Matilda Butz and Henry R. Chidsey [196-49]

[196-49] MATILDA BUTZ, 6b May 5, 1837; d Oct. 29, 1919; dau Michael and Elizabeth (Shimer) Butz [196-11]; m HENRY R. CHIDSEY, d June 16, 1834; d July 21, 1870; s Russell Chidsey. Henry Chidsey was a hardware and stove merchant of Easton, Pa. He was president of Town Council at the time of his death.

“Mrs. Matilda Butz Chidsey, widow of Henry Chidsey and one of Easton’s oldest, best known, and most philanthropic women, died last night at her home here. She was eighty-two years of age last May.

Probably no other local woman was as widely known as Mrs. Chidsey, and probably no other woman has done as much for charitable purposes in this city in several generations. She was an active church worker in the Reformed Church. She received her education in Easton and later attended the Moravian College for Women, at Bethlehem, being one of the oldest alumnae of that institution. It was at her home in this city that the alumnae association of that college was reorganized after the Civil War.

Deeply interested in missionary work, about thirteen years ago she took a trip to the Reformed mission fields in China and Japan, and on her return delivered lectures on the conditions as she found them in the oriental countries, and through her efforts enlisted powerful support for these mission fields of the denomination, and was always recognized as one of the foremost women workers of that church in the country.

In her thirty-two years’ work among the little children she became the author of a number of excellent ‘Helps for the Beginners’ Department.’

She was a member of the advisory board of the Bethany Orphans’ Home, at Womelsdorf, Pa., and was also a member of the ladies’ auxiliary of the Phoebe Deaconcess and Old Folks Home at Allentown, Pa., both of which are under the jurisdiction of the Reformed Church.

But her activities were not all confined to denominational work, as she was also identified with nearly every charity of a local nature. She was one of the original members of the board of managers of the Easton Home for Friendless Children, and remained a member of this board up to the time of her death. She was deeply concerned in the welfare of the Easton Home for Friendless Children and of the Easton Hospital, and a benefactor of all these charitable institutions, and her private benefactions were beyond number.” [North American, Oct. 31, 1919.]