The grave marker of Sarah [Rowe] Saylor (1820-1900) at Union or Citizens Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The story of the last days of Mrs. Saylor was told in two news articles that appeared in the Lykens Register, May 3, 1900, and May 10, 1900:
AGED LADY GOES TO POORHOUSE
When Lykens accommodation arrived at the Union station [Harrisburg] Saturday morning, aged Sarah Saylor was lifted from the baggage coach on a stretcher and gently carried to the baggage room where she was placed until a wagon drove up from the county poor house and hauled her to that institution. Mrs. Saylor is 81 years of age. When the depot police carried her across the platform under the shed considerable attention was attracted to the slight form of the old woman on the stretcher. She was moaning as if in terrible agony and many comments of sympathy were heard from passengers who saw her. Mrs. Saylor was brought from Wiconisco where the only relative she has living is a brother near her own age. She has been sick and is partially demented from her sufferings. [From Harrisburg Independent].
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OBITUARY
In last week’s Issue of the Register we mentioned that Mrs. Sarah Saylor of Wiconisco, had been removed to the county almshouse at Harrisburg. Last Friday morning a telegram was received stating that her death had occurred at that institution, resulting from old age. The body was brought to Lykens that evening and taken to the residence of her granddaughter, Mrs. George Frymeyer, from which place the funeral was held Sunday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, Rev. T. W. Rowbottom officiating, interment in Odd Fellows’ Cemetery [sic].
The circumstances surrounding the bringing of the deceased to Wiconisco, and her removal to the poorhouse and death, pictures some sad scenes. Early last fall old William Row of Wiconisco, collected money to pay his sister’s car fare from West Virginia to Wiconisco, and arrived at the latter place in company with her granddaughter, Mrs. Frymeyer, making their abode with Fred Humelehle, son-in-law of William Row. About two months ago Mr. Frymeyer came to Lykens and got work in the mines. He and his wife went to housekeeping taking the old lady with them. He worked until this last pay day when he left for parts unknown. Mrs. Frymeyer, not being able to support her grandmother, made application to the poor authorities and the old lady was admitted to that institution, where she died. She was 82 years of age, and had many acquaintances in this vicinity, at one time residing in Lykens, her husband owning considerable property.
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Articles from Newspapers.com. Transcriptions and photo courtesy of David Hause. Note that the second article incorrectly indicates that Mrs. Saylor is buried in Odd Fellows’ Cemetery. She is buried in Union or Citizens Cemetery at Lykens and this error was discovered by David Hause in his research on the Lykens cemeteries.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.