Nancy Johnson Milton Niles

Born in 1853, Great Grandma Niles lived in "East Freeport" with her daughter Jenny Sturtevant. [Actually it was probably her house and Jenny and her family lived with her, and took care of her.] We visited her from time to time during my childhood. Although family lore was that she was about 100 years old, it turns out that she was 91 when she died and probably in her 80's when I visited her with my parents. Needless to say, her great grandchildren were fascinated by her. First of all, at that age she could still bend over and touch the floor with her hands without bending her knees and how many great grandmothers can do that? Second, was the story she never discouraged: When she was a child, (August 27, 1858) about 5 years old, she went, with her parents to the Lincoln-Douglas debate held in Freeport, IL (that did really happen) and saw Abraham Lincoln (before he was president) in person! I have no proof or any way to confirm that fact but it could have been possible. As a true Niles (even if by marriage) she could tell the best of stories with a twinkle in her eye.

She married Jeremiah Nathaniel Niles in Freeport, IL, moved to Wolbach, Greeley County Nebraska about 1880; returned to Ridott, IL between 1890 and 1893. In Freeport they resided 1900 at 28 Winslow Street, and then in 1905 to her death in 1944 at 28 Howard Avenue, Freeport.