Mrs Phil Mittan (maiden name: Gillen)

Mrs Phil Mittan was born in Providence RI July 4, 1860. When 8 years of age she moved with her parents to Portage WI where she spent her childhood days. At the age of 18 she went to Chicago to visit and older brother and while there met Mr. Mittan and on Feb 18, 1872 was united in marriage to Phil Mittan. To this union 3 children were born, two girls and one boy; two are left to mourn besides the husband, the son John who lives in California was unable to attend the funeral, the daughter, Mrs. George Johnson, residing at Madison where Mrs. Mittan passed away Wednesday morning, Geb 16 at 8 a.m. A daughter Mrs. Abbei Anderson preceded her in death about 10 years ago.
The Mittans were among the early pioneers in Dakota. In the year of 1884, Mr Mittan left the city of Chicago for the west shere he located on a claim and built a home for his wife and children on the prairie, where Dakota blizzards and prairie fires had often swept across their path. They lived on the farm until the year of 1900, when they moved to the town of Vienna where they built a comfortable home and lived there for 20 years. Last October, on account of the aged lady's health, they sold out their property here and moved to Madison where they could be with their loved ones. Her health was much improved for a time after they moved to the home of her daughter, but due to old age and intense suffering for a number of year, she gradulally lost strength and finally passed away.
Besides the loving husband and son, daughter and three grandchildren, she leaves to mourn three brothers, Geo Gillen of Minneapolis, John and William Gillen of Portage WI.
Mrs. Mittan was a loving wife and mother and a most devoted grandmother.
Funeral services were held at the Catholic church at Madison, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, Father Flinn officiating, and the remains laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery.
transcribed from clipping in old scrapbook. Vienna, SD newspaper, circa 1920-1921. No first name is given for the deceased.