91Y
Born/died in Clinton, Henry Co. area.
Dau of William & Nancy (Jennings) Coppage.
m1: McDonald Collins Oct 19 1856
mm2: Benjamin P. Anderson Apr 7 1881
m3: Francis Marion "Frank" Wise Dec 12 1892.

Theresa was the first white child born in Clinton

Mo. Death Cert #5290-Henry Co/Tebo.
Informant: Mrs. Cora Crain, Clinton
Buried Feb 3 1931, Hickory Grove.

WISE, Theresa Jane COPPAGE COLLINS ANDERSON
b: Feb 22 1839, Clinton, Henry Co, MO
d: Feb 2 1931, 14 mi NE of Clinton, Henry Co, MO
bur: Feb 3 1931 Hickory Grove Cemetery, Tebo Twp, Henry Co, MO
Clinton MO - Mrs. Frank Wise, the first white child born in Clinton, where the J. L. Goss Clothing Store now stands on the north side of the square, died Monday morning at her home, 14 miles northeast of Clinton at 9 o'clock. Lacking twenty days of being 92 years of age, Mrs. Wise never became bedfast until last Friday when neuralgia of the heart and uraemic poison became acute and she lost all consciousness. Her husband, nieces and a skilled physician kept constant watch and hoped and prayed she might be spared. Theresa Jane Coppage was born February 22nd, 1839, and was the first child of William and Nancy Coppage. Aunt Jane professed religion and joined the Methodist church at Hickory Grove in 1874, under the ministry of Rev. John A. Murphy and in this church her life was spent. She was united in marriage to McDonald Collins, October 19th, 1856. He died January 4th, 1880, and April the 7th, 1881 she was united in marriage to Benjamin P. Anderson, and December 21st, 1890, he was called to the home beyond. December 12th, 1892, she was united in marriage to Francis M. Wise, in which union she spent the rest of her earthly life. All of her married life was spent on the old homestead, except 13 years spent in Leeton, Johnson county. During Uncle Mack's life, early one morning, he and Aunt Jane discovered a strange basket in front of the house, in which was found a little baby girl, who was warmly received into their home, and tenderly cared for until God called her home in infancy. Then a few years later they took Eddie Eli, when a small boy, and reared him to manhood, who now resides in Heber, Calif. She is survived by her beloved husband and the following nieces and nephews: Mrs. J. F. Bronaugh, Mounds, Okla.; E. O. Bailey, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. M. K. Bronaugh, Mrs. E. O. Crain, Mrs. C. L. Crooks and Mrs. J. E. Gilliam, all of Clinton; Mrs. W. J. Whidbee, Tulsa, Okla.; Harley Coppage, Mrs. Ida Tapley, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rev. Oscar Coppage, Rev. Owen Coppage, Texas; C. C. Coppage, Hume, Mo.; Garnet Coppage, Nevada, Mo.; Elmo Coppage, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. T. R. Whidbee and Mrs. C. B. Robins, Leeton, Missouri. The length, breadth, height and depth of Mrs. Wise's personality may be summed up in the four letters which form the word l-o-v-e, the great lever by which the heart is moved. She put "first things, first" so her love for her Master and the church and pastor at Hickory Grove were paramount. Unable to attend services the last few years, she was vitally interest in all church activities and her happiness was complete when the pastor came and partook of the dainty meal, she personally served even in her declining years. Her home was her palace, a quiet little homestead on a hallowed spot, in which she reigned queen, and governed by the spirit of her love. A heart home, where graciousness lived and contentment dwelt. As a housekeeper Mrs. Wise had a place for everything and everything was in its place so order and beauty presided and the sunshine of her smile made you welcome. A south window, filled with blooming plants, silently told you of her love for flowers. Unable to tend these flowers the artist instinct found another expression in bouquets of cedar with bright scraps of paper and a single fern now greets the sunbeams in this window of love. A chest of fancywork, rare and exquisite, as her needle was that of the gentlewoman, is in the cherished home for to every scarf, towel or sheet she added a bit of dainty embroidery, a crocheted edge, or a touch of drawnwork. Lovely embroidered baskets of lazy daisies, and forget-me-nots, dainty crocheted butterflies, happy stenciled blue birds peep out at you from her curtains, all bits of her handiwork and evidence of her love for that which was beautiful. Not only to nephews and nieces was she known and loved as "Aunt Jane," but to the countryside and neighbor, she was, in need and deed. The wee children gathered the choice bouquets of parent's and grandmother's gardens, to share with "Aunt Jane," as she had an understanding heart and a cookie jar, whose bottom was never reached. This noble woman was the incarnation of all those splendid virtues enthroned by the prophet and extolled by the preacher. Every Christian trait flashed forth in her character, radiating a rare quality, the quintessence of a perfect product - as beautiful as a flower and fragrant as a perfume whose charm is beyond analysis. her pilgrimage covered many years - perfect years, years redolent with service and sacrifice, years golden in memory, years enthroned in love and rich in tenderness - the end of a long, long trail with a monument of love in the hearts of men, women and children all over Henry county. Yet no matter how full the years have been, no matter how low have run the allotted sand in the hour glass of life, the breaking of the tie brings a pathos that fills the heart with sympathy for the loving mate in his hour of bereavement and the many nephews and nieces. Funeral services were held at Hickory Grove, February 3rd. The pall bearers were her nieces' husbands: M. K. Bronaugh, J. E. Gilliam, Charley Robbins, T. R. Whidbee, E. O. Crain and C. L. Crooks. Flower girls were Miss Dorthy Robbins, and Miss Nina Faye Bronaugh, (daughters of nieces.) Interment in Hickory Grove cemetery.

(obit copied from Henry Co website)