A RIPE OLD AGE. / A LADY OF THIS TOWNSHIP WHO IS NEARLY NINETY-FOUR.
A scriptural allotment of man’s age is three score and ten, but Liberty township can boast of a citizen who is past ninety-three years of age and the Record lays claim to her being the oldest living person in Hardin county.
We refer to Mrs. Any Thompson, the mother of David Thompson, a pioneer of this township, having moved here 26 years ago. He now lives two miles south of the city.
An old Quaker bible in the family’s possession bears this record: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
If she lives until her next birthday anniversary she will be 94 years of age. She was born at Greenbriar, Tennessee and when but a child emigrated with her parents to southern Ohio settling in what is known as the High Prairie, below Chillicothe. She was married on March 2nd, 1830 to Joseph Thompson. Her husband died in 1854, since which time she has made her home with her son David.
The Record recently had the pleasure of a visit with this venerable lady and found her remarkably well-preserved. She is very active and retains her faculties to a wonderful degree. She insists on getting in her own wood and walks about without the aid of a cane. She occasionally lies down during the day, but during her waking hours does not care to sit in a rocking chair, preferring to use a common chair.
She had been gifted with a rare set of teeth, having never lost but three and they by accident. Her teeth are even and sound. She has had her second sight for a dozen years and uses glasses that persons half her age could not use. She has never had any serious illness save the typhoid fever. She had an attack of illness last summer that was of short duration.
She related that when she and her husband began housekeeping he had a horse, an as and a saddle and she contributed a cow and a cupboard. They borrowed a plate for each until they could earn their own. Where is the bride of today who would be willing to begin life with such limited resources?
She has always been a Friend or Quaker as they are commonly called, in her religious associations, having a birthright in that denomination. She does not care to come to Ada, having been here last something over a year ago. She attended the Quaker services held near her home last Lord’s Day, as these good people denominated the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
Mrs. Thompson is of English descent. She yet retains the industrious habits of the people of her faith, and only last week she knit a splendid pair of mittens and there wasn’t a dropped stitch in either one. There are in the house nearly a dozen quilt patterns of her handiwork besides the many she has given to friends. Some of these are of very beautiful and intricate patterns. One pattern contained 1500 pieces. The stitches are as even as though made by a maid in her teens.
The old lady tells of some of the crude household utensils which her people were obliged to use for want of better, For meal sieves they used home-tanned deer skins stretched over hoops and with holes punched in the skin to let the fine meal through. Sometimes they would make a sieve of the hairs of a horse’s tail. For corn mills they would hollow our a stump and put over it a spring pole with a huge pestle to pound the corn. Some worked in a cavity in huge stones and fit inside of them another stone which they would turn by means of a beam fastened to them, and thus reduce the corn to meal.
She states that the mode of burying the dead was by selecting a hollow log which would be cut off the right length. Then a piece would be split off, the dead body would be placed in the log and the portion split off would be replaced and the log-coffin would then be consigned to the tender care of mother earth.
Source: The Ada Record, 31 Dec 1890, pg. 2
OBITUARY OF AMY THOMPSON.
On April 12, 1892, Grandma Thompson, as she was familiarly known here, was called away to receive her reward so well earned through the course of a long and useful life. In the old family Bible, in possession of the family, we find this quaint record regarding her advent into this life: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
She therefore lacked but twelve days of being 95 years old and was the oldest living person, so far as we now know, in the county. She was remarkably well preserved for one of her age and insisted on doing her own work, even to getting her wood, until the beginning of her last sickness, which was of nine weeks' duration. Though the greater part of her life was one of toils and privations her appearance was that of one much younger. She stood erect and walked without the aid of a cane, and the pleasant smile, so natural to her, displayed a set of natural teeth so even and nice as to be always mistaken for artificial ones, she never having lost but three and that by accident. Her eyesight was remarkably good so that she could do fine sewing, of which she did a great deal, without the aid of glasses until recently. In the use of the needle she was almost an expert, as many pieces of her handiwork will attest. In the manufacture of fine quilts, which now bids fair to one day be among the lost arts, Grandma spent much of her time, and one at least that she made when more that for four scores of age has more than 1500 pieces in it. These souvenirs will long remain among the many families that now possess one or more of them to call back precious and tender memories of her to whom we have so lately bid adieu until time shall be no more.
Her ancestors lived in England and could boast of royal blood but yielded to conscience rather than policy and united with the sect of Friends, or Quakers as they were called in derision, and as many others of that persecuted class have done — found religious freedom beneath the blue skies of our beloved America, settling at a very early day, the exact time and place not now known to the writer, but thought to be in North Carolina, from which place they moved to Greenbriar, Tenn., where the subject of our sketch was born as before mentioned, but when she was yet only a very small child, and Ohio was yet a territory, she, with her father's family and other relations moved to Ohio where all enjoyed freedom of body as well as of soul. They settled on what was known as High Prairie, below Chillicothe, which was for some time the capitol of Ohio. Her grandfather, Thomas Beals, who came with them was a Quaker preacher, and the first of that denomination ever to cross the Ohio river in search of a home. / The country where they located was then a dense wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts and still more savage men. One relative, an uncle we believe, was burned at the stake by the Indians, and her father at one time saved his life by climbing down the hollow of the stub of a tree, wherein was a den of cub bears, but he often remarked afterward that he felt safer in there that in the hands of the Indians. They pursued his trail as fair as the hollow tree, struck on it with their tomahawks but could trace the trail no farther and gave up the pursuit. At dusk the mother bear returned and climbed down the hollow but by repeatedly striking her with his knife he drove her back and got out and made good his escape.
Nor were the dangers from the red men the only thing to encounter. There were none of the conveniences of later times. To keep the wolf from the door was sometimes a serious question in the settling of which all who could had to unite. If happily they raised sufficient corn for bread, there were no mills to grind it. A stump was hollowed out by burning and scraping, and a pestle supported by a string-pole used to pound it fine and reduce it to meal. A deer skin punched full of holes and sometimes a rude sieve made of the hairs from a horse's tail served to separate the bran from the meal. Hominy was also so much used and by way of variety and sometimes necessity a dish made by pounding fine the most brittle slippery elm and frying brown in bear's grease was obtained. This was said to be quite palatable and once since living here she got her two grandsons, Wash and Joe, then lads, to get the bark while she prepared it as "in days of her childhood," using lard instead of the olden times bear's grease. The sick were doctored by those most skilled in the use of nature's remedies, such as roots, barks, &c. The dead were laid away in the trunk of a hollow tree cut off as long as the body of deceased, a slab split off the top, the body tenderly laid in and the slab replaced and in those rude coffins her honored ancestors will sweetly sleep until the Resurrection morn, when the reward is given, not for the pomp and glitter but for the actual merit while here on probation.
After it was ascertained that Chillicothe was no longer to be the capital of Ohio, they removed to Highland county where on March 3d, 1820, she was married to Joseph Thompson who died of consumption in 1854. There were born to them six children — three sons and three daughters: viz, William W., deceased, Lucinda, wife of Uriah Streets; John, living in Iowa; Mary, deceased wife of Wm. Tyler; David, with whom she had made her home for the last 34 years, and Rhoda, who died at the age of 21 years. Thus it will be seen that but a portion of her descendants have inherited her longevity of life and robust constitution. Still there are living of them 3 children, 16 grand-children, 35 great grand-children and 1 great-great-grand-child.
It was perhaps owing as much to that calm disposition of mind as constitution of body that she was spared so long. She never fretted or worried over anything. The treatment and comforts given by her friends was always thankfully received. Grandma was never in the way and could she have been — as it seemed but a short time since that she would be — permitted to live into her third century she would not have been an encumbrance for the most the family could do and the most that could be done was none too good for mother. Through deprived for so many years of the Friends she always held her birthright in that church, and little more than a year ago and once since had the sweet privilege of meeting with and hearing a sermon from a preacher of her church in the school house near by. This she very much enjoyed, as it was the only one in many years.
On Thursday, April 14th, a beautiful and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. T. C. Christopher at the house of her son David, using the text the 10th and 14th verses of the 4th chapter of Job: "But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." Though the day was inclement most of the old folks in the vicinity and many other were in attendance and at 12 o'clock, while it seemed as if heaven was lending earth her tears, all that remained of Grandma Thompson was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery, while the spirit was safe with the God who gave it. —I.G.
