Kittie (Kilmer) Tracy (1867 - 1909)

Ancestors

Wife of Jesse S Tracy — married 17 Dec 1885 in Osco Township, Henry, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1909 at age 42 in Henry County, Illinois

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Biography

Kittie was born in 1867. She was the daughter of William Kilmer and Sara Sperbeck. She passed away in 1909. ^[1]

History of Henry County, Vol. 2 by Henry L. Kliner, Pioneer Publishing Company, 1910, page 817

In the village of Osco, December 17, 1885, Mr. Tracy wedded Miss Kittie Kilmer, of Osco township. She was born here and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Sperbeck) Kilmer. The father was a native of Schoharie county, New York, where he was reared to the life of a farmer and where he married his first wife, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. In 1858 he came to Henry County, Illinois, buying one hundred and sixty acres in Osco township. He afterward lived in Rock Island, and Morristown. In 1878 he moved to the village of Osco, where he lived until his death in 1887. In 1865 he married the second time, and of that union were born Mrs. Tracy and a younger sister, Edna, who is the wife of Walter G. Hopkins, of Osco village, and the mother of four children. Mrs. Tracy’s mother died in 1893, and was buried in the cemetery at Morristown.

History of the Kilmer Family in America by Charles H. Kilmer, 1897, page 59

Kittie. Born January IT, 1867, in Osco, Henry county, Ill, Married Jesse S. Tiacy December 17, 1886. Mr. Tracy is a farmer and poultry fancier and a member of I. O. O. F. Mrs. Tracy says: “My life has been very uneventful. I was given a fair education and taught school two years previous to my marriage. Since that time I have been trying to learn to be a good farmer's wife” and this we are sure is something worth recording. Residence Oscar, Ill.

Newspapers

The Cambridge Chronicle, November 18, 1909, Page 1

The Sad Goodbye

Sunday evening at 8:00 o’clock, Mrs. Kitty Kilmer, wife of the late Jesse S. Tracy, passed away at the Mercy Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, after a painful and lingering illness. Mrs. Tracy had been confined to the hospital for the last three weeks and the immediate cause of death was splenic leukacema. 

The deceased was well known in the vicinity of her home and her loss is a sad blow to the community.

Mrs. Tracy was born in Cambridge township on January 17th, 1867, and was married to Mr. Jesse S. Tracy who preceded his wife in death about seven weeks ago, in the year of 1886, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Cool, then presiding elder of the Methodist district. This union was blessed with one son, Glenn K., who is now left to mourn the untimely death of his parents. She also leaves one sister, Mrs. W. G. Hopkins of Osco [Edna Kilmer], and a host of relatives and friends.

Mrs. Tracy had been a leading member of Grace church for many years where she will be greatly missed. She was also a member of Osco Royal Neighbor Camp and had taken a prominent part in the work in many of the neighboring towns.

The funeral service was held from the late home Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 o’clock, where a large concourse of people gathered to pay their last sad rites. Rev. J. T. Murrish had charge of the service. The singers consisted of a quartet composed of Messrs. C. B. and L. A. Taylor and Misses Zella Taylor and Nellie Philstrom who rendered the following beautiful hymns: “Asleep in Jesus,” “Lead Kindly Light,” and “Will There be any Stars in My Crown.” The pallbearers were: D. O. Hinman, R. G. Neville, Henry Bestor, G. R. Smith, Frank Magnuson and Burt Tomlinson. Interment was made in the Morristown cemetery.

The Geneseo Republic, November 19, 1909, Page 9

Passing of Mrs. Jesse Tracy

General sorrow is felt in the passing of Mrs. Kittie Kilmer Tracy, of Osco widow of the late Jesse Tracy. Her death occurred at Mercy hospital, Davenport, Sunday, Nov 14, 1909.

In the death of both Mr. and Mrs. Tracy within a period of less than two months Osco and Henry county loses two earnest and useful citizens. No movement undertaken in recent years in this vicinity for improvement of conditions failed in receiving the hearty support of Mr. and Mrs. Tracy. And their support was not along lines of passive acquiescence, but of the kind which meant activity and sacrifice on their part.

The remains of Mrs. Tracy were brought to Osco and the funeral held from the late home on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Her husband died on Sept. 28, 1909, just seven weeks previous to Mrs. Tracy’s death. She leaves to mourn one son, Glenn, and one sister, Mrs. Walter Hopkins Edna D. (Kilmer) Hopkins (1868-1944), both of Osco, besides a host of friends whose sympathy was attested by the large attendance at the funeral, the spacious house being crowded to its utmost capacity notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather.

Mrs. Kittie Kilmer Tracy was born in Cambridge township, this county, June 17, 1867. Mrs. Tracy was a member of the Royal Neighbors at Osco in which lodge she had held all the important offices and was frequently called upon by neighboring lodges to act as installing officer in which capacity she was very efficient. She was for a number of years, with the other members of her family, a member of Grace Episcopal church at Osco, and the rector, Reverend Merrish, had charge of the funeral service.

The pall bearers were D. O. Hinman, R. G. Neville, Henry Bestor, Geo R. Smith, H. L. Stoughton and Frank Manguson and the signers were C. B. Taylor, Lester Taylor, Zella Taylor, and Nellie Philstrom. The song selections were “Asleep in Jesus,” “Lead Kindly Light,” and “Will There be Any Stars in My Crown.”

Mrs. Tracy was a very devoted wife and mother and will be sadly missed in the home where is left only the son who has the sincere sympathy of a host of friends.

Interment was in the Morristown cemetery.

Death

Died on November 14, 1909 in a Davenport, Iowa, hospital.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94325912/kittie-tracy: accessed 20 January 2023), memorial page for Kittie Kilmer Tracy (17 Jan 1867–14 Nov 1909), Find a Grave Memorial ID 94325912, citing Morristown Cemetery, Morristown, Henry County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Debra Spengler (contributor 47192932).

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Cathy Ohama, Monday, May 19, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.

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