Adella Liebenow Wotherspoon (November 28, 1903 – January 26, 2004) was the youngest and last living survivor of the General Slocum ship disaster of June 15, 1904.
Adella Wotherspoon
Adella Wotherspoon at 18 months old at the dedication of the memorial to the victims of the General Slocum fire.
Born Adele Martha Liebenow in Manhattan, she was the daughter of Anna Liebenow (1872–1957) and Paul Liebenow (1871–1910). She was nicknamed Tiby Liebenow. Her siblings Anna C. Liebenow Jr. (1901–1904) and Helen Liebenow (1898–1904) died in the fire on the PS General Slocum. Helen's body was never identified and is presumed buried in a mass grave. Two cousins and two aunts also perished in the fire. One of the relatives who died was Martha Liebenow (1875–1904) of 404 5th Street in Manhattan.[1] Adella's family was listed as living at 133 East 125th Street in the official register of General Slocum deaths.
Shortly after the sinking, her parents legally changed her first name to "Adella".
Fire aftermathedit
After the fire, Adella was treated at Lebanon Hospital. At the dedication ceremony, she pulled the rope to release the American flag and unveil the memorial to the fire victims. After her father's death in 1910, Anna moved the family to Watchung, New Jersey. Adella attended Plainfield High School, then studied education at Trenton Normal School, now known as The College of New Jersey. She taught for one year at Cleveland High School in Cranford, New Jersey then taught business administration at Plainfield High School from 1925 until 1961 when she retired. She married James Wotherspoon (1903–1982), but the couple had no children.[2]
Commemorationedit
The young Wotherspoon played a highly visible role in unveiling a commemorative statue in the cemetery where more than sixty unidentified dead were buried on the first anniversary of the disaster. She returned annually for the memorial ceremonies.[3]
Death and burialedit
Wotherspoon was a resident of a convalescent home in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey for the last several years of her life.[4] She died in 2004 at aged 100, and was cremated. Her ashes were buried alongside her husband's at the Wilson Memorial Union Church Cemetery in Watchung, New Jersey.
^Anna C. Liebenow (1901-1904) birth certificate number "1700"; death certificate number "3323". Helen Liebenow (1898-1904) birth certificate number "32329"; death certificate may not have been issued. Martha Liebenow (1875-1904) death certificate number "3746"
^Martin, Douglas (January 27, 2004). "Adella Wotherspoon, Last Survivor of General Slocum Disaster, Is Dead at 100". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-06. Adella Wotherspoon, the last survivor of the deadliest disaster in New York City history until Sept. 11, 2001 -- the burning and sinking of the steamboat General Slocum in June 1904, died on Jan. 26. She was 100, the youngest Slocum survivor having, at last, become the oldest. She died at a convalescent home in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, said a close friend, Julia A. Clevett.
^Stuart Lutz (2010). The Last Leaf: Voices of History's Last-Known Survivors. Prometheus Books. pp. 236–245. ISBN9781616143107. Adella Wotherspoon.
^Martin, Douglas (2004-02-04). "Adella Wotherspoon, Last Survivor of General Slocum Disaster, Is Dead at 100". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
External linksedit
Findagrave: Adella Wotherspoon
Adella Liebenow Wotherspoon Photographs and Papers, 1860-2004, PR 400, at the New-York Historical Society.
December 15, 2023
adella, wotherspoon, adella, liebenow, wotherspoon, november, 1903, january, 2004, youngest, last, living, survivor, general, slocum, ship, disaster, june, 1904, months, dedication, memorial, victims, general, slocum, fire, bornadele, martha, liebenow, 1903, n. Adella Liebenow Wotherspoon November 28 1903 January 26 2004 was the youngest and last living survivor of the General Slocum ship disaster of June 15 1904 Adella WotherspoonAdella Wotherspoon at 18 months old at the dedication of the memorial to the victims of the General Slocum fire BornAdele Martha Liebenow 1903 11 28 November 28 1903Manhattan New York U S DiedJanuary 26 2004 2004 01 26 aged 100 Roseland New Jersey U S Known forLast living survivor of General SlocumSpouseJames WotherspoonJune 16 1905Adella Wotherspoon 1903 2004 in 1996 Contents 1 Birth and siblings 2 Fire aftermath 3 Commemoration 4 Death and burial 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBirth and siblings editBorn Adele Martha Liebenow in Manhattan she was the daughter of Anna Liebenow 1872 1957 and Paul Liebenow 1871 1910 She was nicknamed Tiby Liebenow Her siblings Anna C Liebenow Jr 1901 1904 and Helen Liebenow 1898 1904 died in the fire on the PS General Slocum Helen s body was never identified and is presumed buried in a mass grave Two cousins and two aunts also perished in the fire One of the relatives who died was Martha Liebenow 1875 1904 of 404 5th Street in Manhattan 1 Adella s family was listed as living at 133 East 125th Street in the official register of General Slocum deaths Shortly after the sinking her parents legally changed her first name to Adella Fire aftermath editAfter the fire Adella was treated at Lebanon Hospital At the dedication ceremony she pulled the rope to release the American flag and unveil the memorial to the fire victims After her father s death in 1910 Anna moved the family to Watchung New Jersey Adella attended Plainfield High School then studied education at Trenton Normal School now known as The College of New Jersey She taught for one year at Cleveland High School in Cranford New Jersey then taught business administration at Plainfield High School from 1925 until 1961 when she retired She married James Wotherspoon 1903 1982 but the couple had no children 2 Commemoration editThe young Wotherspoon played a highly visible role in unveiling a commemorative statue in the cemetery where more than sixty unidentified dead were buried on the first anniversary of the disaster She returned annually for the memorial ceremonies 3 Death and burial editWotherspoon was a resident of a convalescent home in Berkeley Heights New Jersey for the last several years of her life 4 She died in 2004 at aged 100 and was cremated Her ashes were buried alongside her husband s at the Wilson Memorial Union Church Cemetery in Watchung New Jersey See also edit nbsp Biography portalCatherine Uhlmyer second to last survivorReferences edit Anna C Liebenow 1901 1904 birth certificate number 1700 death certificate number 3323 Helen Liebenow 1898 1904 birth certificate number 32329 death certificate may not have been issued Martha Liebenow 1875 1904 death certificate number 3746 Martin Douglas January 27 2004 Adella Wotherspoon Last Survivor of General Slocum Disaster Is Dead at 100 The New York Times Retrieved 2008 04 06 Adella Wotherspoon the last survivor of the deadliest disaster in New York City history until Sept 11 2001 the burning and sinking of the steamboat General Slocum in June 1904 died on Jan 26 She was 100 the youngest Slocum survivor having at last become the oldest She died at a convalescent home in Berkeley Heights New Jersey said a close friend Julia A Clevett Stuart Lutz 2010 The Last Leaf Voices of History s Last Known Survivors Prometheus Books pp 236 245 ISBN 9781616143107 Adella Wotherspoon Martin Douglas 2004 02 04 Adella Wotherspoon Last Survivor of General Slocum Disaster Is Dead at 100 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 06 27 External links editFindagrave Adella Wotherspoon Adella Liebenow Wotherspoon Photographs and Papers 1860 2004 PR 400 at the New York Historical Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adella Wotherspoon amp oldid 1119514816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
