Person:Simon Wardwell (4)

Living in Andover at 1850 census. An 8 year old William Wardwell is living with him at 1860 Census, but he would have been born after Margaret's death? At 1860, real estate is valued at $1150 and personal estate is valued at $250. Living with son George in Andover at 1870 census, with real estate valued at $1000 and personal estate at $200, and with son Alfred in Andover at 1880 Census. Living with daughter Georgianna in Andover at 1900 census. Old Age is listed as cause of death

Called "Andover's Oldest Citizen" in July 1901. "He takes exercise everyday chopping wood and last summer planted and cared for a large garden."

Simon was the oldest child of Eliakim and Lydia Wardwell. He was born in the Nye house at the corner of Maine and North Streets, York- then and after known as the Atkinson Tavern. He was educated in the public schools of Saco, Maine (The family of George Wardwell at Bristol, Ct. has a geography book that belonged to him.) At age 23 he moved to Andover, Massachusetts ( July , 1828) and remained there until his death in 1902. He learned the shoemaker's trade from his father and continued to manufacture shoes until advancing age made it necessary for him to retire. For many years during that time he lived on a farm near Prospect Hill, Andover carrying on quite a farm in summer and making shoes in winter in a shop of his own. During the latter years of his life, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Dole (Georgianna) Even in his advanced years, he assisted with the hoeing, haying, and wood cutting until the summer of 1901. Even in his last months, he was remarkably active for his years. He had always been a great reader, and his memory was unusually retentive almost to the end. -Andover Historical Society Collection

OLDEST MAN IN ANDOVER.

Simon Wardwell, Who Has That Distinction, Will Celebrate His 96th Birthday on the Fourth. (Special Dispatch to the Boston Herald.)

ANDOVER., July 2, 1901. Simon Wardwell, Andover's oldest citizen, will observe his 96th birthday tomorrow. Until this spring he had showed remarkable vigor. He is now rapidly recovering from a slight illness, and indications are that he will be able to be about as usual before long. His children will visit-him tomorrow, but no arrangements have been made for any special celebration of the event. Mr. Wardwell was born in Saco, Me., July 4, 1805, and is the son of Eliakm and Lydia (Smith) Wardwell. He was educated in the public schools of Saco, where he remained until he was 23 years of age. He came to Andover in July, 1828, and has been a citizen of the town ever since. He learned the shoemaker's trade of his father, and continued to manufacture shoes until advancing age made it necessary for him to retire from active life. He lived for many years on a farm near Prospect Hill, carrying it on in the summer and making shoes in the winter in a shop of his own. In 1830 he married Eliza Dodge of Andover, who died many years ago.There are six children living, 13 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. The children' are George H. Wardwell of Lynn, Alfred Wardwell of Lynn, Mrs. Georgiana Dole of Andover, Mrs. I.C. Randall of Andover, Mrs. F.G. Hunkins of Haverhill and Mrs. E.D. Ladd of Andover. Mr. Wardwell has been living with his daughter; Mrs. Dole, for the past few years. Despite his advanced age, he has assisted in hoeing, haying and woodcutting until this summer, and while he has been unable to do much work of the sort this season he is still remarkably active for his years. He has been a great reader, and his memory is unusually retentive. He has a distinct recollection of Gen. Lafayette's visit to America. He rode in the cavalcade which escorted the distinguished soldier into Saco, a privilege which he says made his boy companions very envious. He once boarded the frigate Constitution when she was in commission, and he remembers well the excitement over the naval battles of the war of 1812. He cast his first vote for President for Andrew Jackson.He was a Democrat in politics until after the Pierce administration. He has voted the Republican ticket ever since, and has been able to vote in every presidential election, including the last one. He cast his vote twice for President McKinley, and he regards him as a grand man. Mr. Wardwell continues to take an active interest in the affairs of the day, and he has been a constant newspaper reader for years. He is the last of a large family. His sister, Eliza, married William Baldwin of Boston. His sister, Lydia, lived in Boston for many years, and upon her death left considerable money to found the Wardwell Home for Aged People in Saco. One brother, John, settled in Salem, another, George, went to sea and died on a voyage. His brother Gideon went to California, and his brother Albert died in San Francisco. Mr. Wardwell lost the sight of one eye many years ago, and of late years he has been somewhat hard of hearing. --Boston Herald 02 July 1901

Living with Daughter Georgianna in Andover off Salem Street at 1900 Census.