Source: The Ada Record, 27 Apr 1892, pg. 2
A scriptural allotment of man’s age is three score and ten, but Liberty township can boast of a citizen who is past ninety-three years of age and the Record lays claim to her being the oldest living person in Hardin county.
We refer to Mrs. Any Thompson, the mother of David Thompson, a pioneer of this township, having moved here 26 years ago. He now lives two miles south of the city.
An old Quaker bible in the family’s possession bears this record: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
If she lives until her next birthday anniversary she will be 94 years of age. She was born at Greenbriar, Tennessee and when but a child emigrated with her parents to southern Ohio settling in what is known as the High Prairie, below Chillicothe. She was married on March 2nd, 1830 to Joseph Thompson. Her husband died in 1854, since which time she has made her home with her son David.
The Record recently had the pleasure of a visit with this venerable lady and found her remarkably well-preserved. She is very active and retains her faculties to a wonderful degree. She insists on getting in her own wood and walks about without the aid of a cane. She occasionally lies down during the day, but during her waking hours does not care to sit in a rocking chair, preferring to use a common chair.
She had been gifted with a rare set of teeth, having never lost but three and they by accident. Her teeth are even and sound. She has had her second sight for a dozen years and uses glasses that persons half her age could not use. She has never had any serious illness save the typhoid fever. She had an attack of illness last summer that was of short duration.
She related that when she and her husband began housekeeping he had a horse, an as and a saddle and she contributed a cow and a cupboard. They borrowed a plate for each until they could earn their own. Where is the bride of today who would be willing to begin life with such limited resources?
She has always been a Friend or Quaker as they are commonly called, in her religious associations, having a birthright in that denomination. She does not care to come to Ada, having been here last something over a year ago. She attended the Quaker services held near her home last Lord’s Day, as these good people denominated the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
Mrs. Thompson is of English descent. She yet retains the industrious habits of the people of her faith, and only last week she knit a splendid pair of mittens and there wasn’t a dropped stitch in either one. There are in the house nearly a dozen quilt patterns of her handiwork besides the many she has given to friends. Some of these are of very beautiful and intricate patterns. One pattern contained 1500 pieces. The stitches are as even as though made by a maid in her teens.
The old lady tells of some of the crude household utensils which her people were obliged to use for want of better, For meal sieves they used home-tanned deer skins stretched over hoops and with holes punched in the skin to let the fine meal through. Sometimes they would make a sieve of the hairs of a horse’s tail. For corn mills they would hollow our a stump and put over it a spring pole with a huge pestle to pound the corn. Some worked in a cavity in huge stones and fit inside of them another stone which they would turn by means of a beam fastened to them, and thus reduce the corn to meal.
She states that the mode of burying the dead was by selecting a hollow log which would be cut off the right length. Then a piece would be split off, the dead body would be placed in the log and the portion split off would be replaced and the log-coffin would then be consigned to the tender care of mother earth.
Source: The Ada Record, 31 Dec 1890, pg. 2
OBITUARY OF AMY THOMPSON.
On April 12, 1892, Grandma Thompson, as she was familiarly known here, was called away to receive her reward so well earned through the course of a long and useful life. In the old family Bible, in possession of the family, we find this quaint record regarding her advent into this life: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
She therefore lacked but twelve days of being 95 years old and was the oldest living person, so far as we now know, in the county. She was remarkably well preserved for one of her age and insisted on doing her own work, even to getting her wood, until the beginning of her last sickness, which was of nine weeks' duration. Though the greater part of her life was one of toils and privations her appearance was that of one much younger. She stood erect and walked without the aid of a cane, and the pleasant smile, so natural to her, displayed a set of natural teeth so even and nice as to be always mistaken for artificial ones, she never having lost but three and that by accident. Her eyesight was remarkably good so that she could do fine sewing, of which she did a great deal, without the aid of glasses until recently. In the use of the needle she was almost an expert, as many pieces of her handiwork will attest. In the manufacture of fine quilts, which now bids fair to one day be among the lost arts, Grandma spent much of her time, and one at least that she made when more that for four scores of age has more than 1500 pieces in it. These souvenirs will long remain among the many families that now possess one or more of them to call back precious and tender memories of her to whom we have so lately bid adieu until time shall be no more.
Her ancestors lived in England and could boast of royal blood but yielded to conscience rather than policy and united with the sect of Friends, or Quakers as they were called in derision, and as many others of that persecuted class have done — found religious freedom beneath the blue skies of our beloved America, settling at a very early day, the exact time and place not now known to the writer, but thought to be in North Carolina, from which place they moved to Greenbriar, Tenn., where the subject of our sketch was born as before mentioned, but when she was yet only a very small child, and Ohio was yet a territory, she, with her father's family and other relations moved to Ohio where all enjoyed freedom of body as well as of soul. They settled on what was known as High Prairie, below Chillicothe, which was for some time the capitol of Ohio. Her grandfather, Thomas Beals, who came with them was a Quaker preacher, and the first of that denomination ever to cross the Ohio river in search of a home. / The country where they located was then a dense wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts and still more savage men. One relative, an uncle we believe, was burned at the stake by the Indians, and her father at one time saved his life by climbing down the hollow of the stub of a tree, wherein was a den of cub bears, but he often remarked afterward that he felt safer in there that in the hands of the Indians. They pursued his trail as fair as the hollow tree, struck on it with their tomahawks but could trace the trail no farther and gave up the pursuit. At dusk the mother bear returned and climbed down the hollow but by repeatedly striking her with his knife he drove her back and got out and made good his escape.
Nor were the dangers from the red men the only thing to encounter. There were none of the conveniences of later times. To keep the wolf from the door was sometimes a serious question in the settling of which all who could had to unite. If happily they raised sufficient corn for bread, there were no mills to grind it. A stump was hollowed out by burning and scraping, and a pestle supported by a string-pole used to pound it fine and reduce it to meal. A deer skin punched full of holes and sometimes a rude sieve made of the hairs from a horse's tail served to separate the bran from the meal. Hominy was also so much used and by way of variety and sometimes necessity a dish made by pounding fine the most brittle slippery elm and frying brown in bear's grease was obtained. This was said to be quite palatable and once since living here she got her two grandsons, Wash and Joe, then lads, to get the bark while she prepared it as "in days of her childhood," using lard instead of the olden times bear's grease. The sick were doctored by those most skilled in the use of nature's remedies, such as roots, barks, &c. The dead were laid away in the trunk of a hollow tree cut off as long as the body of deceased, a slab split off the top, the body tenderly laid in and the slab replaced and in those rude coffins her honored ancestors will sweetly sleep until the Resurrection morn, when the reward is given, not for the pomp and glitter but for the actual merit while here on probation.
After it was ascertained that Chillicothe was no longer to be the capital of Ohio, they removed to Highland county where on March 3d, 1820, she was married to Joseph Thompson who died of consumption in 1854. There were born to them six children — three sons and three daughters: viz, William W., deceased, Lucinda, wife of Uriah Streets; John, living in Iowa; Mary, deceased wife of Wm. Tyler; David, with whom she had made her home for the last 34 years, and Rhoda, who died at the age of 21 years. Thus it will be seen that but a portion of her descendants have inherited her longevity of life and robust constitution. Still there are living of them 3 children, 16 grand-children, 35 great grand-children and 1 great-great-grand-child.
It was perhaps owing as much to that calm disposition of mind as constitution of body that she was spared so long. She never fretted or worried over anything. The treatment and comforts given by her friends was always thankfully received. Grandma was never in the way and could she have been — as it seemed but a short time since that she would be — permitted to live into her third century she would not have been an encumbrance for the most the family could do and the most that could be done was none too good for mother. Through deprived for so many years of the Friends she always held her birthright in that church, and little more than a year ago and once since had the sweet privilege of meeting with and hearing a sermon from a preacher of her church in the school house near by. This she very much enjoyed, as it was the only one in many years.
On Thursday, April 14th, a beautiful and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. T. C. Christopher at the house of her son David, using the text the 10th and 14th verses of the 4th chapter of Job: "But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." Though the day was inclement most of the old folks in the vicinity and many other were in attendance and at 12 o'clock, while it seemed as if heaven was lending earth her tears, all that remained of Grandma Thompson was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery, while the spirit was safe with the God who gave it. —I.G.
Source: The Ada Record, 27 Apr 1892, pg. 2
A RIPE OLD AGE. / A LADY OF THIS TOWNSHIP WHO IS NEARLY NINETY-FOUR.
A scriptural allotment of man’s age is three score and ten, but Liberty township can boast of a citizen who is past ninety-three years of age and the Record lays claim to her being the oldest living person in Hardin county.
We refer to Mrs. Any Thompson, the mother of David Thompson, a pioneer of this township, having moved here 26 years ago. He now lives two miles south of the city.
An old Quaker bible in the family’s possession bears this record: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
If she lives until her next birthday anniversary she will be 94 years of age. She was born at Greenbriar, Tennessee and when but a child emigrated with her parents to southern Ohio settling in what is known as the High Prairie, below Chillicothe. She was married on March 2nd, 1830 to Joseph Thompson. Her husband died in 1854, since which time she has made her home with her son David.
The Record recently had the pleasure of a visit with this venerable lady and found her remarkably well-preserved. She is very active and retains her faculties to a wonderful degree. She insists on getting in her own wood and walks about without the aid of a cane. She occasionally lies down during the day, but during her waking hours does not care to sit in a rocking chair, preferring to use a common chair.
She had been gifted with a rare set of teeth, having never lost but three and they by accident. Her teeth are even and sound. She has had her second sight for a dozen years and uses glasses that persons half her age could not use. She has never had any serious illness save the typhoid fever. She had an attack of illness last summer that was of short duration.
She related that when she and her husband began housekeeping he had a horse, an as and a saddle and she contributed a cow and a cupboard. They borrowed a plate for each until they could earn their own. Where is the bride of today who would be willing to begin life with such limited resources?
She has always been a Friend or Quaker as they are commonly called, in her religious associations, having a birthright in that denomination. She does not care to come to Ada, having been here last something over a year ago. She attended the Quaker services held near her home last Lord’s Day, as these good people denominated the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
Mrs. Thompson is of English descent. She yet retains the industrious habits of the people of her faith, and only last week she knit a splendid pair of mittens and there wasn’t a dropped stitch in either one. There are in the house nearly a dozen quilt patterns of her handiwork besides the many she has given to friends. Some of these are of very beautiful and intricate patterns. One pattern contained 1500 pieces. The stitches are as even as though made by a maid in her teens.
The old lady tells of some of the crude household utensils which her people were obliged to use for want of better, For meal sieves they used home-tanned deer skins stretched over hoops and with holes punched in the skin to let the fine meal through. Sometimes they would make a sieve of the hairs of a horse’s tail. For corn mills they would hollow our a stump and put over it a spring pole with a huge pestle to pound the corn. Some worked in a cavity in huge stones and fit inside of them another stone which they would turn by means of a beam fastened to them, and thus reduce the corn to meal.
She states that the mode of burying the dead was by selecting a hollow log which would be cut off the right length. Then a piece would be split off, the dead body would be placed in the log and the portion split off would be replaced and the log-coffin would then be consigned to the tender care of mother earth.
Source: The Ada Record, 31 Dec 1890, pg. 2
OBITUARY OF AMY THOMPSON.
On April 12, 1892, Grandma Thompson, as she was familiarly known here, was called away to receive her reward so well earned through the course of a long and useful life. In the old family Bible, in possession of the family, we find this quaint record regarding her advent into this life: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
She therefore lacked but twelve days of being 95 years old and was the oldest living person, so far as we now know, in the county. She was remarkably well preserved for one of her age and insisted on doing her own work, even to getting her wood, until the beginning of her last sickness, which was of nine weeks' duration. Though the greater part of her life was one of toils and privations her appearance was that of one much younger. She stood erect and walked without the aid of a cane, and the pleasant smile, so natural to her, displayed a set of natural teeth so even and nice as to be always mistaken for artificial ones, she never having lost but three and that by accident. Her eyesight was remarkably good so that she could do fine sewing, of which she did a great deal, without the aid of glasses until recently. In the use of the needle she was almost an expert, as many pieces of her handiwork will attest. In the manufacture of fine quilts, which now bids fair to one day be among the lost arts, Grandma spent much of her time, and one at least that she made when more that for four scores of age has more than 1500 pieces in it. These souvenirs will long remain among the many families that now possess one or more of them to call back precious and tender memories of her to whom we have so lately bid adieu until time shall be no more.
Her ancestors lived in England and could boast of royal blood but yielded to conscience rather than policy and united with the sect of Friends, or Quakers as they were called in derision, and as many others of that persecuted class have done — found religious freedom beneath the blue skies of our beloved America, settling at a very early day, the exact time and place not now known to the writer, but thought to be in North Carolina, from which place they moved to Greenbriar, Tenn., where the subject of our sketch was born as before mentioned, but when she was yet only a very small child, and Ohio was yet a territory, she, with her father's family and other relations moved to Ohio where all enjoyed freedom of body as well as of soul. They settled on what was known as High Prairie, below Chillicothe, which was for some time the capitol of Ohio. Her grandfather, Thomas Beals, who came with them was a Quaker preacher, and the first of that denomination ever to cross the Ohio river in search of a home. / The country where they located was then a dense wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts and still more savage men. One relative, an uncle we believe, was burned at the stake by the Indians, and her father at one time saved his life by climbing down the hollow of the stub of a tree, wherein was a den of cub bears, but he often remarked afterward that he felt safer in there that in the hands of the Indians. They pursued his trail as fair as the hollow tree, struck on it with their tomahawks but could trace the trail no farther and gave up the pursuit. At dusk the mother bear returned and climbed down the hollow but by repeatedly striking her with his knife he drove her back and got out and made good his escape.
Nor were the dangers from the red men the only thing to encounter. There were none of the conveniences of later times. To keep the wolf from the door was sometimes a serious question in the settling of which all who could had to unite. If happily they raised sufficient corn for bread, there were no mills to grind it. A stump was hollowed out by burning and scraping, and a pestle supported by a string-pole used to pound it fine and reduce it to meal. A deer skin punched full of holes and sometimes a rude sieve made of the hairs from a horse's tail served to separate the bran from the meal. Hominy was also so much used and by way of variety and sometimes necessity a dish made by pounding fine the most brittle slippery elm and frying brown in bear's grease was obtained. This was said to be quite palatable and once since living here she got her two grandsons, Wash and Joe, then lads, to get the bark while she prepared it as "in days of her childhood," using lard instead of the olden times bear's grease. The sick were doctored by those most skilled in the use of nature's remedies, such as roots, barks, &c. The dead were laid away in the trunk of a hollow tree cut off as long as the body of deceased, a slab split off the top, the body tenderly laid in and the slab replaced and in those rude coffins her honored ancestors will sweetly sleep until the Resurrection morn, when the reward is given, not for the pomp and glitter but for the actual merit while here on probation.
After it was ascertained that Chillicothe was no longer to be the capital of Ohio, they removed to Highland county where on March 3d, 1820, she was married to Joseph Thompson who died of consumption in 1854. There were born to them six children — three sons and three daughters: viz, William W., deceased, Lucinda, wife of Uriah Streets; John, living in Iowa; Mary, deceased wife of Wm. Tyler; David, with whom she had made her home for the last 34 years, and Rhoda, who died at the age of 21 years. Thus it will be seen that but a portion of her descendants have inherited her longevity of life and robust constitution. Still there are living of them 3 children, 16 grand-children, 35 great grand-children and 1 great-great-grand-child.
It was perhaps owing as much to that calm disposition of mind as constitution of body that she was spared so long. She never fretted or worried over anything. The treatment and comforts given by her friends was always thankfully received. Grandma was never in the way and could she have been — as it seemed but a short time since that she would be — permitted to live into her third century she would not have been an encumbrance for the most the family could do and the most that could be done was none too good for mother. Through deprived for so many years of the Friends she always held her birthright in that church, and little more than a year ago and once since had the sweet privilege of meeting with and hearing a sermon from a preacher of her church in the school house near by. This she very much enjoyed, as it was the only one in many years.
On Thursday, April 14th, a beautiful and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. T. C. Christopher at the house of her son David, using the text the 10th and 14th verses of the 4th chapter of Job: "But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." Though the day was inclement most of the old folks in the vicinity and many other were in attendance and at 12 o'clock, while it seemed as if heaven was lending earth her tears, all that remained of Grandma Thompson was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery, while the spirit was safe with the God who gave it. —I.G.
Source: The Ada Record, 27 Apr 1892, pg. 2
A scriptural allotment of man’s age is three score and ten, but Liberty township can boast of a citizen who is past ninety-three years of age and the Record lays claim to her being the oldest living person in Hardin county.
We refer to Mrs. Any Thompson, the mother of David Thompson, a pioneer of this township, having moved here 26 years ago. He now lives two miles south of the city.
An old Quaker bible in the family’s possession bears this record: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
If she lives until her next birthday anniversary she will be 94 years of age. She was born at Greenbriar, Tennessee and when but a child emigrated with her parents to southern Ohio settling in what is known as the High Prairie, below Chillicothe. She was married on March 2nd, 1830 to Joseph Thompson. Her husband died in 1854, since which time she has made her home with her son David.
The Record recently had the pleasure of a visit with this venerable lady and found her remarkably well-preserved. She is very active and retains her faculties to a wonderful degree. She insists on getting in her own wood and walks about without the aid of a cane. She occasionally lies down during the day, but during her waking hours does not care to sit in a rocking chair, preferring to use a common chair.
She had been gifted with a rare set of teeth, having never lost but three and they by accident. Her teeth are even and sound. She has had her second sight for a dozen years and uses glasses that persons half her age could not use. She has never had any serious illness save the typhoid fever. She had an attack of illness last summer that was of short duration.
She related that when she and her husband began housekeeping he had a horse, an as and a saddle and she contributed a cow and a cupboard. They borrowed a plate for each until they could earn their own. Where is the bride of today who would be willing to begin life with such limited resources?
She has always been a Friend or Quaker as they are commonly called, in her religious associations, having a birthright in that denomination. She does not care to come to Ada, having been here last something over a year ago. She attended the Quaker services held near her home last Lord’s Day, as these good people denominated the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
Mrs. Thompson is of English descent. She yet retains the industrious habits of the people of her faith, and only last week she knit a splendid pair of mittens and there wasn’t a dropped stitch in either one. There are in the house nearly a dozen quilt patterns of her handiwork besides the many she has given to friends. Some of these are of very beautiful and intricate patterns. One pattern contained 1500 pieces. The stitches are as even as though made by a maid in her teens.
The old lady tells of some of the crude household utensils which her people were obliged to use for want of better, For meal sieves they used home-tanned deer skins stretched over hoops and with holes punched in the skin to let the fine meal through. Sometimes they would make a sieve of the hairs of a horse’s tail. For corn mills they would hollow our a stump and put over it a spring pole with a huge pestle to pound the corn. Some worked in a cavity in huge stones and fit inside of them another stone which they would turn by means of a beam fastened to them, and thus reduce the corn to meal.
She states that the mode of burying the dead was by selecting a hollow log which would be cut off the right length. Then a piece would be split off, the dead body would be placed in the log and the portion split off would be replaced and the log-coffin would then be consigned to the tender care of mother earth.
Source: The Ada Record, 31 Dec 1890, pg. 2
OBITUARY OF AMY THOMPSON.
On April 12, 1892, Grandma Thompson, as she was familiarly known here, was called away to receive her reward so well earned through the course of a long and useful life. In the old family Bible, in possession of the family, we find this quaint record regarding her advent into this life: Amy Beals, daughter of John and Mary, his wife, was born on the 24th day of the 4th month, 1797.
She therefore lacked but twelve days of being 95 years old and was the oldest living person, so far as we now know, in the county. She was remarkably well preserved for one of her age and insisted on doing her own work, even to getting her wood, until the beginning of her last sickness, which was of nine weeks' duration. Though the greater part of her life was one of toils and privations her appearance was that of one much younger. She stood erect and walked without the aid of a cane, and the pleasant smile, so natural to her, displayed a set of natural teeth so even and nice as to be always mistaken for artificial ones, she never having lost but three and that by accident. Her eyesight was remarkably good so that she could do fine sewing, of which she did a great deal, without the aid of glasses until recently. In the use of the needle she was almost an expert, as many pieces of her handiwork will attest. In the manufacture of fine quilts, which now bids fair to one day be among the lost arts, Grandma spent much of her time, and one at least that she made when more that for four scores of age has more than 1500 pieces in it. These souvenirs will long remain among the many families that now possess one or more of them to call back precious and tender memories of her to whom we have so lately bid adieu until time shall be no more.
