Editor’s note: This is the fourth part of a series on daughters and granddaughters of those who fought in the Revolutionary War who are buried in Manhattan.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution consists of people with verifiable ties to patriots — people who provided service in some manner to the war. The local Polly Ogden chapter on May 3 will honor some “true daughters” with a wreath-laying ceremony as part of the America 250 celebration.

In this final installment, the DAR honors two women buried in Sunset Cemetery who were granddaughters of patriots.

Charlotte Francis Felt Wilder, granddaughter

Recognized as one of Kansas’ most prolific and well-known writers, Charlotte Francis Felt was born Dec. 12, 1839, the daughter of Col. Elijah Felt and Hannah Lawrence Felt, and granddaughter of Patriot Samuel Felt and Naomi Woods Felt.

Patriot Samuel Felt was born 1755 in Essex County, Massachusetts. Samuel is said to have served at the Lexington and Ticonderoga alarm. He enlisted in 1778 and served in Capt. Robert Fletcher’s company for the defense of Rhode Island. After the war he married Naomi Woods. They were the parents of eight children. Samuel died in 1826 at Nelson, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Naomi passed away in 1851.

Charlotte was raised in Massachusetts, attending the common schools there. She married George Carter Wilder on November 21, 1861. They became the parents of three children.

In 1867 the couple moved to Manhattan, Kansas, when her husband took up the pastorate of the First Methodist Episcopalian Church in town. Charlotte took over the young men’s Sunday School class in 1870 and influenced approximately 5,000 young men. Charlotte had been a Sunday School teacher since the age of 16. Shortly after, Charlotte began writing for religious magazines. She wrote and published several books that continued up through the early years of the twentieth century. Her published books could be purchased not only in the United States but across the world. Charlotte was a force to be reckoned with. Besides her volumes of written work, she helped start the Polly Ogden Chapter of DAR, was an officer in the newly formed Kansas State Historical Society, president of the Topeka branch of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, member and speaker at Kansas Women’s Press, Domestic Science Club of Manhattan, and many others.

Mary Foster Greeley, granddaughter

Mary Ann Greeley was born Aug. 24, 1850, in Center Point, Illinois. She was the only child of Ezekial Foster and Mary Ann Delong. Both of her parents were born in Vermont. 

Mary’s family was living in Manhattan prior to 1870 and contributed land for Bluemont College. In 1885, she married an office clerk, Edward Greeley, at the Congregational Church on February 5. Edward moved to the Manhattan area from New York. Their only child, Fred, was born in Manhattan in 1888. Before Fred was born, Mary was teaching at one of the newly established schools. She also served as Secretary of the Manhattan Institute early in its beginning. She was active in the development of the first library for the city. 

Mary was the granddaughter of Rufus Foster of Vermont. He served as a major during the Revolutionary War. His service was well documented with his pension approved in 1832. Major Foster was living in Rochester, Vermont, when his service began. In 1911 when the Polly Ogden Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was forming, Mary joined on September 28, as a charter member, DAR member 88915.

When Mary’s husband died May 8, 1924, her son Fred Foster Greeley was living in the western part of the state. When he died on May 13, 1956, he was living in Sacramento, California. 

Before moving into the Foster family home, Mary and Edward lived at 609 Leavenworth. Mary was living at 1010 Fremont at the time of her death on January 17, 1931. Her home was said to be a lovely large stone structure. The home included tracts 461, 462, 463 and 464. She also owned property in Junction City.  (327 West 3rd Street).  When Mary died, she had 3 grandchildren. The oldest, a girl from Fred’s first marriage, lived with her following her parents’ divorce.  Fred and his second wife had two children.