Watertown Daily Times, 15 November 1927 With the death of Mrs. Maria Gertrude Knapp, 101, the oldest resident of this city, Tuesday night, the last person to remember the battle of the Windmill in the Patriot war of 1838 passed away. Mrs. Knapp died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Lynn V. Johnson, 135 Bishop street, after an illness of about one year. Mrs. Knapp was born in Prescott, May 1, 1826, the daughter of Timothy and Anna Clancy Ahearn. Her father was engaged in the shipping and forwarding business, and lived on Water street, near the river. Until about 30 years ago Mrs. Knapp lived in Prescott. She came to Watertown at that time and has made her home with her children and grandchildren here ever since. Mrs. Knapp was the widow of Frederick M. Knapp, who died about 20 years ago at the age of 96. Mrs. Knapp's father, Timothy Ahearn, died at the age of 104 in Chicago. Michael Ahren [sic], for 63 years a reporter and member of the editorial staff of the Chicago Tribune, the man who was responsible for the story of Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicking over the lantern and causing the Chicago fire of 1871, was Mrs. Knapp's brother. He died recently at a very advanced age. Surviving are four children: Mrs. Thomas M. Otis, Mrs. Charles J. Haley and Peter Knapp, all of this city, and John Knapp of Johnstown, Penna.; four grandchildren, Mrs. Johnson, with whom she made her home, Mrs. James F. Solar, Leo C. Haley and Emmett Otis, all of this city, and 35 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be held from the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Lynn V. Johnson, 135 Bishop street, Thursday morning at 9 and from Holy Family church at 9:30. Burial will be at Glenwood cemetery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dennis Ahern | Middlesex County Massachusetts Newspaper Abstracts Acton, Massachusetts | http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/MA/Middlesex/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -