photos courtesy of her g-granddaughter Bobbie Ohlwiler
Savilla Cunningham was born May 16, 1841, at Fairmont, W. Va., and departed this life Friday, April 6, 1917, at the age of 75 years, 10 months and 10 days. In 1858 she was united in marriage to Joseph Hildreth and to this union nine children were born, four of whom, with their father, preceded her in death. They were Lincoln, Manuel, Rance and Bruce. The remaining children are; Marion of Twin Bridges, Montana; William of Liberty, Canada; Mose and Mrs. Della Reese of Fairview and Mrs. Minnie Stonehocker of Taft, California.
At the age of 15 years she united with the M.E. Church at Fairmont, W.Va., and continued to live a good faithful Christian life unto the time of her death.
Grandma Hildreth had lived in Major County since the opening of the Strip, and during that time suffered with the pioneers of this county the privations and hardships. She was always a good true neighbor and friend, doing all in her power to help and better mankind. She raised a family of children who are honored and respected by all who know them. The children who live at a distance were unable to be present at their mother’s funeral, but were here only a few weeks ago, having been called by her serious illness. After their arrival here she improved in health and enjoyed the visit with them, and when they departed for their homes about two weeks ago she appeared to be regaining her health. Last Friday she took suddenly worse and her death occurred in a few hours.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Reese, in charge of Rev. M.M. Alden, pastor of the Methodist Church of Fairview. The body was taken to Caldwell, Kansas for burial, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Reese and daughter, Miss Edith; Mose Hildreth and family, Sam Reese and wife, and Mrs. J.W. Mulcahy.
This obituary is copied from a newspaper clipping, which is glued into the family bible belonging to Savilla’s son, Francis Marion and his wife Emma M. Hildreth.
Savilla is buried at the Corzine Cemetery, Caldwell, Kansas
The Caldwell News 12 Apr 1917 Mrs. Savilla Heldreth who died at Fairview, Okla., was buried last Monday at Spring Creek cemetery. She was an old settler here and lived here for many years. A coincident of Mrs. Heldreth’s funeral was while she was the last one buried in the cemetery her 13-year old son was the first one buried there and that was 43 years ago.
The Caldwell News 19 Apr 1917 – Saville Heldreth was born in Harrison County, Virginia, May 16, 1841, and died at Fairview, Oklahoma, March 31, 1917. she was married to Joseph H. Heldreth in 1858, and about the close of the Civil war moved to Buchanan county, Missouri, where they resided about three years when they moved to Marion county, Kansas. In 1873 they took a claim on the Chikaskia river where they accumulated a large farm, now owned by Jas. A. Corzine. (Not Corzine’s big farm).
Joseph Heldreth died some years ago. Mrs. Heldreth lived with her daughter, Delia Reece, of Fairview for a number of years, except for a few years when the family lived in Wichita while they were educating their children. She has two living sons, William of Canada, and Marion of Montana, and two daughters, Della of Oklahoma, and Minnie of Colorado. One son Moses of Oklahoma, and four sons preceded her to the Spring Creek cemetery.
Mrs. Heldreth was a very industrious, thorough going woman, frugal and accumulative. She did her full share in the upbuilding of this then new country. The esteem in which she was held was evidenced by the large concourse of people and old friends who assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to her memory. She was elaborately interred in Spring Creek cemetery along her sons. The remains were accompanied from Fairview by her son, M.S. Heldreth and wife, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Muchy of Thomas, Okla., S.S. Reece and Lewis Reece and wife. They all expressed high appreciation for the kindness and courtesies of their old neighbors. – J.T.S.
Keeper of the Family 