Person:Sadie Burrington (3)

BIOGRAPHY: Galesville, Wis. Mrs. "Sadie Knight Observes Birthday: Enters Rare Nonogenarian Group"

  Mrs. Sadie Knight, became a member of Galesville's small group of nonogenarians on Sunday, Aug. 27,. when she observed her 90th birthday anniversary. She spent the day quietly at her home, expressing herself somewhat surprised at the realization of her unusual age.

  Earlier a group of women friends had arranged a party for her, presenting gifts and bringing a lunch. Three tables of cards were played during the afternoon on Thursday.

  Mrs. Knight has spent all her long life in or near Galesville. Born four miles distant in Trempealeau township, she says she has never lived more than that distance from town. She is a pioneer teacher and after completing school at Trempealeau taught the "three R's" to pupils of a Little Tamarack school and one at Pigeon Falls, in the day when a good teacher was happy to receive a salary of $25 a month. Winters, when the older youth of the community enrolled, the school board raised her wages to $30. In the country school of that day, when board and room cost only a dollar and a quarter a week, when no one feared the contamination of the old water pail and single dipper, when pupils and teacher huddled around a wood stove on cold days, and when lessons were conned from the common slate which was daily scrubbed with it attached sponge, life had its compensations, and Mrs. Knight enjoyed it .

  Born Sadie Burrington on Aug. 26, 1860, she became the wife of the late Jay Knight on July 2, 1882. They farmed for some years, later moving into town where Mr. Knight engaged in business. His death occurred 12 years ago.

 At 90, Mrs. Knight carries on an active life, caring for her seven room apartment now shared by her son Horace. She ranks as the oldest member of the Galesville chapter OES which she joined in its early days. She has abandoned her interest in sewing which she engaged her for many years, and in which she maintained a shop with several seamstresses, both here and in Trempealeau. Reading, housework and interest in her friends are enough for now, said Mrs. Knight, whose theory of keeping young is by activity.

  Mrs. Knight, head of four generations, has one son, two grandsons, a great-grandson and three great-granddaughters. Her only sister, Mrs. Mary Moore, died at Trempealeau last November at the age of 66.