Name/Title
Obituary of Hannah Rebekah TaylorScope and Content
History and Obituary of Hannah Rebekah Taylor, Belmont, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born July 13, 1838, married Albert Taylor on March 22, 1868. She died on December 1, 1933. He preceded her in death. They had six children: Rhoda, Myra Ellen and Myrta Helen (twins), Ralph, Martha and Rachel. Rhoda and Myra died in 1874; Ralph died in 1900 and Rachel died in 1902.
History and Obituary of Hannah Rebekah Taylor
Belmont, Portage County, Wisconsin
On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, 1933 a large gathering of the people of this community came to Blaine M. E. Church, to pay their last tribute of respect to one of their oldest and much loved pioneer citizens of Portage county.
Mrs. Hannah Rebekah Taylor lived an active citizen in this county 79 years. She came from Fredrickton, New Brunswick, with her parents, James and Hannah Sutherland, to Madison, Wis., at the age of 17 years, was the oldest of a family of eleven children. She moved with her parents to Belmont, Wis., in 1854, and settled on Government land, known then as the Indian country, and taught school in the log school houses of those days.
During the Civil war she took an active part in the troublesome affairs of those days, writing articles and poems for the newspapers and comforting families whose dear ones were killed in action or put in prison pens.
On March 22, 1868, she married Albert Taylor, a Civil war soldier. They were the parents of the following children: Rhoda, Myra Ellen and Myrta Helen (twins), Ralph, Martha and Rachel. Rhoda and Myra died in 1874. Ralph in 1900 and Rachel in 1902. She continued to live on the homestead after her husband's death in 1892 until her death on Dec. 1, 1913, in her ninety-sixth year. Surviving her are two daughters, Myrta (Mrs. Walter Watson) who lived with her, and Martha (Mrs. L. G. Krueger) of Waupun, Wis., and four grandchildren, Lowell of Cleveland, Ohio, Willard of White Water, Wis., Helen and Ethel Krueger of Waupun. Also one great grandchild, Lois Mary of Cleveland, Ohio. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Nancy Stoddard of Canby, Minn., and Mrs. Phebe Fuller of Redwood Falls, who was with her at the time of her death.
Mrs. Taylor was a faithful member of the M. E. Church and the Woman's Relief Corps, Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodge of Almond, Wis. She always led an active life working in her garden among her flowers and was working on a rug up to the time of her stroke which caused her death ten days later. She was the recipient of many beautiful flowers and emblems. Her room seemed filled with flowers and the golden color of the emblems seemed to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of her life and "The End of a Perfect Day." By her casket stood two beautiful flags, her countries emblem "Old Glory."
The funeral was in charge of Victor Hardell of Almond and Rev. Jos. Cheek, pastor of the M. E. Church had charge of the ceremonies. He read from the 14th chapter of John, a favorite of hers.
Her favorite hymns were sung by Frank Putz, Henry Karnopp, Mrs. Walter Wiel and Mrs. Clyde Adams.
The pall bearers were Irwin Smith, Edwin Lea, Ed. Stinson, D. H. Carlson, Fred Turner and Clyde Adams.
The flower bearers were Mrs. Earl Atkinson, Mrs. Clarence George, Evelyn and Edith Carlson, Doris and Leah Turner and Mrs. Hardell. As the remains were taken from the church, led by the colors, the choir sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." She was laid to rest in the Belmont Cemetery beside her husband and children.
Out of town relatives and friends present were Mrs. Martha Krueger and daughters Helen and Ethel, Walter Watson and son Willard of Waupun; Mrs. Addie Wanderi, Frances Ridley and W. C. Fuller of St. Paul; Mrs. Phebe Fuller, Redwood Falls, Minn.; Grace Sheean and Mrs. Herbert Northrup of Waupun and son of Oakfield - Stevens Point (Wis.) Journal and Waupaca (Wis.) Post.
Visits Springfield, Ill., Lincoln's Old Home
Mrs. Taylor was a student all her life and kept herself posted on all the stirring events of the day. She was always ready at her advanced age to get up and give her views and reminicences of old times when called upon. She had the talents to convert the events of the day into poetry. In her memory she carried long poems that are now lost to us. A year ago she attended the National Encampment of the G. A. R. at Springfield, Illinois. On arriving there Sunday morning, a program was being held at Lincoln's Tomb. She was invited by the Governor of Illinois to sit on the platform, as the oldest woman of the Civil War present.
She visited Lincoln's Old Home and sat in his chair, while she gave a long speech to the old veterans on "Lincoln's Call." She also recited a long original poem on Gen. Pershing. Mrs. Tavlor was given an honored position in the parade and was the recipient of many honors and favors from the different state departments. She had put the events of this G. A. R. Anniversary of Lincoln's Home in a beautiful poem. Taken from the files of the Redwood County (Minn.) Sun.
Poetess Succumbs At Daughter's Home
Waupun, Wis., Dec. 1-(Special). Mrs. Hannah Rebecca Taylor, widely known throughout the state as a poetess and elocutionist, died today at Almond at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Watson. She was a member of Rebekah, Eastern Star, and Women's Relief Corps. She will be buried Saturday at Almond. --Milwaukee Sentinel.
**According to the 1931 Waupun City Directory, a W. A. Watson was the night turnkey at the Wisconsin State Prison. His residence is listed as the Prison Dormitory. W. A. Watson was most likely Willard Watson, the son of Myrta Taylor Watson and Walter Watson.Acquisition
Accession
2007.0005Source or Donor
Mae BeyersAcquisition Method
Donation