Person:Irving Wardwell (2)

He was listed as Lee I. Wardwell, age one, in the 1860 census for Trenton, Hancock Co, ME. He was actually only two months old at that time. Irving presumably went to Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN with his mother and the rest of her family before 8 September 1865 when his mother listed that as her address in a government pension request, as his father died in 1863 during the Civil War. He was listed as age 20 in the 1880 census for Richfield, Hennepin Co, MN living with Simeon and Mary Ann Lowell, his grandparents. He was working as a farm laborer. Irving married at age 22 as I. L. Wardwell and lost his wife nine years later. He had trouble caring for two young girls and they were soon living with their maternal grandparents in Minneapolis. On 19 September 1882, Irving and his wife signed the autograph book of Lillie Miller, his wife's sister, noting that they lived in Richfield, MN at that time. His wife died in 1891 leaving him with two young daughters. Hennipen County Probate Court of 18 November 1892 assigned lot 9 of Vine Hill, Excelsior township to Irving as the heir to his wife. She purchased the property in 1884. Irving was in Montana by 1898, working as a carpenter in Billings for the Northern Pacific Railroad. On 13 December 1899 Irving wrote a letter to his daughter Alice which is still extant: "My Dear Alice, Your welcome letter came today stating you had got the money order. Well I must be carrying my head half way of my bodie as usual to forget to put on the house number. Uncle Fred's half growen chickens roosted in the trees when I was there. I suppose Edith has just told ideas about what the hens ought to do. Am so glad to here her rhumtism does not bother her so bad. We are now 9 miles from Logan putting up a water tank and dump house just finished the doors for that today. They call this out of the way place only for the railroad. Recap just a little ways west of here 15 or twenty miles lives a fine lot of rattle snakes as one would wish to see. Uncle Ed wrote me to come over to his place and eat dinner christmas with him. So I think I'll ask for a pass and go see him. He has been in the northern part of the state surveying for the last three months. If my christmas comes later than the 25th Dont think Ive forgotten you. Give Edith my love. Ever your Loveing Father." Irving took ill and died on 1 May 1900 in Missoula, MT of pneumonia. From a listing in "The Missoulian" of Missoula, MT on 2 May 1900: "The funeral of I. L. Wardwell will take place from Lucy's undertaking rooms this afternoon." From the same newspaper of 4 May 1900: "I. L. Wardwell, who died Tuesday at the Northern Pacific hospital from heart failure, will be buried to-day in Valley Cemetery. E. M. Wardwell, a brother of the deceased, is due here to-day from Lowry, Mont. He will come to attend the funeral." From the "Townsend Forum", Townsend, MT of 2 May 1900: "a brother of E. M. Wardwell died at the N. P. hospital in Missoula yesterday of pneumonia. He was employed by the company as bridge carpenter and was located at Billings previous to his fatal sickness." A death certificate was not completed on Irving but there was a death record made by the county, Book 1, page 15. It listed him as a 40 year old carpenter, resident of Montana for two years, married, died of pneumonia and was attended by Dr. J. J. Buckley, Chief Surgeon. He was buried in what was then called Valley Cemetery, later changed to Missoula City Cemetery, located about three miles northwest of Missoula city center. No monument was placed on his grave, but it is thought to be in either section 9 or 11, since those were owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad at that time. Irving and Mary A. Miller were first cousins, both being grandchildren of Simeon and Mary Ann (Goss) Lowell. He was said to be a troubled person, perhaps with drinking problems. His marriage was said to be an arranged one with the hope of settling him down. -William Colehour

1. ↑ Colehour/Kreger Ancestry (www.colehour.com).
2. ↑ Colehour/Kreger Ancestry (www.colehour.com).
3. ↑ Colehour/Kreger Ancestry (www.colehour.com).