Edith Hampton is pictured. (Photo courtesy of the Negaunee Historical Society)

NEGAUNEE — Edith Hampton was born on Dec. 5, 1885 in England. Edith came to America with her siblings and her mother Bessie when she was three years old.

They came to the Upper Peninsula, where her father Harry Oliver was working in the iron mines in Negaunee. Edith attended school through the sixth grade in both Ishpeming and Negaunee.

When her father died her mother married John Matthews. When Edith was 20 years old she married a local ironworker, William Hampton, who was born in Nevada in 1882.

They were married on March 1, 1906 in Negaunee. They lived most of their married life in “Cornish Town” which is now considered “Old Town.” Edith came from a family of nine children and she raised nine children, seven who were born to her and William.

All of the children were born at home with a visiting doctor and a midwife from next door. Edith “Sis” Nelson, William of Champion, Joseph of Gladstone, Walter of Howell, Alvin of Negaunee, Ruth Walimaa of Negaunee and Harry.

When her widowed brother Harry died, she also raised his two children, Dorothy who was eight and Idabell who was nine. While William worked in the mines Edith stayed home to raise the children, but she did work for seven years at the Gossard factory in Ishpeming but quit to raise her brother’s daughters.Edith found time to make clothes for kids who were in need and to bake for other families. In Edith’s words, “I tried to do a little bit, what I could for others.” If asked what she did in her free time, she responded with,” I had seven children, that’s my pastime.”

Edith enjoyed baking, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She did a lot of church work, working in the kitchen and cleaning. Edith began the tradition of serving meals after a funeral at the Mitchell Methodist Church in Negaunee.

A widower across the street had died, so she asked if she could serve a meal after the funeral for his family and friends. That practice still continues today. Edith loved people and enjoyed doing things for them. Neighbor children were always welcome at the Hampton home and often were invited to stay for a meal because Edith felt that there were always poor kids who needed help.

Neighborhood kids would often say, “Let’s go to Hamptons, they got the biggest table.” Edith spent most of her money on other people’s kids, but the family never felt deprived because of their mother’s generosity.

She made Christmas for kids who wouldn’t have had one otherwise. On Edith’s 90th birthday, 42 previous neighborhood children who became her friends came to celebrate with her. In addition to the local kids coming to play marbles on the kitchen floor and basketball with a “soft” ball also in the kitchen, a bible study was held at the Hampton home every Friday afternoon.

Edith was 99 years old before she was ever hospitalized. One of her comments was, “These golden years are pretty rusty.” When interviewed at age 102, Edith was asked what her secret was for a long life, she replied, ” Only that God intended for me to stay here for a certain length of time, I don’t know any more than that. I think my work’s been done. “

Edith lived with her daughter Ruth for 20 years before going to Acocks Medical Facility. Edith died in 1990, at the age of 105 years.