Sarah Connor Woodburn

Sarah Connor was born 13 March 1833, in County Westmeath, Ireland, the daughter of Charles Connor and Catherine Fitzgerald (both born in Ireland). She was the seventh of nine children: Jane, James, Catherine, Thomas, Eleanor, Eliza, William and Mary Ann. The parents died within a week of one another in Dec 1841, and son Thomas and daughter Catherine made a voyage to America to make a new life for the family. They were followed in October 1844, by the rest of the siblings, concluding their voyage in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, before Christmas of that year.

Sarah met Samuel sometime in the mid-1850's. They were married by Rev. John W. Williamson, 25 November 1856, in Princeton. She was known as a seamstress of great talent, making all of her family's clothes, as well as many uniforms for the union war effort.

Her granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth (Woodburn) Mason relayed some information to the author via her father Harry’s stories. Sarah was extremely strict and very adamant about following the bible; so much so, that every Sunday, the family was not allowed to do anything. Anything! They would get up, get dressed and sit, all day, and do nothing out of reverence to keeping the Sabbath holy. They fasted all day until evening, when they would finally eat and go to bed. Elizabeth said, "She wouldn't let you so-much-as sew a button on a shirt on a Sunday."

The following is an article from the Princeton paper (nearly six days) after Sarah’s death. Today’s obituary section would be as big as the whole paper if they were written like this now:

The spirit of Mrs. Samuel Woodburn has been called by the angel of death and has left its earthly abode to dwell forever with the hosts of those who have gone before to the heavenly city. Death came at 8:45 o’clock Friday night after the deceased had lingered for several weeks battling with disease. She was as patient a sufferer as ever passed through the dark shadows of sickness and she bore her pain without murmuring against her fate. Death was welcomed as a relief from the pains of the body and the deceased was ready to enter that land where pain is unknown.

Mrs. Woodburn’s maiden name was Sarah Connor and she was born in Ireland 64 years ago. She was married to Samuel Woodburn a short time after coming to this country. To this union were born five sons and two daughters who, with the husband, survive. This is the first death to occur in this family and the loss of the wife and mother will be felt heavily. The sorrowing relatives have much sympathy in their bereavement. The funeral services were held at the family residence, corner of Seminary and Oak streets, at 10 o’clock Monday morning, internment following in Odd Fellows cemetery.