Leaf River, Oct 11 (1933)--Mrs. Margaret Heistand, oldest resident of Leaf River township, was honored by friends and relatives here today at a surprise party in observance of her ninety-fourth birthday anniversary.

Several guest attended the celebration, at which Miss Jennie Mishler has resided with Mrs. Heistand for the past several years.

The last surviving member of a family of six, Mrs. Heistand enjoys fairly good health. She was born in Lancaster County, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1839, and came to Ogle County with her parents at the age of nine months.

The family settled in Egan township, and Mrs. Heistand continued to reside there following her marriage in 1868. Her husband, the Rev. Jacob Heistand, a United Brethren minister, died March 13, 1889. She moved to Leaf River several years ago. [offered by Thelma Thomas Livingston/Carole Ann Heller]

Leaf River Resident Awaits Anniversary on Wednesday

Leaf River, Ill., Oct. 9.--An ambition that could be realized only by the passage of hours, days or years, is constantly nearing fulfillment for Mrs. Margaret Heistand of this village as she prepares to welcome her 100^th birthday anniversary Wednesday.

On the occasion of her 98^th birthday two years ago, Mrs. Heistand or "Aunt Mag" as she fondly is known here, predicted that she would be working with her hoe in her garden on the date of her 100^th anniversary.

Perhaps she will be unable to fulfill this prophecy, as Mrs. Heistand has not been as hale and hearty lately as she was two years ago, but she will be able to greet her many friends with her usual vim. She was able to take a short automobile ride Sunday with her niece, Mrs. Carrie Hodge of Pine City, Minn., who has made an annual trip to aid Mrs. Heistand mark the years of her "century."

Born In Ohio

Mrs. Heistand, the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. J. R. Eavey, was born Oct. 11, 1939, at Lancaster, O. She came with her parents in a prairie schooner to Illinois when she was nine months old. The family settled on a farm near Elgin, and thus, for nearly the complete century she has been a resident of this vicinity.

She was married Oct. 13, 1881, to the Rev. Jacob Heistand, who died on March 13, 1889. Mrs. Heistand returned to live with her parents and later she made her home with an invalid sister, Anna Lulu, who succumbed in December, 1930. Since that time she has resided in Leaf River. She is the last of a family of 14 children.

The changes that Leaf River's senior citizen has witnessed during 100 years of life have not led her to think any less of modern civilization. In fact, when asked whether she thought people were growing better or worse, she quickly replied: "Better."

Tried To Be Nurse

Among her memories are recollections of her student days at "Old Sandstone," Mount Morris college building; of her attempts, frustrated by parental disapproval, to enlist as a nurse in the civil war, and of the Lincoln and Douglas debate which her father attended in Freeport

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Leaf River, Ill., Oct. 10.--Although she may not be able to work in her garden as she predicted on her 98^th birthday two years ago, Mrs. Margaret Heistand is still active and in good health as she awaits her 100^th birthday which she will celebrate her on Wednesday. She was able to take a short automobile ride Sunday with her niece, Mrs. Carrie Hodge of Pine City, Minn., who came here to help Mrs. Heistand mark her 100^th birthday anniversary.

Leaf River's oldest citizen has seen many changes in her 100 years of life, nearly all of them spent in this community. Among her memories are her student days at "Old Sandstone," Mount Morris college building, the Lincoln and Douglas debate which her father attended and of her attempts, which met with parental disapproval, to enlist as a nurse during the civil war.

Mrs. Heistand, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Eavey, was born Oct. 11, 1939, at Lancaster, O. She came with her parents in a prairie schooner to Illinois when she was nine months old. The family settled on a farm near Elgin, and thus, for nearly the complete century she has been a resident of this vicinity.

She was married Oct. 13, 1881, to the Rev. Jacob Heistand, who died on March 13, 1889. Mrs. Heistand returned to live with her parents and later she made her home with an invalid sister, Anna Lulu, who succumbed in December 1930. Since that time she has resided in Leaf River. She is the last of a family of 14 children.

When Mrs. Margaret Heistand, 101 years of age, went to the polls in Leaf River yesterday, she marked her ballot for Wendell L. Willkie, keeping intact her record of voting for every Republican presidential candidate since the women's suffrage law was passed.

The ogle county centenarian was believed to be the oldest northern Illinois resident participating in the general election. John N. Penwell, 98, of Belvidere, and Lewis Orr, 95, of Mount Carroll, also voted for Willkie.

Mrs. Heistand, whose formula for longevity is "moderation in everything," was born in Lancaster, O., Oct. 11, 1939, the daughter of Isaac and Caroline Eavey. She was one of a family of 13 children and her grandfather was a slaveholder in Maryland.

Traveled In Covered Wagon

When she was nine months old she came to Ogle county with her parents in a covered wagon. Her marriage to Jacob Heistand, a United Brethren church minister, took place Oct. 13, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Heistand resided in Adeline, Ill., until the former's death in a1889.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Heistand became a practical nurse. She has made her home in Leaf River 40 years and for the last ten of these has been residing with Miss Jenny Mishler, 77.

Before her marriage, which took place at the Eavey farm, about for miles from Leaf River, Ms. Heistand was a nurse at the Elgin State Hospital. She has no children.

Nieces of Mrs. Heistand include Mrs. Carrie Hodge of Pine City, Minn., Mrs. Edie French of Loves Park, and Mrs. Charles Stenger and Mrs. Ben Lutz, both of Rockford. Joe Kuntzelman of Rockford, Leon Kuntzelman of Leaf River and Willard Eavey of Hastings, Neb., are nephews.

Spurns Auto Ride

Pennwell, who is Boone county's oldest resident and lifelong Republican, spurned an automobile ride to walk ten blocks to his polling place in Belvidere. His first presidential election vote was for Abraham Lincoln's second term.

Orr, who voted for Willkie on the eve of his 95th birthday anniversary, was brought up in a democratic family, but switched his allegiance to the Republican party when William Jennings Bryan was the Democratic candidate for President. He has voted Republican at every presidential election since.

Despite his age, Orr reads newspapers every day without the aid of glasses, and is well posted of current events. Daily he arises at 5 a.m. and retires at 7 p.m. [offered by Thelma Thomas Livingston/Carole Ann Heller]