Ann (Wharton) Engle (1809 - 1907)
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Ann (Wharton) Engle
November 28, 1809 - February 2, 1907

Contributor:
  • Image of article and 1st transcription forwarded by Judy Simpson on 22 August 2004. Judy received it from John Hartsock. John indicates that it "came from a book of obituaries put together by Lil Benham [one of my cousins), who was a school teacher for many years in Waynesville."
  • Second transcription by John Hartsock which includes a number of editorial comments
  • 2 Oct 2006: Brad Feldmaier adds scan from an original photo and additional comments about some of those mentioned in the article.
Source:
February 1907 obituary [publication date and name of newpaper is not known]
Image:

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(thumbnails are generally reduced to a 100 pixel width and images to a 600 pixel width. If needed, a larger image *may be* available)


Judy Simpson's Transcription

MRS. ANN ENGLE

OLDEST RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY PASSES TO HER REWARD.

Mrs. Ann ENGLE, past 97 years of age, and the oldest person in Warren County, died at her home in Waynesville at 10 o'clock Saturday night,
after a very brief illness due primarily to the infirmities of old age.

The funeral of Mrs. Ann Engle took place Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the White Brick meeting house, where she had loved to go and sit in
silent worship as long as health and strength permitted.

After a short season of silence, Rev. Philip Trout, pastor of the M. E. Church led in prayer, after which A. B. Chandler read an obituary. Mr.
Trout then made a short address, in which he spoke words of highest eulogy of the departed, all of which were well deserved.

Those who bore the precious remains to their final resting place in Miami cemetery, were O. J. Burnett, A. B. Chandler, J. E. Janney, Samuel
Butterworth, Edwin Chandler and C. A. Brown.

Following is the obituary:

Ann Wharton was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1809. When one year old, she came with her parents, Silas Wharton and wife, to Warren county, Ohio. Their home farm was the one now owned and occupied by Harrison Cornell, one mile and a half east of Lytle. There she grew into womanhood, and in 1831 became the wife of Robert Engle, a native of Burlington county, New Jersey. For a number of years after marriage they occupied the home farm. In 1858 they bought and moved into the home on Fifth street, Waynesville, where the husband died September 1869, and here the widow remained until her death February 2, 1907.

Her entire life was one of unostentatious usefulness and affectionate service to others. No children were born to her, but her rare fund of maternal affection was evidenced in the motherly interest she manifested in all orphan children. Her roof, from time to time, has sheltered over two score whom death had robbed of their natural parents.

Mrs. Engle outlived her generation, and in her declining years had not a relative to minister to her comfort, except at long intervals in visits
from nieces. But for fifteen years she has been most faithfully and tenderly cared for by her noble nurse, Miss Helen Kelsey, of late assisted by a distant relative, Miss Mary Wharton.

But the few kin who lived within reach, especially Mrs. N. B. Anthony, Mrs. Samuel S... [paper torn] Frank Hawes and Mrs. J. [torn] manifested warm filial affection for their venerable aunt in var... [torn] of kindness, all of which were greatly appreciated by the amia... [torn] ...ient, who valued every he... [torn] word, act and look from her fr... [torn] and who enjoyed seeing othe... [torn] ...joy the privileges of which [torn] physical infirmities was dep... [torn]. To her, the happy care free faces of the school children were as sunbeams, and a look of recognition from them as they passed her window watching for them always threw a glow of happiness over her placid face. Among her friends who of no blood kin she valued as kinspeople, was the family of the late Sidwell Taylor. During her life time Mrs. Taylor manifested a warm affection for her friend, and this affection seemed a legacy left to her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Ellis, and family, all of whom were faithful to the end and assiduous in attention.

Though without near blood kin, she was not without loving attention. She was to every man, woman and child in Waynesville known as "Aunt Ann," and was held in highest respect and tender regard.

Aunt Ann was by birthright a Friend of the old school, believed in their principles and made them the law of her life. Her mental faculties were retained to a remarkable degree until about a year ago, when there was a marked failure of memory and understanding. But there was a remarkable preservation of physical health, and almost, if not entire, exemption from many ills and discomforts that come with advanced age. She had lived a strictly "simple life," and her reward was a painless old age. Her sweet, gentle spirit, her purity of thought, her native delicacy distinguished her to the last. Her death was as painless as had been her life. She passed quietly and undisturbed through the "Dark Valley and Shad... [torn] as we believe, into the [torn] her God. "Blessed are [torn] heart, for they shall see [torn].

(signed) ONE WHO KNEW HER

John Hartsock's Transcription

MRS. ANN ENGLE

OLDEST RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY PASSES TO HER REWARD

Mrs. Ann ENGLE, past 97 years of age, and the oldest person in Warren County, died at her home in Waynesville at 10 o'clock Saturday night, after a very brief illness due primarily to the infirmities of old age.

The funeral of Mrs. Ann Engle took place Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the White Brick meeting house [ed. note: this is the Friends Meeting House in Waynesville], where she had loved to go and sit in silent worship as long as health and strength permitted.

After a short season of silence, Rev. Philip Trout, pastor of the M. E. Church led in prayer, after which A. B. Chandler read an obituary. Mr. Trout then made a short address, in which he spoke words of highest eulogy of the departed, all of which were well deserved. Those who bore the precious remains to their final resting place in Miami cemetery, were O. J. Burnett, A. B. Chandler, J. E. Janney, Samuel Butterworth, Edwin Chandler and C. A. Brown.

