Martha Little Foster was born in River Falls March 28, 187 and passed away December 28, 1951.

She was educated in the local schools, attending the "Old Academy" and the high school of which Hosea Barnes was her much loved teacher. She graduated from the State Normal School here in the elementary class of 1885 under Pres. Warren D. Parker.

At the age of 16 she passed an examination for a 3rd grade certificate which they were relucant to give her on account of her youth. She was an excellent teacher and greatly beloved by all her students. She taught the rural schools to the Randall District and at Forestville, later teaching in Eau Claire. She was also principal of the school at Ellsworth and later taught in the 3rd grade of the old high school.

She was married May 31, 1890 to W. H. Putnam of this city who preceded her in death in 1936.

Their home was ever an open door to their many friendnds wjho frequented it and many were the social gatherings that took placae within it. In fact, it could truly be called a Hospitality House.

Mattie, as all her old friends knew her was a great lover of books and took an active interest in Tuesday club in the early years of its existence.

In the later years, they moved t the old homestead where she was born a mile south of town where Mr. Putnam carried on the farm for a number of years until his health failed. After his passing, Mrs. Putnam sold the farm and moved with her sister, Bertha, who had been an invalid for many years to her present hime on 3rd St,

Although they had no family, a niece Mary Louise Thomas, whose mother died when she was three years old, came under the loving care and grew to womanhood within the home on Cascade Ave. A nephew, Llewellyn Thomas who was a prisoner of the Japanese in New Guinea was last heard from two years ago in Australia.

Mrs. Putnam who was of sound mind, began to fail a few years ago and with the loss of memory the mind gradually failed until she fell asleep.

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me.

And may there be no moaning of the bar

When I put out to sea.

River Falls Journal 1-3-1952