Person:Letitia Shrite (1)

From newspaper article from November 10, 1893

Headline: Union of Old Folks

I avail myself of dotting a few lines for the many readers of your valuable columns may be interested. On the 31st of October, 1893, many neighbors assembled at the residence of Grand-ma Brackenridge for the purpose of participating in her ninety-second birth day dinner which we all fared sumptuously, there being plenty to have supplied as many more, I have no doubt but what if ye editor had been present ye would enjoy yourself fine. I will now give you a record of the four oldest persons present myself included.

Letitia, daughter of John and Ruth Strode, born in Clark County, Kentucky, October 31, 1801, and was married to Elmore Brackenridge January 18, 1838. They moved to the farm she now lives upon at the present time in the spring of 1847. Here they lived a quiet life, in peace and quietness until the 25th of November, 1880, then they were separated by the cold arm of death. And may they be rerunited in the life to come where parting is no more, is the prayer of the writer. Grandma Brackenridge is in feeble health, having to go on crutches from a paralytic stroke years ago. She lives with her son, Marion, who is as kind to her as a child could be there is no one living like ma. There is nothing excels mother.

The next oldest was Grandma Lutes, wife of Joseph Lutes, deceased. She was born March 18, 1803. As I have written of her before will not give any farther history.

The next, Eliza, daughter of Richard and Eliza Gains, born October 11, 1811 in Fanquire County, Va. She married Hiram Waller, he was a coworker with F.G. Gaylord, years ago at the Christian Church at Platte City. They are both at rest singing praise to their Redeemer. Mother Waller is the mother of our esteemed citizens, E.O.; Dock; R.L. and Mrs. Emira Moore. And now comes myself, I was born in Howard County, Missouri, Sept. 4, 1824, reared in Johnson and Henry, and in my 17th year came to Platte County and remained here up to the present time. Well we had a pleasant time at Mother Brackenridge's. All enjoyed ourselves and if Mother Brackenridge enjoyed our visit as well as we did, we are satisfied and may her last days be her happiest days is my prayer. W.H.K.

From newspaper obituary:

"...was married to William Shrite; raised to man and womanhood three children. Mrs. Wallace of Nortonville, Kan., survives her. Mr. Shrite died and she was married to Mr. Elmore Breckenridge January 18, 1838, and moved to Platte County in the year 1843. She raised five sons to manhood. Two survive her, Elmore and Marion. ... Mrs. Breckenridge lived at her old homestead with her son Marion. She has been in feeble health ever since the death of Mr. Breckenridge on November 25, 1880, and has been helpless for seven or eight years and she's depended largely on her son Marion to care for her. He has waited on her to the exclusion of his outdoor work. Mrs. Breckenridge joined the Christian church when a young lady in Kentucky and was one of the old members of the Platte City Christian church."

1. ↑ Annals of Platte County, Mo.
2. ↑ Annals of Platte County, Mo.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census. (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;)
   Database online. Carroll, Platte, Missouri, roll M432_410, page 404, image 238.

   Record for Latitia Breckenridge _FOOT: Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Database online. Carroll, Platte, Missouri, roll M432_410, page 404, image 238.