Celebrating her 95th birthday during the week, Mrs. Sarah Stephenson is now Darlington's oldest resident. Mrs. Stephenson came with her parents to this country when she was five years old from East Kent, England. The family settled in Lafayette county and she has made her home in Darlington for over 70 years. She has two children, A.J. Buss Milwaukee and Mrs. Charles Paynter, Darlington. Due to a recent illness Mrs. Stephenson is not in the best of health.
Wisconsin State Journal 4 Sep 1931
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Mrs. Sarah Stephenson of this city and Mrs. Elizabeth Brown of Cresco, Iowa, twins, who are well past their 86th birthday, are widely known in this vicinity. Born in Kent, England, they came with their parents to America when 5 years of age. Arriving at Buffalo, they remained there for about twelve years when they moved west and settled in Kendalltown. A little later, Mrs. Stephenson came to Darlington where she has since made her home with the exception of a few years spent in Platteville. She is perhaps better known as Mrs. Flesher to many Darlington people.
One brother, A.J. Buss living in Milwaukee, comes here regularly to visit and only recently Mrs. Stephenson went to Cresco where she visited several weeks with her sister.
Darlington Democrat 31 Jan 1924
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Sarah Elizabeth Buss, daughter of Abraham and Mary Buss, was born in East Kent, England, Aug. 7, 1837, and quietly fell asleep Wednesday morning, Nov. 18, 1931, at her home in Darlington, Wis., aged 94 years, 3 months and 11 days.
At the age of 5 years, she came with her parents to America, settling near Buffalo, N.Y., where they remained until she was 18 years of age when they came to Wisconsin and settled at Cottage Inn.
She was united in marriage to Jacob Flesher. Five children were born to this union; one dying in infancy. Her husband died leaving her with four small children, but with a determined heart and willing hands she took up her duties and raised them to womanhood and manhood. With the exception of Mrs. Charles Paynter, they all preceded her to the silent land; namely, Mrs. James Bruce, Mrs. Robert Martin and Richard Flesher.
She was married to George Stephenson, who passed away twenty-one years ago.
She united with the Methodist church when a young girl and was a faithful and loyal member at the time of her being called to the Church Triumphant which is without fault before the Throne of God.
Grandma Stephenson has been a most remarkable woman; active in her church and community until about four years ago, when because of failing health her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Paynter, came to Darlington to care for her. She was unable to be around the house until a week before her death. She had great faith in her God and was especially gifted in prayer. She memorialized her Christian experience by placing a fine Art Windaw in the church where she worshiped. The emblem, "The Cross and The Crown" was her choice. She carried her Cross and now received her Crown.
Besides her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Paynter, she leaves to mourn her death, one brother, A.J. Buss of Milwaukee; 18 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren.
She lived an ordinary lifetime in this vicinity and has seen almost untold changes in conditions under which we live. She has pioneered her way along and at last enjoyed the conveniences of our modern world.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Friday afternoon; her pastor, Rev. G.S. Joslin, preaching from II Tim. 4-7 and 8. The quartet sang two of her favorite songs, The Old Rugged Cross and Waiting and Watching for Me.
Six of her grandsons, George, Will, Byron and Roy Paynter, Fred, Bruce and Harry Flesher, acted as pall bearers and carried her to her last resting place in Union Grove Cemetery.
Republican Journal Nov 1931