The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
Friday
July 9, 1943
Page 4
Columns 2 & 3Aunt Dicey Wilson
Passes 98th Birthday"Aunt" Dicey Wilson, who shares the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jennie Kimbrough, in Carthage, celebrated her 98th birthday last Friday, June 25. Mrs. Wilson had maintained her own home in Plymouth until last fall when she went to Carthage, where she has since made her home, although she always makes reference to Plymouth as being her real home. This is but natural inasmuch as "Aunt Dicey" had resided in this immediate community practically ninety-seven years.
She was a member of a large family of 17 children, born to Mr. and Mrs. John Phillips, pioneers of this community. Of this family there survive in addition to Mrs. Wilson, her two brothers, W. E. (Edgar) Phillips of Plymouth, past eighty years of age, and Luke Phillips, formerly of Plymouth, now residing at Macomb, who is well in the seventies.
Four American Wars
Mrs. Wilson has one grandson, Damon Boston, serving with the armed forces, now on maneuvers in the heart of the desert on the southwest coast, his postal address being California. Another grandson, Chellis Boston, is in defense work on the home front.
This is the fourth war in which America has participated during her 98 years. She was sixteen at the outbreak of the Civil War, vividly recalling many incidents of that era including Lincoln's campaign. The family however were ever staunch democrats. The Spanish-American war and World War 1, with the present conflict, round out four war periods "Aunt Dicey" has witnessed.
Scientific Age
It has been her privilege to live during the greatest scientific age the world has ever known. She has lived during the time when the homemade tallow candle played a prominent role in every household, having watched the public reaction to the oil burning lamp and still later marveled at the first electric lights that were installed in Plymouth. Rural residents came into the village to see the lights, made possible through a local power plant, and now electricity with electrically operated equipment is not uncommon in rural homes. Rural electrification has made possible the same modern conveniences on the farm as in the city.
This is only one example of advancement in almost every field. Mention could be made of the mode of transportation, automobiles, airplanes, the advent of the steam engine, then the diesel, the steamship and countless other modern types of transportation on land, in air and on water, that are so all-important in warfare.
Then too, there is the telegraph, the telephone, the radio and many, many other marvels that only those who have known the long outdated modes of communication, can fully appreciate. She has known the time when newspapers were far from common in the home, only an occasional newspaper coming into the community.
Enjoys Life's Simplicity
In this day and age when there are many complications in the every day routine of life, it is a pleasure to come in contact with those who enjoy life's simplicity. It is the common occurrences, the friendly greeting, the kindly deeds of kindred, that make life happy for "Aunt Dicey." For the birthday anniversary she was made extremely happy when a niece and husband, Mr. and Mrs. George Pickinpaugh of Clayton, brought a beautifully decorated birthday cake. Others remembered her with lovely greeting cards, gifts and flowers.
Mrs. Mary Bell of Plymouth, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Harrison of Denver, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Kimbrough, Mrs. Ollie Kimbrough enjoyed birthday dinner with "Aunt Dicey" and daughter, Mrs. Jennie Kimbrough. Mrs. Ollie Kimbrough is also a daughter. They helped make the birthday a pleasant event by their presence and remembrances. The dinner menu included not only two lovely birthday cakes but an abundance of fried chicken and all that goes with it.
Considering her advanced years, "Aunt Dicey" is remarkably alert, moves about with agility and enjoys comparatively good health. She has endeared herself to a wide circle of friends who are delighted in extending belated congratulations with very best wishes on the attainment of her 98th milestone. --- Plymouth Scribe.
Hancock County Historical Society
Carthage, IllinoisSiegfried XIX
Page 140Mrs. Dicy Wilson
Dies at Age of 101Plymouth Scribe -- Life's chapter closed at 8 Sunday evening, December 29, 1946, for Mrs. Dicy Elizabeth Wilson, who was probably the oldest resident of Hancock county, having celebrated her 101st birthday on last June 25. Peaceful and final slumber came at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jennie Kimbrough in Carthage. During recent years she had shared the homes of her two daughters, Mrs. Jennie Kimbrough and Mrs. Ollie Kimbrough, at Carthage. There she was lovingly ministered unto during her decline in health being made as comfortable and as happy as was possible.
"Aunt Dicy", as the aged woman was long familiarly known to her many friends, had a remarkable constitution and up until some four or five years ago she maintained her own cozy little home in Plymouth, despite the fact she was then in the advanced nineties. The latch string of this pleasant home was ever open to kindred and friends. It was a great source of satisfaction that she could for many years provide a home for her younger grandson, Damon L. Boston, now of Portland, Oregon, who came purposely to visit "Grandma" just before the holiday season.
The activities of her family members were always paramount in her life and their welfare her greatest concern. She lived quietly and harmoniously among her fellowmen, being ever helpful, kind and considerate, characteristics that were outstanding and admirable.
The daughter of John and Permelia Cox Phillips, she was the last member of a pioneer family composed of nine sons and six daughters, most of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Her birth place was in Floyd County, Virginia, having been born June 25, 1845, the parents soon afterward coming to Illinois, locating in the Shiloh neighborhood, near Plymouth, where the family was reared. Although modern conveniences and modes of transportation of this scientific age were undreamed of in childhood, "Aunt Dicy" Wilson lived to witness the greatest century of all time.
She was happily united in marriage to Luke Wilson, an energetic young St. Marys township farmer, their home being established in the countryside near Plymouth. There came to bless this union three daughters, Ella (Mrs. Sylvester Boston), whose passing several years ago was a deep source of sorrow, Jennie (Mrs. Dave Kimbrough) and Ollie, (Mrs. Frank Kimbrough). The passing of the devoted husband, and likewise in more recent years the demise of two sons-in-law, brought grief into her life.
Two grandsons, Chellis Boston, of Burlington, Iowa, and Damon Boston of Portland, Oregon, were ever as rays of sunshine in her life. They reciprocated this devotion by being ever thoughtful of "Grandma". She was also quite fond of Mrs. Francis Harrison of Denver, who was reared in the Frank Kimbrough home.
The celebration of her hundredth birthday in 1945 was indeed an auspicious occasion and while she was quite frail on her last birthday "Aunt Dicy" appreciated the many kind remembrances. She had gradually grown weaker during the intervening months, life slowly ebbing away, the final sunset of her beautiful life coming only a few days before the close of another year.
She leaves to cherish in blessed memory her good Christian traits so intricately woven in the pattern of life, the devoted daughters and grandsons, and many nieces, nephews and other loved ones and a legion of friends for to know "Aunt Dicy" was to love her.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 1, at 2, from the Elms in Carthage, many relatives and friends attending. Elder Lawrence Jones officiated in the services, the family having long worshiped at the Primitive Baptist church. There were many lovely flowers, each expression of love and sympathy being a source of comfort to the family.
The remains were lovingly laid to rest beside the grave of her husband in Holland cemetery in St. Marys township, not far distant from Plymouth and not so far from the old homestead where so many happy years were spent.
