McGILL, Lela (Stewart) 1892-1984
STEWART, MCGILL, WARRINGTON
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/12/2011 at 22:39:08
Item 1:
Services for Lela McGill, 91, of Osage who died Monday, April 9, 1984 at Faith Home, will be held Saturday, April 21 at Champion Funeral Home. The body was cremated and the ashes will be buried at the Osage Cemetery.
Lela Stewart McGill, daughter of Marvin and Jeannette Warrington Stewart was born May 20, 1892, in Minnesota**. She graduated from high school in Austin, Minnesota and taught in rural schools until her marriage to Elmer McGill, on August 23, 1916.
She was active in the senior citizen group, delivered meals on wheels and did volunteer work at Faith Nursing Home. She was also one of the workers at the Historical Museum for several years. One of her many projects was to catalog the cemeteries in Mitchell County, which she completed with the help of Mary Wellner.
Lela was preceded in death by one son, Robert, her parents, and a brother Ray Stewart.
She is survived by three daughters, Mary Hartwig of Osage, Harriet Mendelson of Pasadena, California, and Margery Maravetz of Waterloo; one son, Marvin of Geyserville, California; one sister, Harriet Gamertsfelder of San Gabriel, California; one brother, Harven Stewart of Austin, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
[Mitchell County Press, Wednesday, April 18, 1984]
** The obituary's place of birth disagrees with the biographical story below; see item 2.
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Item 2:
Healthy and Happy at 89
"There's no special honor to having lived so long a time. I just wish everyone could have just a few aches and pains as I have"
These were the words of Lela McGill who is observing her birthday today - her 89th birthday.
She relates that she was born in St. Ansgar Township May 20, 1892, and the house in which she was born still stands. She was told that it snowed the day she was born.
"My mother was Jeanette Warrington and her father was Melvin Stewart, whose family dates back to the Mayflower," Mrs McGill recalls. She moved with her family to Freeborn County, London Township, Minnesota, when she was bout two years old.
"My grandmother was afraid of Indians and hung quilts over the windows when grandfather was away, and when he returned he was whistling so she would know who it was, states Lela.
Mrs. McGill is somewhat of a genealogist, and she remarked "It's one of my hobbies - genealogy." She knows that one of her Grandmother Stewart's ancestors received a commendation for meritorious service in the Revolutionary War, signed by General George Washington. "It's fun to see how far back I can go," she stated. "One of my ancestors was John Alden. My father's father was a real character, and I guess I take after him."
Lela became the bride of Elmer McGill August 23, 1916, and he died April 15, 1959. She has two sons, Marvin of Geyersville, California, who recently retired from court reporting, and Robert, a brick layer and stone mason living in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
Mary Hartwi is one of the three daughters of Mrs. McGill, and it's with Mary that Lela makes her home in an apartment. Her other daughters are Marjorie Maravetz of Waterloo and Harriet Mendelson of Pasadena, California. She also has one sister living in San Gabriel, California, Harriet Gamerstfelder.
An avid reader, Lela remarked that "I read a bushel of books a week," and she was cited by the Osage Women's Club for having read 50 books in one year. "But that's a very low figure," she added. "I've had two cataract operations," says Lela, "and I still read without glasses." She used to read to the folk in local nursing homes for her own and their pleasure, but she doesn't do that as much anymore.
Lela McGill has lots of memories and lots of friends. She has lived a long time but emphasizes that "I don't want to be called a senior citizen. I'm not that old."
So it's a happy birthday to you, Lela, from the Press News and all of its readers. May all the days of your future be as healthful as your past has been.
[Mitchell County Press, May 20, 1981]
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Item #3:CENSUS INFORMATION--
According to the 1900 US Census for London, Freeborn, Minnesota:
Marvin W. Stewart, 37, born November 1862, Minnesota.
Jeannette, 28, born July 1871, Wisconsin.
Lela, 8, born May 1892, Minnesota.
Ray E., 5, born August 1894, Minnesota.NOTES:
Her parents were Marvin William Stewart and Jeannette "Nettie" Warrington. They are both buried in the Woodbury Cemetery, Lyle, Mower, Minnesota(Credit: D. M. Scott)
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#4:Photo below is from the Mitchell County Press, May 20, 1981.
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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