Following is the obituary:

Ann Wharton was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1809. When one year old, she came with her parents, Silas Wharton and wife, to Warren county, Ohio. Their home farm was the one now owned and occupied by Harrison Cornell [ed. note: this is a relative of some of the Hartsocks and the location is very close to Pauley's Corner or the juncture of Lytle and Ferry Roads], one mile and a half east of Lytle. There she grew into womanhood, and in 1831 became the wife of Robert Engle, a native of Burlington county, New Jersey. For a number of years after marriage they occupied the home farm. In 1858 they bought and moved into the home on Fifth street, Waynesville, where the husband died September 1869, and here the widow remained until her death February 2, 1907.

Her entire life was one of unostentatious usefulness and affectionate service to others. No children were born to her, but her rare fund of maternal affection was evidenced in the motherly interest she manifested in all orphan children. Her roof, from time to time, has sheltered over two score whom death had robbed of their natural parents.

Mrs. Engle outlived her generation, and in her declining years had not a relative to minister to her comfort, except at long intervals in visits from nieces. But for fifteen years she has been most faithfully and tenderly cared for by her noble nurse, Miss Helen Kelsey [ed. note: the Kelseys were also a prominent family in the area but I am not sure who Helen was], of late assisted by a distant relative, Miss Mary Wharton [ed. note: not sure who she is or how she is related].

But the few kin who lived within reach, especially Mrs. N. B. Anthony [see footnote], Mrs. Samuel Sides [ed.note: paper torn, but have records that she is Ann (Wharton) Engle's niece, Elizabeth R. Wharton, daughter of Nehemiah and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Wharton - also see footnote ], Mrs. Frank Hawes [ed. note: I added Mrs. since men normally did not care for patients in those days unless they were doctors. This is Mary E. (Haines) Hawes, the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bales) Haines and the wife of Francis (Frank) Marion Hawes. They are relatives of Ann Engle's through the Haines family] and Mrs. J. [ed. note: torn. Am not sure who this is.] manifested warm filial affection for their venerable aunt in various acts [ed. note: torn, 'various acts' is an assumption] of kindness, all of which were greatly appreciated by the amiable patient [ed. note: torn, 'amiable patient' is an assumption], who valued every helpful [ed. note: torn, 'helpful' is an assumption] word, act and look from her friends, [ed. note: torn, 'friends,' is an assumption] and who enjoyed seeing others enjoy [ed. note: torn, 'others enjoy' is an assumption] the privileges of which she, due to [ed. note: torn 'she, due to' is an assumption] physical infirmities, was deprived [ed. note: torn, 'deprived' is an assumption.]. To her, the happy care free faces of the school children were as sunbeams, and a look of recognition from them as they passed her window watching for them always threw a glow of happiness over her placid face. Among her friends who of no blood kin she valued as kinspeople, was the family of the late Sidwell Taylor. During her life time Mrs. Taylor manifested a warm affection for her friend, and this affection seemed a legacy left to her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Ellis, and family, all of whom were faithful to the end and assiduous in attention.

Though without near blood kin, she was not without loving attention. She was to every man, woman and child in Waynesville known as "Aunt Ann," and was held in highest respect and tender regard.

Aunt Ann was by birthright a Friend of the old school, believed in their principles and made them the law of her life. Her mental faculties were retained to a remarkable degree until about a year ago, when there was a marked failure of memory and understanding. But there was a remarkable preservation of physical health, and almost, if not entire, exemption from many ills and discomforts that come with advanced age. She had lived a strictly "simple life," and her reward was a painless old age. Her sweet, gentle spirit, her purity of thought, her native delicacy distinguished her to the last. Her death was as painless as had been her life. She passed quietly and undisturbed through the "Dark Valley and Shadow of Death [ed. note: torn, 'Shadow of Death' is an assumption] as we believe, into the arms of [ed. note: torn, 'arms of' is an assumption] her God. "Blessed are pure of [ed. note: torn, 'pure of' is an assumption] heart, for they shall see God [ed. note: torn, 'God' is and assumption].

(signed) ONE WHO KNEW HER


FOOTNOTES: [email any additional information or comments that you would like to include to Arne H Trelvik ]
Brad Feldmaier
2 Oct 2006 
In the text, the "unidentified" "Mrs. N.B. Anthony" was Ann (Wharton) Engle's niece, Mary Elizabeth (Engle) Anthony. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Rachel Ann (Engle) and Robert W. Engle. Rachel Ann was the sister of Robert Engle, the husband of Ann (Wharton) Engle.

[Yes it is confusing because there was Robert Engle and Robert W. Engle, of the same generation. The two Roberts were first cousins and brothers-in-law. Further, Rachel Ann and her husband Robert W. were first cousins.]

I can also confirm that "Mrs. Samuel Sides" was Elizabeth R. (Wharton) Sides as indicated by John Hartsock.

The picture of Ann (Wharton) Engle on the website is a bit worn. I have attached a clean version, scanned from an original print in my possession.


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This page created 22 August 2004 and last updated 3 October, 2006
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