Contributed by Diane Ciba
Mabel was one of the women who succumbed to the Spanish Flu also known as the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919.
Born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania in November or December of 1889, Mabel was the daughter of Thomas Fairfield and Mary Brant. Her father came to the United States from England in 1876, In 1900, the family was living at 818 Monroe Avenue in Dunmore, and included her parents, Thomas (a watchman) and Mary, as well as 9-year-old Mabel (at school) and her siblings, Maud (a factory girl) age 16, William (a slate-picker) age 14, and Percey (at school) age 7.
Before 1910 Mabel’s parents died. In the Census of that year, she is listed as the head of the household (no occupation) age 19, at the same address, living with her siblings, Percy (book-keeper at Coal Office) age 17, and Blanche (in school), age 8.
The next information available is a marriage announcement in the Scranton, Pennsylvania Tribune on December 29, 1915:
“Miss Mabel Fairchild, of this city, and Edward Butterfield, of Watertown, Conn., were married yesterday morning at 10:30 o’clock in the manse of the Dunmore Presbyterian Church, the Rev. James R. Leishman, pastor, officiating. They were unattended. Following a honeymoon trip, Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield will reside in Watertown, Conn.”
They soon had two daughters, Margaret Jackson (born November 10, 1916) and Betty Anne (born December 26, 1917).
Mabel died on February 18, 1919 soon after her 28th birthday and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery on February 20. Her husband and daughters continued to live in Watertown and he later remarried and had children. Edward is also buried in Evergreen Cemetery with his second wife, Mary Evelyn Lavin.