The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
November 5, 1913
Page 4
Column 3Obituary.
At the time of her death, Nov. 1, 1913, Maria Harris, was the oldest person living in Fountain Green, having attained the age of 90 years.
Although for the last few years her mental faculties have been somewhat impaired, nevertheless she has retained that kindliness of spirit and thoughtfulness for others which has characterized her whole life.
Maria Williams was born January 2, 1823, at Cadiz, Trego county, Kentucky. She was the second of four children, two sisters and one brother, who preceded her to the Great Beyond. Her early girlhood was spent in Kentucky, but at the age of 19 she with her brother and sister, joined a band of sturdy pioneers, making their way to Illinois. Finding an excellent opportunity for making a good start in life they decided to locate in McDonough county. Here she made her home until 1866, when she moved to Hancock county, and made her home there until her death.
Her opportunities for education were limited but she learned from hard experiences the lessons which make the man or woman.
On July 19, 1855, she was married to Henry J. Martin. To this union six daughters were born, two of whom died in infancy, and Susan Enolia Martin, Eliza Jane Proffit, Sarah Perneca Potter and Henrietta Wertz, who survive her.
When Lincoln called for volunteers, the young husband was among those who joined the ranks; casting aside the longing to stay with his wife and babies, he went to fight for his country. The mother kept her 1ittle family together, bravely looking forward to the time when the war should cease and her husband should come back to her. He did come back but only for a short time, for the injuries received in the war became really serious and finally caused his death, which occurred in 1866. As his widow, Mrs. Martin received a pension which helped to keep the little family together. Through years of privation and hardship she reared her four girls, until they were provided with homes of their own.
In 1885 she was married to James Harris, who only lived for about four years. After this she made her home in Fountain Green, living most of the time by herself. In 1903 her widowed daughter, Mrs. Proffitt came to live with her. Since that she has been cared for by her.
She will be missed by those who have faithfully cared for her during her old age. She leaves to mourn her loss her four daughters and five grandchildren: Hill, Walter, Jewell and Nellie Potter of Kirksville, Mo., and Nellie Proffit of Fountain Green, besides a host of relatives and friends.
Her last days were full of suffering but when the end came she gave up cheerfully and lay down to rest as ''one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.'' N. M. P.
