MRS. WAINWRIGHT BURIED ON MONDAY

WIDOW OF MINISTER LIVED IN SAME HOUSE MORE THAN 50 YEARS

Mrs. Alta E. Hall Wainwright, 88 years old, widow of a pioneer Congregational minister and for more than half a century a leader in club and church affairs here, died at the Blair hospital Friday afternoon, September 16th, after an extended illness. Mrs. Wainwright had been taken to the Blair hospital about three weeks previously and her condition gradually became weaker, her death having been predicted by doctors for several days.

Born in Ellisburgh, Jefferson county New York, on October 31, 1843, Mrs. Wainwright, shortly before she became 24 years old, was married at Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, to Rev. George W. Wainwright, who had left the ministry at the outbreak of the Civil War to enter the army and to become chaplain of the 52nd Illinois regiment.

At the close of the war Rev. Mr. Wainwright resumed his pastorate in Wisconsin and in 1880 he and his wife moved to Blair, where Mr. Wainwright became pastor of the Congregational church. Later, for 13 years, he became superintendent for the American Bible society for Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, maintaining his home at Blair.

Dr. Wainwright died here in 1896 and his widow has continued to live in Blair since that time. She lived in the same home on west Colfax street, for more than 50 years. This home was built of lumber shipped from Wisconsin a year after she came to Blair and it is one of the landmarks of the southern part of the city.

Funeral services were held Monday morning from the Congregational church with Rev. A.F. Newell, the pastor, officiating. Surviving Mrs. Wainwright are two step daughters, Miss Emma Wainwright of Blair, and Mrs. C.J. Hall of Lincoln and also five grandchildren, children of Mrs. Hall. They are George Brooks of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Calvin, Alta, Alma and Phillip Hall, all of Lincoln. Also surviving are four great grandchildren.

Speaking at the funeral rites, Rev. Mr. Newell said: ‘Many of the elder people will recall another daughter of Dr. Wainwright, Mary Ellen, known among her family and friends as ‘Nellie.’ For many years she was a faithful missionary in the Japan mission, under the Congregational – American board.

It may be of interest to some of you, as showing how family groups are often tied together, if I mention four facts. On the death of Dr. Wainwright in 1896, my wife’s father, Dr. Harmon Bross, then superintendent of our Nebraska Congregational churches came to Blair to conduct the funeral of Dr. Wainwright. Later he was called to conduct the last services for Mrs. Hall’s husband, Rev. George Hall, long an honored Congregational pastor. Still later Dr. Bross conducted the memorial service following the death in Kobe hospital, in Japan of Nellie Wainwright. And today I am asked to stand here as we are about to lay Mrs. Wainwright beside her husband in God’s Acre.

Strong of mind and body, Mrs. Wainwright during her 52 year residence in Blair, lived a full and vigorous life, until weakened in physical abilities. Her restless nature found many contacts and almost at once on coming to Blair she became a member of the Monday Afternoon club.

For 40 years or more she was actively interested in its studies and work, ever alert, eager and informed. As the widow of a Civil war veteran her patriotic enthusiasm found abundant expression in the Woman’s Relief Corps, of which she was a charter member and whose meetings she rarely missed. For a year she was state treasurer of the corps. Mrs. Wainwright was also a charter member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and at their district meeting last Saturday the local chapter paid silent and vocal tribute to her zeal and patriotic spirit. She was the last of the original charter members to die.

In his eulogy of the pioneer woman, Rev. Mr. Newell said: “Mrs. Wainwright was a great patriot. In a time of so much spineless thinking and lukewarm patriotism, it is refreshing and heartening to find one so outspoken and pronounced in their faith in our country.

“But we most surely think of Mrs. Wainwright as a Christian woman and a church woman. For more than half a century her life and thought have centered in her church here, of which since the passing of Grandmother Cruickshank she has been the oldest member.

“For many years she has been honored by the church by being made a regularly elected deaconess and until the time of her death she held that office in our list of officials. We may not forget and we would not forget these church pioneers who have held on and held out, in hard days and good days, in adversity and prosperity, who in heat or cold, summer or winter, have been a part of the irreducible minimum of the church.

“It is to one of these stout-hearted, in season and out pioneer members that this church pays tribute this day. Whenever one such passes from human sight we involuntarily wonder who, in the coming 50 years, is going to display continuously the same stability, fidelity and abiding faith in church and the kingdom of God.”

#2-22 Sept., 1932 - The Enterprise

MRS. ALTA HALL WAINWRIGHT

Another old settler has answered the last call, the call that sooner or later must come to us all. It is the inevitable, the part of nature’s plan to us inexplainable, but inexorable in its demand.

This time it is Mrs. Alta Hall Wainwright, a resident of Blair since 1880. A woman of great force of character, of high ideals, which she carried out through a long life of usefulness in her community. Active in every line of social endeavor that lifted herself and her friends to a higher level of living, her influence will be greatly missed in her circle of friends.

Mrs. Wainwright was born in Ellisburgh, Jefferson county, New York Oct. 31. 1843, and passed away at her home in Blair on Sept. 16, 192 at the ripe old age of 89 years.

She was married at the age of 24 years to Rev. Geo. W. Wainwright, and with her husband, moved to Blair in 1880 where they built the home on west Colfax street where she passed away.

There were no children born to this union, but two stepdaughters were reared to useful womanhood by this wonderful woman. They are Miss Emma Wainwright of Blair and Mrs. C. J. Hall of Lincoln, both of whom are still living and with five grandchildren deeply mourn her passing.

After coming to Blair Rev. Wainwright served as pastor of the Congregational church for a time, but later became associated with the American Bible Society, having for his territory Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. He maintained his residence in Blair, and when he passed away in 1896 his wife still continued to make this her home.

Mrs. Wainwright was a life-long member of the Congregational church in which she was ever active, a charter member of the D.A.R., a member of the Monday Afternoon Club, the first culture club of the city, and also of the W.R.C. In these organizations she will be especially missed.

Thus with her death closes a chapter of early history, a life well spent occupying a period of more than her allotted years. The funeral services were held Monday morning at the Congregational church with Rev. A. F. Newell officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~