Willsie, Jane (Mowe) 1810 - 1903

WILLSIE, MOE, MOWE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/18/2019 at 10:47:54

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 24, 1903 Page 6 Col 1, 2

On Wednesday came the sad news to our town by telegram that the body of Mrs. Jane Willsie had been shipped from Spearfish, S. D., and was expected to reach Decorah Thursday afternoon. The immediate friends went to Decorah and remained until Friday evening, but the body not reaching that place they returned home, and not until Saturday about 4 p. in, did the tolling of the bell tell the people that Aunt Jane, (as everybody lovingly called her) had come home to be laid beside her husband Thomas Willsie, whose body was laid away in our cemetery in November, 1859. This death deserves more than a passing notice. Mrs. Willsie and her husband were among the very first settlers of Burr Oak, coming here with a family of five children in June, 1854, and settled on the farm now owned by Geo. Kimber, only then the farm was very much larger than now. The first Sunday after their arrival with all the family they were at a preaching in a log school house which stood between the brick building known as Houck’s corner and the home of Mrs. Feltis.
Mr. Willsie was largely instrumental in forming the M. E. church in Burr Oak and also in building a house of worship. His life was of short duration here, dying Nov. 4th. 1859, from the effect of a hurt by a vicious horse. Mrs. Willsie was reared in the Church of England, but after being married in 1835 to Mr. Willsie who was a lifelong Methodist, she identified herself with his church and remained a faithful member for all these years. Her life was rounded out to a ripe old age. Her maiden name was June Moe. She was born July 4, 1810, in Ascot, Lower Canada, near the St. Frances river, and after her marriage moved to upper Canada, town of Dorchester, twelve miles from London. Mrs. Willsie's residence of almost a half a century in this place has gained for her many friends. She has lived in Burr Oak the longest of any person, and the people were very much disappointed that there was no funeral, and they couldn’t pay that last tribute of respect and love to one that was as much revered as Aunt Jane. There are six living children, but they are so scattered that it was impossible to get them together at the burial of their mother. Only one was present.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows her maiden name as Mowe and that she is buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen