Martha E. Farmer Gibson (1844–1905)

1845 · age 1 — The Irish Potato Famine began

1848 · age 4 — The California Gold Rush began

1863 · age 19 — The Emancipation Proclamation took effect

1867 · age 23 — The United States purchased Alaska

1871 · age 27 — The Great Chicago Fire burned much of the city

1886 · age 42 — The Statue of Liberty was dedicated

1898 · age 54 — The Spanish–American War was fought

1903 · age 59 — The Wright brothers made the first powered flight