At the time the article was written, Clara was making her home with Clarence and Ola Dewey. The only daughter of Randall and Mary Whitten, she had outlived her immediate family, including three brothers, Asa, Chauncey and Archie. Her nearest kin were nieces and nephews who lived in Colorado and Canada. Here's the report:
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Miss Clara Whitten, who celebrated her 100th birthday Saturday, May 7, 1955, was reported Monday to be spryer than ever. The Deweys reported that she was listening to the radio at 6 in the morning while the rest were tired from the visitors she had received Saturday and Sunday.
Miss Whitten was born in Fulton County near Toledo, Ohio. At the age of six she came with her family to Iowa in a covered wagon and settled about three miles north of Russell. The family purchased the farm for $1.25 an acre which at the time was covered with tall grass about six feet high.
She received her education at a school two miles from her home. With her brothers, she walked to Russell each Sunday to church. She lived with her parents and cared for them until their deaths years ago. Her father lived to be 93 and her brother, Archie, was 88 years old.
She taught music lessons and took painting lessons from an artist besides calling on the sick and shut-ins, especially the children.
Clara received an orchid from Tom Brenaman for being a good neighbor.
She traveled some. In 1925, she visited a brother in Canada; went to Nebraska and Colorado in about 1902. She attended the Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1893 and heard Dwight L. Moody preach.
Miss Whitten moved to Russell about 1901 and has lived alone since the death of her father in 1920 until the last few years. She has enjoyed good health and until the last year has walked some every day which she has maintained her fine health.
She has outlived here entire family, including three brothers, but has several cousins in Iowa, two nieces in Colorado and nieces and a nephew in Canada.
The highlight of her birthday was when she received a personal letter from Mamie Eisenhower and a greeting card from Ike, personally signed. Also, she received 82 callers and 170 cards. Her niece, Mrs. Petrine Roulston of Boulder, Colorado, is spending five days with her.
Even though 100 years old, she still has a keen sense of humor, reads a daily paper, enjoys the comic sections and has her favorite radio programs. She has showed a great interest in people which has gained many lasting friendships. She was always optimistic and has an unbiased viewpoint.
She has been a lifelong Republican, always interested in politics and current events of the day. Besides all this, she reads her Bible and writes to her friends. One must agree that she has lived a full life.
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Miss Whitten died a year after celebrating her centennial --- on June 27, 1956, age 101. She is buried in the Russell Cemetery with her parents.
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