Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1905 — Death of Mrs. Jane Callow. [ARTICLE]

Death of Mrs. Jane Callow.

Mrs. Jane Callow, at the time the oldest person insi e the boundary lines of Rensselaer, quietly and painlessly breathed her last, Wednesday, Dec. 20th about five o’ clock. She lacked but a few months of being 95 years old, and in spite of her great age, she had always until very lately, enjoyed remarkably good health and having in fact, no painful or dangerous sicknesses of any kind. About a week ago she she began to lose her appetite, which always before had been very good; and Tuesday of this week, she seemed to be considerably indisposed, with a cold. -As late however as at noon of that day she sat up a little on the side of the bed, and still later, when the physician saw her, he believod she was in no immediate danger of death, though he expressed the opinion that owing to her great age, it would be her last sickness. About five o’clock, as the friends were about to change her position in bed, she seemed to have already ceased to breath, but in a few seconds, respiration was feebly resumed, but it continued but a few minutes longer, and then ended forever; and no child ever passed into slumber more quietly, peacefully nor painlessly. Mrs. Callow was born at Edinboro Scotland, March 26, 1810, ’and her exact age at death was therefore 94 years, 8 months and 24 day. Her maiden name is now not known, but she was first married to a Mr. Bailey, who died while she was still young. Her second marriage, the exact date of, is also unknown, took place at Port Royal, Jamaica, about 70 year ago, to Joseph Callow who was then serving as quartermaster on the British naval vessel the Galatea, and on board of which their son Richard was born. Mr. Callow afterwards became master of the docks at Port Royal, and it was while living there that their only surviving daughter Mrs. Hetty Reynolds, of our city was born.

After several years’ residence at Port Royal they moved to New York, where they lived four years, and then moved to Lafayette, this state, in 1852. They lived there until 1890, since which time Rensselaer has been her| heme. Her husband’s death occurred here in May 1900. Of tha quite large family born to them only two survive, Mrs. Reynolds, above mentioned, and John Callow, of East St Louis, 111. Two of her sons Richard and Joseph were Union soldiers in the civil war. Joseph died from sickness about 25 years ago and Richard was killed by the cars, in California, about the same time. Her other surviving descendants are three grand children, Earl Reynolds, of New York, Joseph Reynold, of Delphi, and Mrs. Jennie Bernard Leek, of Elmwood, Wjs. She had been a faithful and very devout member of the Methodist church, practically all her life, and died firm in the Christian faith. The funeral will be held at Mrs. Reynolds’s residence, on son th Weston street Friday, at three p. m. The religious services will be conducted by Rev. H. L. Kindig, of Trinity M. E. chuich assisted by Rev. J. C. Parrett, of the Presbyterian church. Interment iu Weston cemetery.