DARLINGTON - On July 12, 1914, in the small town of Fayette, Wesley and Mable Reed welcomed their first child, a daughter named Celia, into the world.
They would go on to have another daughter and three sons, but none would experience life for more than a century as their older sister has. Now with the surname of Benson, Celia celebrated her 102nd birthday this month surrounded by her son Greg and a group of friends at the Lafayette Manor in Darlington.
"I lived a pretty clean life," Benson said. "I didn't drink. I didn't smoke. I just tried to do right by everything. I'm thankful that at my age, my mind is still good."
Benson recalled a life filled with happiness. Born to a farming family, she spent most of her life in Lafayette County. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in the Township of Lamont and eventually went on to high school. For a year she attended classes in Milwaukee but moved back to her birthplace to help her grandmother, who had fallen ill in her later years. Benson filled odd jobs, helping elderly people and doing housework once her grandmother passed away. She said she enjoyed helping people in their later years.
At 18, Benson lost her mother, leaving the oldest child to help her father raise her four younger siblings. She eventually stopped attending school and never truly finished.
"But it was OK, because I never really cared for school anyway," Benson said with a smile, recalling the transition of grieving for her mother while helping her father make sure the other children grew to their potential.
"I was used to working," Benson said. "I stayed home until they got through high school, then I figured they were on their own."
Today, even as the oldest child, she is the only sibling left out of the five Reed kids.
"It's lonely when you're the last one," Benson said.
The mother of one son, Benson said she looks forward to when Greg, a farmer in the area, comes to visit every Sunday.
Benson met her husband, Cecil, when the two were young. Benson said they had known each other for years before she went to work for people throughout the area. She had helped a number of families take care of elderly people. Eventually she went to work in the Darlington bakery, while Cecil enlisted in the Army and served as corporal in World War II.
On the last day of 1948, the two were married in Blanchardville. It wasn't due to a love of snow or a whirlwind rush of romance; Benson said her husband had a week of vacation at work and they took the opportunity to tie the knot. They remained married until Cecil died on June 18, 1987.
Benson contends that her life was simple and that she was "just a housewife" who spent her days sewing, cooking, canning, gardening and performing other domestic duties throughout her home in Wiota. Cecil was a carpenter by trade, though would perform odd jobs from time to time, and even worked as a mechanic for a short time.
A century of changes has been noticeable for Benson. She said she can vividly remember the turmoil of World War II. From local events like the Lafayette County Fair to the growth of the farming industry, things have grown over decades of progress. She said can remember when small family farms still used horses to till the land.
"I can remember going to the fair when I was little," Benson said. "I imagine it's changed quite a bit."
Just admitted to the manor in January, Benson has maintained an active and social life while within the walls of the nursing home. Bingo games and chatting with friends in front of daily television shows take up most of her day.
They would go on to have another daughter and three sons, but none would experience life for more than a century as their older sister has. Now with the surname of Benson, Celia celebrated her 102nd birthday this month surrounded by her son Greg and a group of friends at the Lafayette Manor in Darlington.
"I lived a pretty clean life," Benson said. "I didn't drink. I didn't smoke. I just tried to do right by everything. I'm thankful that at my age, my mind is still good."
Benson recalled a life filled with happiness. Born to a farming family, she spent most of her life in Lafayette County. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in the Township of Lamont and eventually went on to high school. For a year she attended classes in Milwaukee but moved back to her birthplace to help her grandmother, who had fallen ill in her later years. Benson filled odd jobs, helping elderly people and doing housework once her grandmother passed away. She said she enjoyed helping people in their later years.
At 18, Benson lost her mother, leaving the oldest child to help her father raise her four younger siblings. She eventually stopped attending school and never truly finished.
"But it was OK, because I never really cared for school anyway," Benson said with a smile, recalling the transition of grieving for her mother while helping her father make sure the other children grew to their potential.
"I was used to working," Benson said. "I stayed home until they got through high school, then I figured they were on their own."
Today, even as the oldest child, she is the only sibling left out of the five Reed kids.
"It's lonely when you're the last one," Benson said.
The mother of one son, Benson said she looks forward to when Greg, a farmer in the area, comes to visit every Sunday.
Benson met her husband, Cecil, when the two were young. Benson said they had known each other for years before she went to work for people throughout the area. She had helped a number of families take care of elderly people. Eventually she went to work in the Darlington bakery, while Cecil enlisted in the Army and served as corporal in World War II.
On the last day of 1948, the two were married in Blanchardville. It wasn't due to a love of snow or a whirlwind rush of romance; Benson said her husband had a week of vacation at work and they took the opportunity to tie the knot. They remained married until Cecil died on June 18, 1987.
Benson contends that her life was simple and that she was "just a housewife" who spent her days sewing, cooking, canning, gardening and performing other domestic duties throughout her home in Wiota. Cecil was a carpenter by trade, though would perform odd jobs from time to time, and even worked as a mechanic for a short time.
A century of changes has been noticeable for Benson. She said she can vividly remember the turmoil of World War II. From local events like the Lafayette County Fair to the growth of the farming industry, things have grown over decades of progress. She said can remember when small family farms still used horses to till the land.
"I can remember going to the fair when I was little," Benson said. "I imagine it's changed quite a bit."
Just admitted to the manor in January, Benson has maintained an active and social life while within the walls of the nursing home. Bingo games and chatting with friends in front of daily television shows take up most of her day.