Wayne County Press
Fairfield Illinois
date unknown

Martha Alice, daughter of William and Maholda Ellis, was born near Johnsonville, December 26, 1857.

At the age of fifteen years, she was converted and united with the Wesley Chapel Methodist church of which she remained a faithful member until death.

She was united in marriage to Minatree Whitson, February 15, 1876. This union was blessed with 9 children, two of whom have preceded their mother in death.

About three weeks ago she was taken ill. She was removed to the Olney Sanitarium on December 5, where she underwent a serious operation and from which she was unable to recover. Death came at 6:15 o’clock, Monday morning, December 19 aged sixty-nine years, eleven month and twenty-three days.

She leaves to mourn her departure her companion of fifty-one years and seven children, namely, Charles H. of Sherman, Calif., Luther J. of Denver, Colo., Otto O. of Harvey, Jesse F. of Tempico, Zella Messerner of Peoria, Hulda Franklin of Bloomington and Nellie Campbell of Rinard, also two daughters-in-law, seventeen grandchildren, three brothers, four sisters and a host of other relatives and friend.