Date: NORTHERN INDIANIAN Dec. 31, 1903 (front page)
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DEATH OF CENTENARIAN
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Mrs. Houghtling Passes Away in her 103rd Year
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Resided for Many Years with Her Son in Noble County, Just across the
Kosciusko County Line
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In the death of Mrs. Harriet Houghtling, which occurred at her
residence, a half-mile south of Cromwell, Noble county, on the 18th inst.,
was marked the culmination of what may well be regarded as a most remarkable
career. Born as she was when the nineteenth century was only one year old,
her birthdays were the mile stones which recorded more extraordinary
historical data than was ever crowded into any previous hundred years. The
exact date of the birth of this interesting and remarkable character was
January 20th, 1801, her birthplace being Lebanon, Mass. On August 12, 1818,
she was married to Elias Houghtling, who with his young bride, soon
thereafter removed to Bradford county, Pa. In 1844, with the progress of
empire, Mr. Houghtling, wife and children set their faces toward the setting
sun, this time settling in the county of Tusarawas, Ohio, and again in 1872,
in response to the same influence, they removed to Leipsic, Putnam county,
and finally in 1886, at the ripe old age of 84 years, when no one but the
hardiest of the hardy would dream of assuming the hardships and
inconveniences incident to a change of residence so remote, Mother
Houghtling moved to Noble county, where her declining days were spent and
where her eventful and useful life came to a peaceful close.
Mrs. Houghtling was the mother of eight children, six sons and two
daughters, the names of the children being, Ira Harriet, Adam, Horace,
Esther, Norman, Steward and Charles. Three of her sons went west in the
early 50's and never returned, and so far as known have never been heard
from, while Adam was accidentally killed by the falling of a heavy barn
beam, and Harriet, Esther and Norman died at their homes. There are sixteen
grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren and fourteen
great-great-grandchildren. Mother Houghtling, through her extreme
advancement in years, became a constant care and was cared for by her son
Steward, assisted by her grandchildren, all of whom took great pleasure in
extending to the centenarian their helpful, tender kindnesses. Mother
Houghtling's relation to the church was ever of that order which challenged
the admiration of all who knew her. She was a member of the old school
Baptist church for a short period, after which she became identified with
the Methodist Episcopal church and remained a loyal member of that
organization up to the time of her death, at the age of 102 years, 10 months
and 28 days. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. A. Hatfield,
assisted by Rev. J. Dunkle, at the United Brethren church at Indian Village.
The remains were laid to rest in the Ligonier cemetery.
Marge Priser
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~kosco