Her ancestors lived in England and could boast of royal blood but yielded to conscience rather than policy and united with the sect of Friends, or Quakers as they were called in derision, and as many others of that persecuted class have done — found religious freedom beneath the blue skies of our beloved America, settling at a very early day, the exact time and place not now known to the writer, but thought to be in North Carolina, from which place they moved to Greenbriar, Tenn., where the subject of our sketch was born as before mentioned, but when she was yet only a very small child, and Ohio was yet a territory, she, with her father's family and other relations moved to Ohio where all enjoyed freedom of body as well as of soul. They settled on what was known as High Prairie, below Chillicothe, which was for some time the capitol of Ohio. Her grandfather, Thomas Beals, who came with them was a Quaker preacher, and the first of that denomination ever to cross the Ohio river in search of a home. / The country where they located was then a dense wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts and still more savage men. One relative, an uncle we believe, was burned at the stake by the Indians, and her father at one time saved his life by climbing down the hollow of the stub of a tree, wherein was a den of cub bears, but he often remarked afterward that he felt safer in there that in the hands of the Indians. They pursued his trail as fair as the hollow tree, struck on it with their tomahawks but could trace the trail no farther and gave up the pursuit. At dusk the mother bear returned and climbed down the hollow but by repeatedly striking her with his knife he drove her back and got out and made good his escape.
Nor were the dangers from the red men the only thing to encounter. There were none of the conveniences of later times. To keep the wolf from the door was sometimes a serious question in the settling of which all who could had to unite. If happily they raised sufficient corn for bread, there were no mills to grind it. A stump was hollowed out by burning and scraping, and a pestle supported by a string-pole used to pound it fine and reduce it to meal. A deer skin punched full of holes and sometimes a rude sieve made of the hairs from a horse's tail served to separate the bran from the meal. Hominy was also so much used and by way of variety and sometimes necessity a dish made by pounding fine the most brittle slippery elm and frying brown in bear's grease was obtained. This was said to be quite palatable and once since living here she got her two grandsons, Wash and Joe, then lads, to get the bark while she prepared it as "in days of her childhood," using lard instead of the olden times bear's grease. The sick were doctored by those most skilled in the use of nature's remedies, such as roots, barks, &c. The dead were laid away in the trunk of a hollow tree cut off as long as the body of deceased, a slab split off the top, the body tenderly laid in and the slab replaced and in those rude coffins her honored ancestors will sweetly sleep until the Resurrection morn, when the reward is given, not for the pomp and glitter but for the actual merit while here on probation.
After it was ascertained that Chillicothe was no longer to be the capital of Ohio, they removed to Highland county where on March 3d, 1820, she was married to Joseph Thompson who died of consumption in 1854. There were born to them six children — three sons and three daughters: viz, William W., deceased, Lucinda, wife of Uriah Streets; John, living in Iowa; Mary, deceased wife of Wm. Tyler; David, with whom she had made her home for the last 34 years, and Rhoda, who died at the age of 21 years. Thus it will be seen that but a portion of her descendants have inherited her longevity of life and robust constitution. Still there are living of them 3 children, 16 grand-children, 35 great grand-children and 1 great-great-grand-child.
It was perhaps owing as much to that calm disposition of mind as constitution of body that she was spared so long. She never fretted or worried over anything. The treatment and comforts given by her friends was always thankfully received. Grandma was never in the way and could she have been — as it seemed but a short time since that she would be — permitted to live into her third century she would not have been an encumbrance for the most the family could do and the most that could be done was none too good for mother. Through deprived for so many years of the Friends she always held her birthright in that church, and little more than a year ago and once since had the sweet privilege of meeting with and hearing a sermon from a preacher of her church in the school house near by. This she very much enjoyed, as it was the only one in many years.
On Thursday, April 14th, a beautiful and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. T. C. Christopher at the house of her son David, using the text the 10th and 14th verses of the 4th chapter of Job: "But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." Though the day was inclement most of the old folks in the vicinity and many other were in attendance and at 12 o'clock, while it seemed as if heaven was lending earth her tears, all that remained of Grandma Thompson was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery, while the spirit was safe with the God who gave it. —I.G.
Source: The Ada Record, 27 Apr 1892, pg. 2
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