Quincy Daily Journal, Wednesday, November 25, 1914
NEARLY 70 YEARS OF MARRIED LIFE WAS UNUSUAL BLESSING GRANTED TO CAMP POINT
TOWNSHIP COUPLE. Nearly 70 years of married life was the unusual span granted to Mr. & Mrs. Giles Nelson Wing of this township. The tie was broken when Mrs. Wing died, last Thursday, and her husband, now in his ninety-third years, was left to pass his remaining days in waiting for the time when the couple will be reunited in the life beyond. Mrs. Wing's maiden name was Polly Matilda Pettis. She was born near Fort Covington, New York, April 28, 1827, and came to Pike County with her parents when she was only 9 years of age. On November 28, 1844, she was married to Mr. Wing and they were looking forward to the celebration of the seventieth wedding anniversay, the plans for which are now halted by the death of Mrs. Wing. Nine children were born to this worthy pioneer couple. Five of them preceded their mother in death. The four surviving are Homer, who lives south of Camp Point on a farm, and with whom the aged couple have made their home for years; Ernest of Alton; Stephen of Kirksville, Missouri, and Mrs. A. C. Haughey of Gentry, Arkansas. The deceased was a member of the Adventist Church and firm and faithful in her religious convictions. When pneumonia came upon her and death drew near, her faith sustained her soul, though old age had weakened her body so that the disease found her an easy victim. She was sick only four days. Rev. W. A. Hutcherson officiated at the funeral services, which were held Sunday, and the remains were laid to final rest in the East Clayton Cemetery.
By Toni Nash Giles Nelson Wing was the son of Matthew Wing and Anna Parr. Matthew Wing was the son of Giles Wing and Mary Jane Cornell. Giles Nelson Wing was born May 18, 1822 in New York. It is not known with any certainty when Giles came to Illinois but chances are his family came about the same time that Matilda Pettis's family came. There is much evidence that indicates that the Pettis and Wing families traveled together to Pike County, Illinois. Giles Nelson Wing was of medium height, heavy set and at one time he was known as the strongest man in Pike County, Illinois. He had sandy hair and blue eyes, his occupation was farmer and he had a fair education. His religion was Christian Adventist. Giles Nelson Wing went to California in the gold rush in a covered wagon. He made his wife a ring out of the gold that he managed to pan. Giles Nelson Wing did not remain long on this earth without his beloved wife, he followed her in death roughly a month later on December 24, 1914 due to a stroke. Giles Nelson Wing and Matilda Pettis Wing were the parents of; Alice, Olive, Homer, Myra, Ernest, Myrtle, and Stephen. Alice Wing married Theodore Wing, son of Stephen Wing and Olive Rice. ------------ Matilda Pettis Wing was the daughter of Colonel Stephen Pettis and his third wife, Olive Hutchins. Matilda was born April 27, 1827 in New York. |
