Matilda Olivia (Williams) Aldrich (1836-1892)

WILLIAMS, ALDRICH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/31/2011 at 19:38:18

From Story County Watchman September 23, 1892

DIED:--On Sunday morning last Mrs. Chas. Aldrich died at the residence of her husband in Boone, aged 56 years. Mrs. Aldrich was the wife of the Curator of the State Historical Collection known as the Aldrich Collection. They moved to Webster City in 1857 where Mr. Aldrich was then starting the Freeman. The writer hereof [V. A. Ballou] commenced working in the Freeman office in 1858 and worked there several years and made his home with the family until after the close of the war. We can only say in additio to the following from the Boone News that if there was a better woman they are scarce and we look back to her many acts of kindliness and words of advice, which to us are now in the memory and will remain with us so long as life lasts, and for which we are double grateful: "Mrs. Aldrich was a woman of more than ordinary intelligence. She read largely of the best writers and traveled with her husband extensively in this country also spending several months in Europe. She was ever a helpmeet to her husband, in the truest sense of the word, assisting him by her counsel, by her cheerfulness and in her capable management of home affairs. She was the ideal wife of a pioneer newspaper man and in later years at Washington, at Des Moines and elsewhere, was a great source of help to him.

Mrs. Aldrich's leading characteristic was her simple kind heartedness. She was especially kind to the poor, always finding some way to assist them even in the old days when frugality and economy was so necessary. Her love for dumb animals and children was intense and many of her acquaintances received lessons of kindness in this respect from her which will never be forgotten. She was a true and noble woman and in losing her Mr. Aldrich suffers more than words can tell.