, 1847, and was issued at New Lisbon, Ohio. Her first Wayne county certificate was signed by William George, School Commissioner, July 22, 1857. Other certificates were signed by E. A. Johnson in 1861; C. A. Cooper, in 1864; J. B. Mabry, in 1866; W. A. Vernon in 1870; Frances M. Woolard in 1874; Benjamin F. Meeks in 1879; and James H. Kramer as late as 1892. Some of the foregoing signed more than one of the certificates. Many of the aged people of this county living now recall attending Mrs. White's school in the earlier days in Wayne county.
   Mrs. White was always fond of telling of her experiences during the civil war. Her husband William White, became seriously ill in the union lines near Cornith, Miss., in the summer of 1862, and Mrs. White secured a pass from General U. S. Grant to visit and stay with him for two months, nursing him back to health and bringing him home with her in October, 1862. She kept this pass, and took much pride in showing it to her friends, and it is now to be preserved by her nephew, Dr. W. G. Hart. Mrs. White preserved all these records, and trunk loads of other papers and letters with scrupulous care. She was most methodical in all her home life. She kept an accurate account of every expenditure and contribution, and the last entry bears the date of March 8th, this year.

Some six years ago Mrs. White wrote the following statement about herself, which was found among her papers:
   Julia Maria Hart, daughter of Julius C. and Catherine (Carl) Hart was born near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, March 9th, 1827.
   Educated in public schools of that day. When grown I wished to prepare for teaching and I studied the branches required to fit me for teaching in the common schools, and after teaching 5 years, the school law issued graded certificates and I then studied the branches required  and was granted a first grade certificate in the year 1852. I emigrated to Wayne county, Illinois in July 1855 and followed teaching most of the time until June 10th, 1893, when I retired, and moved to Fairfield, Illinois.
   When I was old enough to attend Sunday School my mother fitted me out and sent me to Presbyterian Sunday School one mile from my home in the country. I soon became much interested in the lessons and a few years later I sought the Lord and found Him precious to my soul, aged about ten years and by the grace of God I have been sustained through all the years till now and I expect to trust and serve Him while I live. United with the First Methodist Episcopal church, Fairfield, May 28th, 1876.
   I was married to Samuel Russell, December 28th, 1848 in Ohio. to this union one son was born, Napoleon Homer Russell, who died March 29th, 1904. I was married the second time to William White, of Wayne county, Illinois, February 26th, 1859. To this union one son was born, Julius Edwin White, who lives in Carbondale, Colorado.
   William White enlisted in the Civil War in 1861 and was discharged the following year on account of disability and remained an invalid until he died, August 14, 1885.
            __________
   Mrs. White passed away at 3:30 p.m. March 18th, 1925, aged 98 years, 9 days. She leaves one son Julius Edwin White of Carbondale, Colorado, one step-son W. D. White of DeVall's Bluff, Ark., three brothers, John S. Hart, Falls City, Oregon; Julius Hart, Medford, Oregon and W. M. Hart, of Jeffersonville.
   The funeral was conducted on Friday afternoon, March 20th, Rev. W. J. Fahnestock, pastor, officiating. The body was then conveyed to the Buckeye cemetery, in northeastern Lamard township, where interment was made by the side of her husband, who died many years ago. The pall-bearers were: U. S. Staley, C. T. Johnson, E. Steiner, J. L. Matthews, L. P. Decker and W. F. Nichols.

Wayne County Illinois Press
March 26, 1925

Submitted by Betty Beeson

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FADED INTO THE MISTS OF TIME