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(Source: Waupaca Post Newspaper, a few days after Oct 24, 1837, Waupaca County, Wisconsin)
Colorful Pioneer Life ends Sunday When illness ends: Funeral services were held at the Wisconsin Veterans Home yesterday, 2 p.m. for Mrs. Melissa Ehle, who died Sunday, one of the last of Civil War widows at the local home, and also one of the last of Wisconsin's pioneer women. Melissa Ann Carpenter was born in Rensselaer Co., New York, Nov. 11, 1841*, which would have made her 96 years old had she lived another month. (*Probably about 1848 according to census records. She was a daughter of Henry and Maria Cookingham Carpenter. In 1867 with her parents she came to Wisconsin, the long trip through the Erie Canal, through the Great Lakes to Chicago and thence by rail to Milwaukee taking a week. And then began the long, arduous trip by ox team from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac. Locating at Dodgeville, Fond du Lac County, the family established a home in the country so recently wrested from Black Hawk and his warriors. When Edward A. Ehle was mustered out of Abraham Lincoln's army of the north, he returned to Wisconsin and wooed and won Melissa Carpenter, their marriage being Nov. 30, 1868. The young couple lived in familiar Fond du Lac county for a few years, but again the urge to move farther into the wilds, to homestead free land, to establish a new home among the white pine stumps left by the early timber barons-this urge prompted a move to Marathon County where the couple homesteaded a farm, built a home, raised their family. Expert with butter paddle or deer rifle, at helping "boil off" the maple sugar harvest and in spinning the wool from their little flock of sheep, at making soft soap or teaching her little brood before the one-room log schoolhouse came to their community, Melissa Ehle lived the life of the pioneer wife and mother, a busy life but withal a happy one. Two sons and two daughters were born to the couple; the sons----Marshall and Edward-both deceased. The daughters are Mrs. Matt Fisher, and Mrs. Edna Kaudy of Waupaca. A sister, Mrs. Adabelle Carpenter, still survives at Stevens Point. The aged lady also nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Living in this city is one of the grandchildren Mrs. Miles Loberg. In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Ehle celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with all their children and grandchildren present. Shortly after, on Dec. 9, 1918, Mr. Ehle died. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ehle have been members of the home since 1904 and Mrs. Ehle was a past president of the Wisconsin Veterans Home chapter of the W.R.C. She was a helpful neighbor, eager to be of service in times of need, stimulating to others because of a mind which was constantly, keenly interested in all about her. From the time the family first subscribed to the old weekly Milwaukee Sentinel, upon their arrival in Wisconsin, until the past few months of Mrs. Ehle's illness, she followed state, national and foreign affairs in the newspaper, took an active interest in public affairs, voted at each election from the time women were given the franchise until this last fall. Funeral services were held yesterday at the Veterans Home, Rev. E. B. Earle conducting the rites, burial in the Home Cemetery. |
Left-right: Matt Fisher (son-in-law), Melissa Carpenter
Ehle, daughter Madge,
June and Conan (two of Madge's children).
See Also: Harrison Ehle Database
Edward A. Ehle Biography and Photo
