Miss Mary Richard

Miss Mary Richard

   Listed on the 1860 Census #291/2157 as aged 20 years, Serving Out, From Ohio living in Elgin, Ill's.

Elgin Chapter of the

Soldiers Aid Society

   Aged 21 years.
   School Teacher.

Post war;
   Married Benjamin Coolidge Wilkins, Elgin Reserved Militia, soon after the war.
   Moved to Chicago.
   Withstood the great Chicago fire.
   Suffered a Heart Attack mid Sept. of 1916.

   Obit: Oct. 6, 1916 issue  Elgin Daily Courier.

DEATH SUMMONS

  ELGIN HEROINE

    OF WAR PERIOD

Mrs. Mary Richards Wilkins Stricken Suddenly With Heart Failure

SEWED FOR SOLDIER BOYS

Made trip to Elgin with Parents in Pioneer Days in Prairie Schooner.

   Mrs. Mary Richards Wilkins, one of Elgin's finest women characters of civil war days, died yesterday afternoon suddenly.  Mrs. Wilkins was a school teacher in the war days.  When Ft. Sumter was fired upon, her boys marched away to the front.  She was one of the many Elgin girls and women who sewed all one April Sunday on outfits for these solder boys.  Mrs. William F. Sylla was one of these women and was a close friend of Mrs. Wilkins.
   To Mrs. Edward R. Davery, a daughter of Mrs. Sylla, The Courier is indebted for the following narration of the life of Mrs. Wilkins.
   Mrs. Mary Richards Wilkins, mother of Mrs. B. Wilkins Cowlin, died suddenly yesterday afternoon while visiting at the home of her old friend Mrs. Harriet Doney.  About two weeks ago Mrs. Wilkins suffered a very severe attack of heart trouble, from which she was apparently recovering.  Being of an independent nature, the illness and dependence upon others often accompanying old age was an especial dread.  But death came to her kindly and quickly.

Came here in Prairie Schooner.

   Born near Columbus, Ohio, October 23, 1840, she came in early girlhood with her parents to Elgin.  The trip was made by prairie schooner.  Here she spent her school days and later became a teacher herself.  She liked to recount how when Fort Sumter was fired upon, the boys of her little school all marched away and how all one April Sunday she, with many other Elgin girls and women sewed busily on the outfits for these soldier boys.
   Soon after the war she was married to Benjamin Coolidge Wilkins, who preceded her in death by many years.

Went Thru Chicago Fire.

   In her early married life she suffered the great experience of the Chicago fire her home at that time being in Chicago.  The greater part of her life however, was spent in Elgin and it was a great joy to her that she could spend her later years among old friends and near the church, the First Baptist, with which she had been connected most of her life.
   Her mind was always keen and alert to all the new interests of the day and she enjoyed being surrounded by young people with their gayety and enthusiasm.  A great fondness for all outdoor life was another characteristic.  Part of her last day was spent in her garden caring for her flowers.  Motherhood, to her, was the glory of a woman's life and she gave the best of herself always to her home.

Leaves Three Daughters.

   Beside one sister, Mrs. Lydia Hawkins of South Bend, Ind., Mrs. Wilkins leaves three daughters.  Mrs. Cowlin, with whom she made her home, Mrs. F.S. Garrison, of Aurora and Mrs. C.H. Charles of Antico, Wis.

The 'Outfits' she refers to are the Illinois pattern uniforms made for the Elgin Continentals just before they left for Springfield, Ill. on April 24, 1861.