Kaye, Harriet (Brayshaw) 1811 – 1903

KAYE, BRAYSHAW, LIGHTBODY, BAKER, MATHEWS, REEK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:43

Source: Decorah Republican Feb. 19, 1903 Page 6 Col 1, 2

Mrs. Harriet Kaye died at the old homestead—the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. J. S. Reek, near Lake Geneva, Wis., on February 10, 1903, aged 91 years, 9 mouths and 25 days. Harriet Brayshaw was born at Linthwaite, near Huddersfield, England, on April 15, 1811. She was married at the age of 19 years to Abram Kaye who was two years her senior, and remained in England until 1842, when with her husband and children she came to America, landing at Baltimore, Maryland. The family resided in Maryland about three years and then moved to Pennsylvania, establishing a home near Philadelphia, remaining there until the fall of 1848, when they came to Wisconsin by way of the Great Lakes, landing in South Port, now Kenosha. Here the family found a farmer from Bigfoot Prairie who with his ox team had brought a load of wheat to market at the “Port" and he was engaged to convey them with his slow, but sure team to Linn township, Walworth county, Wis., about two miles south of the south shore of Lake Geneva. Here the family moved into a log cabin on a farm which the husband had previously purchased, and which is still a part of the old homestead. On this farm the deceased lived continuously, with exception of a few short visits, from that time to the day of her death. Mrs. Kaye’s husband died on the 21st day of April, 1875. To them were born ten children, five in England and five in America, of these, eight still survive. Hammon of Waterville, Kansas, Mrs. R. W. Lightbody of Jacksonville, Florida, John B. of Calma{r}, Iowa, Mrs. F. E. Baker of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. W. H. Mathews of Holton, Kansas, Abram E. of Gold Hill, Nevada, William J. and Mrs. J. S. Reek, both of Lake Geneva, Wis. Of the other two sons, Arthur died July 23, 1893, and Adin; October 19, 1899, one in his 63d and the other in his 67th year. Beside these eight children, Mrs. Kaye leaves surviving her, thirty-nine grand child{r}en and eighteen great grand-children — sixty-five living descendants in all. Mrs. Kaye was christened and confirmed in the Episcopal church — the “Church of England ” as she was wont to call it —and although never a communicant after coming here, was still strong in the faith. Her favorite hymn, was “Jesus Lover of my Soul" and its title and sentiment embodied her undoubting belief in the Master of Nazareth as the Savior of the World. Mrs. Kaye was a woman of strong character and positive convictions. Her charity and hospitality were of the kind so characteristic among pioneers of a new country — that which never refused a meal or a night’s shelter and lodgings to any wayfaring applicant, and this without question or care, as to whom he was, whence he came or whither he was going. She was one of those whose courage was equal to any emergency, and whose hope was beyond any but temporary discouragement. She was of those whom God seems to have chosen as one of the pioneer mothers of this great western land, to help to people and subdue it. She wrought long and faithfully; she has gone to her reward.