Hortentia A. Edmunds Caves died at the home of her step-son Charles Caves, in the town of Franklin, Jackson County, Wisconsin, on Sept. 19th, 1907.  She had been a resident of this county nearly sixty years and was eighty-three years of age.

Hortentia A. Hadley was born in Geneseo* county, New York, Aug 18th, 1824.  When seven or eight years old, with her parents, she moved to Fountain Green, Hancock County, Ill.  In 1839 she was married to John Edmunds, who was well known to the older settlers here and who died in this city Dec 30, 1878.

To Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds were born several children as follows: Olive I, who was married to J. M. Olson, formerly a leading business man of this community; Bailey, present operator of electric light plant in this city; Mary Edmunds Clark, now of Spokane, Wash.; Jessie H Edmunds, who recently died in Kansas City, Mo; Almedo [sic] Shean now residing in Clark County; Lucy Thompson now residing in Idaho; Sarah, residing in the state of Washington, and Martha, now deceased, formerly wife of Marvin Walker.  Three other children died in their infancy or early childhood.

In May, 1850, John Edmunds and family moved from either Henderson or Hancock, Illinois, to the mouth of Perry's Creek, where James Perry, who had married a sister of Mr. Edmunds, in June, 1847, was operating a saw mill.  Soon after the Edmunds family moved to a point near Stony Mound, in the present town of Manchester, and then to a point on Robinson Creek, known then as the Pauley mill.  Soon after they moved back to the mouth of Perry's Creek where he remained until he built a house known for many years as the old Edmunds house, about a mile from the mouth of the same.  Here he operated a lath mill and saw mill and was engaged somwhat in farming.  Finally, after the close of the war in 1865, perhaps in 1868, he purchased the property now known as the Charter Oak Mill property and was operating the same at the time of his death, which occurred in this city on Dec. 30th, 1878.

Among uncle John Edmunds personal and highly valued friends was William Caves, residing near the present site of Disco.  On the 17th day of February, 1881, Mr. William Caves and Hortentia A. Edmunds were married and lived thereafter on the old Caves homestead until the death of Mr. Caves, which occurred May, 1896.

While Mrs. Caves had not received such an education as our girls now usually receive yet the elements of learning she obtained in her childhood days, and ever thereafter to the time of her death continued to be an ardent reader of newspapers, magazines, periodicals and other books.  She was possessed of a very remarkable memory memory and retained to the last a clear idea of what she had read.  The writer had occasion to answer an inquiry through a correspondent of Current Literature three or four years ago, relative to a poem or song much used in early times regarding the War of 1812, and upon writing to Mrs. Caves, he received in reply promptly a carefully written copy of the poem which was published in Current Literature soon after.

Within a few weeks last past the writer conversed with her frequently while visiting to her son, Bailey, in this city, concerning articles and poems of importance and, strange to say, although 83 years of age, she retained in mind many of these pieces and facts more clearly than the writer would have done had he read them only a month or two ago.

In early times in this region, country doctors were few and far between, and, although herself in charge of a large family and doing the household work necessary to the keeping of a crew of men about a mill, and attending other matters, yet night and day she frequently left her home and went miles away to aid and assist in caring for the sick.  The writer knows from personal experience that she was a most excellent nurse and very well read upon the subject of medicine and the treatment of disease.

In early times in case of sickness of children and women in the neighborhood the first thought was to get the help of "Aunt Hortentia".   When called upon, no business affairs, home duties or other excuses were ever offered.  Ready and willing at all times she dropped everything and promptly administered to the wants of the sick and suffering wherever called.  In early days and time in the country hereabouts, Sundays were usually passed in gatherings at some of the homes of the young and old, where all were fed and entertained without regard to who or how many.  The homes of Aunt Hortentia, whether residing as Mrs. Edmunds or Mrs. Caves, was [sic] always a favorite place for these meetings and gatherings, from which all went away highly pleased with the entertainment of the day.  She was a most excellent cook, which was a fact well-known in the communities where she resided and she was likewise a good entertainer.  She was ever watchful for the good of others and never gave much thought to her own comforts or necessities.  Although on account of the newness of the country during the time that her children were under the paternal roof, yet they had all the care, attention and consideration that her many household and other duties would permit her to give them and none will be found to say that under all circumstances she was not an unusually good mother.

Mr. Caves died May 1896 and left Aunt Hortentia a widow for the second time and she remained such during the remainder of her life.

When she entered the home of Mr. Caves as his wife she found him with some very young children.  Her real goodness and kindness to them can best be appreciated by the fact that her stepson, Charles Caves, was as devoted as any own son could be to his stepmother.  With him she always lived and remained after the death of Mr. Caves, and with him and his good wife and in their home she was faithfully and carefully cared for during her last illness resulting in her death.

From the home of Mr. Charles Caves her remains were taken to Irving Cemetery and there buried beside her first husband.  Funeral services were conducted by a minister from Galesville, Wis, and the last rites and ceremonies were performed on Saturday, Sept 21st.  To mourn her loss are the neighbors and many friends who knew her during life, children here and else where, and stepchildren whose devotion to her has been as marked as if they were her own.  Her son, Bailey, daughter Almeda, stepson, Charles Caves, and wife are very grateful to those who have assisted and rendered services to their mother in her last illness and extended to them kindnesses in the burial services.

Grandmother Caves like all human being perhaps had her faults and shortcomings but these in consideration and in comparison with her many good qualities were so few and so small that as we cast a glance backward over her life we see nothing save the goodness and kindness of a woman whose life has been such that it leaves nothing behind to do otherwise than benefit those who knew her well and remember all.   G. M. P.

Centreville village was incorporated with this spelling; over the years the spelling Centerville came into common usage.