The following is a copy of his obituary, dated February 7, 1902.

                                                 ANDOVER'S OLDEST CITIZEN"

Simon Wardwell Died Last Sunday Almost 100 Years Old

Simon Wardwell , Andover's oldest citizen, died Sunday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Georgiana Dole, He was 96, and seven months. Although, he had gradually been failing in health for the past year, he was confined to bed but three days. The end came peacefully at six o'clock last night. Mrs. Dole and his youngest daughter, Mrs. E. D. Ladd were by his bedside when he breathed his last. Mr. Wardwell was born in Saco, Maine, July 4, 1805 and was the son of Eliakim and Lydia (Smith) Wardwell. He was educated in the public schools of Saco where he stayed until he was 23 years of age. He came to Andover in 1928 and has been a citizen of the town ever since. He learned the shoemaker's trade in his father's shop and continued manufacturing shoes until advancing age made it necessary for him to retire from active life. He lived for many years near Prospect hill carrying on quite a farm in summer and manufacturing shoes in winter in a shop of his own. In 1830 he married Eliza Dodge of Andover who died many years ago. There are six children living, 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. The children are George H. Wardwell of Lynn, Alfred Wardwell of Lynn, Mrs. Georgiana Dole of Andover, Mrs. H. G. Hunkins of Haverhill and Mrs. E. D. Ladd of Andover. Mr. Wardwell has been living with his daughter, Mrs. Dole for the past few years. Despite his advanced age, he had assisted in hoeing, haying, and wood cutting until last summer, and while he had been unable to do much work of the sort of the sort since then continued to be remarkably active for his years. He had been a great reader and his memory was unusually retentive. He had a distinct recollection of General Lafayette's visit to America. He rode in the cavalcade which escorted the distinguished soldier into Saco, a privilege which he said made his boy companions very envious. He once boarded the frigate Constitution when she was in commission, and he remembered well the excitement over the naval battles of the war of 1812. He cast his first for president for Andrew Jackson. He was a democrat in politics until after the Pierce administration. He had voted the Republican ticket ever since, and had been able to vote in every Presidential identical election, including the last one. He cast his vote twice for President McKinley and he regarded his assassination as one of the worst crimes in history. Mr. Wardwell continued to take an active interest in the affairs of the day and he had been a constant newspaper reader for years. He was the last of the large family. His sister, Eliza, married William Baldwin of Boston. His sister, Lydia, lived in Boston for many years, and upon her death left considerable money to found the Wardwell Home for Aged People in Saco. One brother John settled in Salem, another, George, went to sea and died on a voyage. His brother, Gideon went to California and his brother, Albert died in San Francisco. Mr. Wardwell lost the sight of one eye many years ago and of late years he had been somewhat hard of hearing. "

        SIMON WARDWELL FUNERAL

"The Funeral for Simon Wardwell was held Wednesday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Georgian Dole. The service was conducted at 3 o"clock by Rev. Frederic A. Wilson of the Free Church who had been a close friend of the deceased. During the service a trio comprising of Rev. Mr. Wilson, Miss Margaret Lindsay, and Miss Gertrude Jackson sang "Saved by Grace"and "Rock of Ages." The pall bearers were four friends and neighbors, Alexander Deer, Samuel Thayer, George Mander and Michael Feeney. In his remarks Rev. Mr. Wilson referred feelingly to the long life and sterling qualities of the deceased, noting the pleasure which the aged man had experienced during the last few years of his life in reading the Bible and repeating the hymns that he had learned in his youth. He referred also to the wonderful changes which it had been the lot of the of the deceased to witness during his 96 years of life and said that the termination of such a life was like the breaking of one of the last cords which bound the past to the present age. Burial took place in the family plot in the South Church cemetery. "

1. ↑ First book of records of the town of Pepperellborough, now the city of Saco Portland, Me.: Thurston Print, 1896,.

   First book of records of the town of Pepperellborough, now the city of Saco
   Portland, Me.: Thurston Print, 1896,

2. ↑ Andover, Massachusetts Vital Records (2).
3. ↑ Gravestone.