One of Fulton's Oldest Residents Called
Fulton Journal
July 13, 1897
Louisa Woodworth-Wilbur Cowles was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Cowles and was born in Otsego county, New York, March 19, 1817, and died at the home of her grand daughter, Mrs. Martin H. McGrath, in this city, at 1:45 o'clock this morning, after an illness of nearly six weeks at the age of eighty years three months and twenty-three days. The immediate cause of her death was congestion of the lungs. The deceased was the daughter of a Methodist minister, and was one of a family of fourteen children, nearly all of whom have preceeded her to the beyond. She attended school in her native state and taught school when quite young. In 1836 the family moved to Courtland, Ohio, where the deceased met Wesley Knight, to whom she was married in 1838. To this marriage four children were born: Emma, who became Mrs. L.F. Puffer, and died in 1895; Mary, who married Daniel Hollinshead, of Ustick, and died in 1867; Don Carlos, who was a soldier in the civil war and died in St.Louis, in April, 1878, from injuries received in a railroad accident; and Wesley, who died in infancy. Soon after her marriage the family moved to southern Illinois and in 1847 came to this city, where the deceased has resided since. In 1850 Mr. Knight died of cholera while on his way to California for his health. She was afterward married to Benjamin Holmes, who died in Colorado in 1870. For many years she followed the calling of a nurse, and there are many in this city vicinity who can attest her patience and kindness in sickness. For the past seven years she has made her home with her grand daughter. Her death removes one of the oldest residents of Fulton. The funeral services will be held at the home of Mrs. McGrath at 2:30 o'clock p.m. Wednesday. Mrs. H.P. Harver, a Spiritualist minister of Maquoketa, will conduct the services, and burial will take place in Fulton cemetery. The Universalist church choir of Morrison will furnish the music.
