The oldest citizen of Schuyler county, Mrs. Luttrell, who was 102 years old this month, died at her home near Browning Tuesday night. The following information concerning this aged person is as nearly correct as we could receive from the best information we were able to obtain. Mrs. Luttrell was born in Virginia and came to Schuyler county about 1832. Se was the mother of twelve children, three of whom are yet living and two, Mesdames Thornton and Mace, were at the funeral.
She is the grandmother of 50 children, has 75 great-grandchildren and 146 great-great-grandchildren. Till within two or three years of her death, she had lived alone for some time and did her own work but has spent the past few years of her life with the grandchildren, where she died after a few days’ illness. — Rushville Republican.
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Mrs. Sarah Lutrell, living near Baders, died Tuesday afternoon. She is known to Argus readers as Grandmother Lutrell, and had she lived a few days longer would have been 102 years old.
(100TH BIRTHDAY FEATURE ARTICLE)
In the year 1792 there was born on the James river in Virginia a child, who God had decreed should live to celebrate her 100th anniversary, and on last Saturday the friends and relatives to the number of 600, gathered at the old homestead three miles southwest of Baders, and honored the old lady by their presence. All day on Saturday the people came and went. We arrived about one o’clock and found a bounteous supply of food ready for those who desired to partake. The residence where the old lady has lived for forty-six years was found to be a
LOG CABIN
such as our forefathers lived in years gone by, and in fact the entire surroundings were such that reminded one of pioneer days. Within this cabin rested Mrs. Sarah Luttrell, for such is her name, on a bed in keeping with the other surroundings, and nearby stood the three daughters ready to assist their aged mother, who is at present quite poorly. On last Saturday a week, the old lady while in the act of arising from a chair, in some way stepped on her dress, causing her to fall to the floor, thus injuring herself in such a manner as to prevent her being up and around. Prior to this time her health had been of the best, and at all times she was able to do her own work, and walk to different points of the old homestead.
MISS SARAH BRYANT
was born on the James river, Patrick county, Virginia, June 25, 1792, and spent her early days there. Her parents emigrated from Virginia, while she was yet a child, into Kentucky and while yet quite small moved into Tennessee where she was reared to womanhood, and on the 18th of November, 1813 married
SHELTON LUTTRELL.
After living in that state a short time together with her husband she moved to Alabama, and later to Arkansas. A few years later, becoming dissatisfied they again emigrated, this time into the state of Illinois and in the year 1831 settled on the farm where the old lady now lives. Her parents were both English, which fact she seems to be very proud of, and her father took an active part in the colonial period of the United States.
Her husband was a soldier in the Indian war of 1812, and their married life lasted over a period of sixty-nine years, when at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years he died. Mr. and Mrs. Luttrell were the parents of twelve children, ten girls and two boys. However, Mrs. Mary Mace, age 78, Mrs. Sallie Skiles, age 71, and Mrs. Felix Thornton, age 67, are the only surviving children. Her grandchildren number fifty-seven; great-grandchildren one hundred and fifty-seven; great-great-grandchildren forty-nine; great-great-great-grandchildren fourteen and great-great-great-great-grandchildren two. Thus it will be seen that this aged lady is one of
SIX GENERATIONS
and has at the present time some three hundred descendants, and of these about two hundred and fifty were present at her one hundredth anniversary.
Grandma Luttrell has been a constant smoker for sixty years, and in response as to what she contributed her long life to said, “plain dieting.” Her principal food is corn bread and milk. No difference how many luxuries are placed before her she refuses them all in preference to this plain food. She never went to school a day in her life, and never learned to read or write. In stature she stands about five feet five and weighs about 110 pounds. Her hearing is somewhat hard, and her sight is such that she cannot recognize an object very far away. This remarkable woman has been a member of the
CHRISTIAN CHURCH 75 YEARS
and has been known to walk to Baders, a distance of three miles, to church many times. The accident that befell her a week ago causes her much pain, yet her faith in the redeemer has not been shaken, and she spends most of the time in prayer. She seems anxious and ready to die that she may meet her husband and children that have gone on before to prepare for her coming.
THE EXERCISES
held during the day were of a religious nature. She had requested that hymns be sung and a short sermon preached. So the large audience gathered in front of the picturesque cabin where singing was indulged in; after which Rev. Harvey Skiles delivered a short address of a religious nature, touching upon the events and life of Grandma Luttrell. Following are a few of the names of the relatives present:
Felix Thornton, wife and children. Mrs. Thornton is a daughter of the venerable lady and they live upon the homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Swope and two children, Baders.
Mrs. Carrie Rodgers, Astoria.
J. W. Gildersleeve, wife and three children, Browning.
Mrs. Mary Tracy and child, Ray.
Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh and three children, Astoria.
J. M. Corman, wife and three children, Browning.
Al Thornton, wife and child, Browning.
George Robinson and wife, Browning.
Mrs. Sarah Flemmings and one child, Browning.
Wm. Skiles, wife and six children, Browning.
Wm. Thornton, wife and four children, Browning.
David Stedman, wife and two children, Browning.
Mrs. D. C. Louring, Rushville.
F. W. Neff, Browning.
H. S. Trone, wife and child, Browning.
Mrs. M. Skiles, Browning.
Mrs. Sarah Neff, Frederick. Mrs. Neff is the oldest grandchild and is fifty-seven years of age.
T. J. Stroops, Baders.
J. M. Corman, wife and three children, Rushville.
Mrs. Susie Ambrose and four children, Pleasantview.
W. H. Neff, LaHarpe. Mr. Neff is the grandfather of the two children of the 6th generation.
W. C. Skiles, wife and two children, Harlan county, Kan.
George Garrett and two daughters, Franklin county, Neb.
G. W. Johnson, Mason county, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Reno and ten children, Browning.
F. M. Skiles, wife and four children, Browning.
M. V. Wright, wife and two children, Browning.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus