Bio: Gennett, Eliza M.  (91^st Birthday - Mar 1941)

Contact:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Gennett, Harris, Boucher, Schultz

----Source: Spencer Record, Spencer, Wis.) 03/06/1941

To live and celebrate the 91^st birthday is an event worthy of more than passing notice.  The experience of celebrating her 91^st birthday belongs to Mrs. Eliza M. Gennett of Spencer, who on Sunday, March 2, reached this ripe old age.  At the present time Mrs. Gennett is bed-ridden, and has been so for the past two years, but on Sunday last she could still smile and accept the congratulations of relatives and friends.  Open house was held in Mrs. Gennett’s honor on Sunday and relatives and friends came, bringing her gifts in honor of this unusual occurrence of a 91^st birthday.  Lunch was served to the many relatives during the afternoon.

Mrs. Gennett was born in Pillar Point, N. Y. on March 2, 1850, and came by immigration with her parents when a babe to Wisconsin and settled at Janesville.  Later they moved to DePere, Wis.  On Aug. 16, 1866, she was married to Jefferson Gennett, he being a Civil War veteran.  They came to Spenser in the spring of 1875, where Mr. Gennett worked at milling.  At one time he ran a barber shop and also a hotel, under the name of the "Spencer House."  Later they took up a homestead 5 miles east of Spencer where they lived until 1892 when they bought land one half mile south of the village and made a farm there.  Lived on this farm until the spring of 1919.

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gennett, three having died in infancy.  One son, Jefferson, Jr. was killed in an accident on Nov. 14, 1910; and a daughter, Mrs. Bertha Harris, died Aug. 13, 1940.  Mrs. Gennett has 30 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren, the last three being Ruth Ann and Gary Albert Boucher of Marshfield and La Vonne Schultz of Neillsville.  With the children of Mrs. Gennett and their descendants, there are now five generations of this family living at the present time.

The relatives and friends of this grand lady extend to her the wish of many more birthdays.  Even though she cannot arise from her bed without help, and cannot walk about her home, she teaches a great lesson in taking what the Almightly gives, without a murmur of dissent.