Lavina Fitch Dane: 52 Ancestors Prompt "Nurture"

"Nurture"

Lavina V. Fitch Dane: 1843-1927

Wife of My Third Great Uncle

Lavina was born January 24, 1843 in New York to John and Gertrude Fitch. Her family moved to Columbia, Wisconsin, where she married my third great-uncle, Brewster Dane, on January 14, 1858. who was . I suspect there’s a story behind their courtship, as Brewster was not only thirteen years older than she was, but because she was only 14 or 15 years old when they married! She didn’t have her first child until she was 17, so at least it wasn’t a shotgun wedding, but it still seems an unlikely match!

However, the marriage was very successful. In 1908, the couple celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with all seven of their adult children present. Raising seven children to adulthood is a remarkable success ratio considering the time period and the “hardships and privations” of homestead life referred to in Lavina's obituary. Their nurturing abilities were exceptional.  Here’s part of the newspaper article about the Golden Wedding day:


 "Mr. Dane was quite overcome with joy when he looked down on the table and saw his family seated as of old, with not a face missing from the number.  After the blessing had been said Mr. Dane made an appropriate and touching little speech and then placed a wedding ring upon the finger of the bride of fifty years.  Mr. and Mrs. Dane were very kindly remembered by their children and numerous friends, especially the W.C.T.U. and the W.R.C.  Congratulations poured in from all sides both by wire and letter.  Mr. Dane was born in Genesee County, New York, Mrs. Dane in Cattaragus County, New York.  They were married in Portage City, Wisconsin, in 1858 and came to Minnesota in 1863, bringing one child with them.  They spent one year in Northfield where another child was born.  In 1864 they moved to their claim in Blue Earth County where they lived for forty years and there the five other children were born.  In 1904 they moved to Janesville to spend the remainder of their lives.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Dane are in perfect health and we hope will continue for many years to come." 


It sounds as if the couple still cared about each other after fifty years—I like the symbolism of his placing a wedding ring on her finger at the dinner. They had a hard, active life,  homesteading at the Eastern edge of Blue Earth County. Their farm was located in Medo Township, at the far right of the plat map below. 

Lavina died January 3, 1927, fourteen years after her husband. More interesting information can be found in Lavina’s obituary: 


“Mrs. Dane was closely identified with the first temperance movement that got under way in this section and was one of the organizers of the Carrie Knox chapter of the W.C.T.U. in 1885.  She was chosen as the first president and continued to hold that office for 19 years until she took up residence in Janesville.  She was also president of the district organization of the W.C.T.U. for several years and was recognized as a leader of rare ability and a woman whose well directed efforts resulted in brilliant work by the association.”


So she was a teetotaller! I wonder what led her to the Temperance Movement—was Brewster a heavy drinker in their early years of marriage? Or her father, perhaps, who died while she was still in her teens and whose son, John B. Dane, is named for his grandfather, John B. Fitch. 


The obituary noted that she had been an invalid for some years, but “retained her faculties to a remarkable extent” and that she was well known in the area. I bet she was a pistol! Probably kept old Brewster well in line! I wish I had a photo of her!