"In this city Friday morning Mrs. Mary S. UPSON, died as though she sank in sleep. The venerable woman has been suffering long and patiently from asthma and her death did not come wholly unexpected, but the final was quick and the day prior she appeared to be much improved and more relieved than she had been during the last two weeks of her life. Heart failure was an affliction which came with suddenness and hastened her demise.
"The maiden name of the deceased was Mary S. BILLINGS and she was born in Vermont on the 8th of June, 1816, being at her death nearly 79 years of age. At an early age she and her parents removed to Ohio where she lived until she attained womanhood, and became united in wedlock with A. UPSON, which occurred October 16, 1834, their conjugal era extending over sixty years. Six years after the marriage of the estimable couple they migrated to Indiana, later removed to Wisconsin, and in the last named state they resided for about eighteen years. In the year of '64 Mrs. UPSON and her husband emigrated to California, coming across the plains in what was termed a prairie schooner, the trip requiring some six months. Their first home in California they made in Lake county, but their residence there was only of a few months' duration. They subsequently came to Sonoma county and settled in Petaluma. After four years' residence in Petaluma they removed to Dry Creek Valley where Mr. UPSON engaged in farming. After a few years they removed to Healdsburg where she passed the remainder of her declining days.
"Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. UPSON and but four survive their mother. They are: M. H. UPSON of Washington, Wm. UPSON of Healdsburg, Mrs. S. E. POWERS of Modac and Mrs. Lucy N. HAWTHORNE of Carson City, Nevada.
"Mrs. UPSON has since 1840 been a faithful and devout member of the Christian church. She was a woman of tender loving disposition, ever ready to aid her neighbor and extend a willing hand to the needy. In this the dark hour of the family's affliction they have the sympathy of everyone. The funeral which was very largely attended, took place Sunday afternoon and the interment occurred at Oak Mound Cemetery where services were conducted by Elder WALLACE."
