The sudden death of Mrs. Janet Scott Brisbane, the estimable wife of Hon. Wm. Brisbane, of Wilton, startled the whole community. She expired, almost without a struggle, June 14, 1888.
Mrs. Brisbane was born in the parish of Minto (6 miles from Hawick), Scotland, Sept. 10, 1810, being in her seventy-eighth year at the time of her death. She married Mr. Brisbane Jan. 2, 1832, and in 1839, came with him and their children to America, and settled in the state of New York. Ten years later, they removed to Fond du Lac county, near Waupun, Wis., where they resided ten years. In 1859, they again moved, this time to Wilton, their home at the time of her death. She was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom survived her. She was truly a helpmeet.
Much of the success of her husband and family, financially and otherwise, was due to her unselfish devotion and untiring industry. She was unusually well informed for a person so burdened with care and her business shrewdness was of a high order.
She was kind, gentle and affectionate, a good neighbor and a staunch defender of what she believed to be right. Few persons were ever held in higher esteem than she was by all her neighbors.
-Child's History of Waseca, p. 411-412
Hon. Wm. Brisbane and wife, of Wilton, celebrated their golden wedding Jan. 20, 1882. Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren then numbered seventy-three, and nearly all of them were present. There were also present some two hundred other persons, who participated in the celebration of the anniversary. One very noticeable - and to Mr. and Mrs. Brisbane a very interesting feature - was the presence of Mr. and Mrs. John Gillis, of Wisconsin, who were married on the same day and at the same place that they were. Mr. Gillis came with his aged companion on purpose to celebrate their Golden Wedding with their friends of 'Auld Lang Syne'. He brought with him a picture of the humble, thatched cottage in Scotland where they commenced their married life. It is seldom tha two couples, who married on the same day in the same place, and afterwards emigrated to a foreign shore, are permitted to celebrate their golden wedding together.
-Child's History of Waseca, p. 365-366