"Death of Miss Martha M. Waddell. Miss Martha Miller Waddell died Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Maria W. Pratt, in Lexington. Her death was unexpected, though it had been known for some days that she was in a very delicate condition from disease of the heart. This proved to be the cause of her death. Miss Waddell was the oldest daughter of the late Dr. Livingston Waddell, and a descendant of Rev. James Waddell, the famous blind preacher of Revolutionary times. Her mother was before marriage Miss Hannah Estill of Augusta county. She was born in Waynesboro, December 26, 1827, and was the oldest of a family of fourteen children. She was educated at the Augusta Female seminary at Staunton, now Mary Baldwin seminary, and was a member of the first class taught in the school by Rev. Dr. Bailey, its founder. With her father's family she moved to Lexington in 1866 and for twenty years conducted here a students' boarding house at which many Washington and Lee boys made their homes. She lived an earnest and useful life and one in keeping with her religious profession, which was that of a devout member of the Presbyterian church. October 7, 1848 she became a member of the Waynesboro church, and her walk and conversation always bore testimony to the faith she then professed. She was always cheerful and entertaining and possessed a large circle of acquaintances and friends. She is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Lucy W. Preston, Mrs. Mary W. Houston, Mrs. E. W. Nichols, Mrs. Maria W. Pratt and Mrs. F. H. Smith, and four brothers, Estill, Edward, A. Alexander and B. Harrison Waddell. The interment was made in the Lexington cemetery Monday afternoon. The funeral services were conducted from the residence of Mrs. E. W. Nichols at 5.30 o'clock by the Rev. Dr. Thornton Whaling, pastor of the Presbyterian church. The casket was borne to the grave by near kinsmen of the deceased." Published in the Rockbridge County News, Vol 14, #40, dated 11 Aug 1898 (see photo).

"Mrs. Mary W. Houston and Mrs. Leslie L. Campbell arrived here on Monday from Toledo, 0., to attend the funeral of Miss Martha Waddell. Published in the Rockbridge County News, Vol 14, #40, dated 11 Aug 1898

"Waddell—August 7, 1898, In Lexington, Miss Martha Waddell, aged 70. She was the eldest daughter of Dr Livingston Waddell, deceased, formerly of Waynesboro." Published in the Augusta County Argus, Vol 11, #32, dated 16 Aug 1898.