Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson
1870-1909
Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 17, 1909, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles Nurse Succumbs to Operation at Utica, N.Y.
The death of Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson occurred at 2 o'clock this morning at Faxton Hospital, Utica, N.Y. [following on operation on] Nov. 6th, inst.
Miss Tillotson left for Utica two weeks ago today, accompanied by her mother and her sister, Mrs. John Millen, of Duluth, with the expectation that an operation would be resorted to to relieve long standing physical suffering.
Another sister, Mrs. V.A. Lacy, of Yale, Mich., went to Utica a few days later and her father, W.I. Tillotson, arrived yesterday at the bedside of his daughter, in time to secure a parting recognition.
Miss Tillotson went to Faxton Hospital because she had graduated there and besides her love for the institution itself she had great confidence in Dr. Glass, the surgeon who performed the operation upon her. Dr. Glass is an eminent surgeon of long experience. But all his skill was useless, and neither surgeon nor the best of hospital services availed to stay the hand of death.
Miss Tillotson was born at Oneida, N.Y. where she spent her girlhood. She qualified for a public school teacher and taught in Michigan, later taking a course at Faxton Hospital in Utica. She engaged in general nursing in Utica until her health failed and she came to Niles, and for a year before establishing the Niles Private Hospital made her home with her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam.
She was devoted to her profession and many suffering with physical ailments have been skillfully ministered to at this hospital, which was a success from the start.
To do good, to relieve human suffering, if it were within her power, was more to her than any mere pecuniary rewards, and she nursed the sick because her heart was in the work.
Miss Tillotson had no social aspirations, but had made many friends since coming to Niles. She was a member of the Eastern Star and hers is the first death in the membership of the Niles Chapter since its organization seven years ago.
Miss Tillotson was a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Oneida, N.Y.
The interment will take place in Niles at Silver Brook cemetery.
The remains will arrive at noon tomorrow from the east and will be conveyed to the home of her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam, where the services will be held, probably on Friday, the Rev. Geo. W. Huntington of Trinity officiating.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 17, 1909, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Passed Away Early This Morning at Utica, N.Y.
Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson passed away this morning at 2 o'clock at Faxton Hosptial, Utica, N.Y., where she underwent an operation a week ago last Saturday. It was her desire to return to this institution, from where she was graduated in 1901, and where she afterwards served as a member of the staff of nurses. She was placed under the skillful hands of an old friend, Dr. Glass, one of the most noted surgeons of the country, but skill and science and the heroic care of devoted nurses were unavailing. She failed to rally from the shock and the end had been expected for several days. Her father and mother, sisters and old friends were near when death came.
Miss Tillotson was born in Oneida, N.Y., where she spent her girlhood days. After graduating from High school, she took a State Regent's course and taught for a while in Michigan, later taking a four years' course at Faxton Hospital, remaining there until her health failed. She then came to Niles, residing with her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam for a years, after which she opened the Niles Private hospital, which she had conducted successfully for the past four years. Heart and soul were devoted to her noble work and untold good was accomplished by her. Her acts of charity were numberless, working privately and in conjunction with the Ladies' Charity society. Many in Niles and vicinity, in the east, and elsewhere, who have been brought back to health by her devoted care will receive the news of her passing away with great regret. We cannot help but wonder why one who was accomplishing so much good and was so needed in the world had to be taken.
The Order of the Eastern Star, of which Miss Tillotson was a member, is today mourning the first loss by death in its six years' organization. Miss Tillotson was a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Oneida, N.Y.
The surviving relatives are the father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W.I. Tillotson of this city and three sisters, Mrs. John Millen of Duluth; Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam of this city and Mrs. V.A. Lacey of Yale.
The remains will arrive here at noon tomorrow and will be taken to the home of Geo. E. Gillam on Oak street, where services will be conducted Friday afternoon by Rev. Geo. N. Huntington of Trinity church, at an hour which will be announced tomorrow.