For 1960, we have accounts of the "80 and Over" Club annual meeting from both The Index and the Springfield Daily News. Note that the local county paper's account is much shorter than the Springfield paper, which published Nannie Jinken's account of the day.
[Typed from newspaper article provided by Harold John.]
THE INDEX, September ?, 1960
A GRAND EVENT FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS
The 7th annual "80 and Over" was another big event in Wheatland September 4th with approximately 150 people present.
There were five present in the 90 age group: W. T. Palmer, Tom Wilson, and Mrs. Retta Graves were 92, Mrs. Martha Breshears and Mrs. Stella Matthews were both 90. There were thirty in the 80s: Will Tipton, Belle McCaslin, and Grace Rogers were 80; W. P. Morton, Harry Bennett and John McCaslin, 81; Louella Gardner, J. E. Jones, Molly Paul, John Rogers, Vella Donovan, Venia Breshears, Della Kelly, Lou Cox, Edna Largent, Mae Wilson, 82; Joe Tipton and Nan Carpenter, 83; Willie Dorman, Molly Paxton, Stella Bryan, A. A. Chaney, 84; Alice Butler and Nannie Brookshire, 86; Wes Carpenter, Franklin Bartshe, Hattie Bartshe, and George Matthews, 87; Annie Palmer and Mary Sue Goans, 89.
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Bro. J. L. Wright was M. C. and did a creditable job. Bro. Jones gave the invocation. Mrs. Stella Bryan gave "The Old Rail Fence". Mrs. Retta Graves recited from memory, "The Church Organist". Mrs. Mary Sue Goans gave "It Got Up and Went". Mrs. Molly Paul read a poem, "Living by Faith". Mrs. Alice Butler and brother Joe Tipton sand, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
Harry Bennett played the 'Gibbs Milligan' piece and 'The Masonic March' on his violin. Mrs. Edna Largent presented a reading "I'm Fine For the Shape I'm In". Mrs. Brookshire and Mrs. Goans sang a duet, "Bringing In The Sheaves". Mae Wilson read a poem, "The old Dinner Bell" and she still has the bell that Willie Dorman's father had that is over a hundred years old. Lige Bray also repeated from memory, 'It Got Up and Went.' Mrs. Annie Palmer gave an account of her first school near Elkton about 83 years ago.
· · ·
Mrs. Florence Browning gave tribute to the deceased, since last year: Clara Erickson, T. A. Largent, Jim Gardner, Eva Sherman, Etta Reser, Tom Donovan, W. K. Edens, Maude Mann, and Ed Swicegood.
The crowd sand "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" and "When We All Get to Heaven". Bro. Wright gave the benediction.
Gifts for the oldest persons went to W. T. Palmer, Mrs. Retta Graves, and Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, the oldest married couple, 69 years. Franklin Bartshe received a gift for father of the most children, also a duplicate gift to Will Tipton as each have eight children. Mrs. Martha Breshears and Mrs. Will Tipton received gifts as mothers of eight children. Gifts were also presented to Tom Wilson the oldest man who had driven his car, and Mrs. Carrie Mabry, the oldest lady who had driven her car; Mrs. Alice Butler, oldest lady having walked the farthest distance and John P. McCaslin of ElDorado Springs, the oldest man driving the longest distance.
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There were twelve couples that were married 50 years or longer, Messrs and Mesdames W. T. Palmer, 69; Wes Carpenter, 65; Will Tipton, 60; Willie Dorman, 59; Dan Huffman, 55; Harry Bennett, 51; John P. McCaslin, 51; J. E. Jones, 57; W. P. Morton, 58; Marion Parson, 52, and Ira Moore, 52.
Refreshments of ice cream, punch and cookies were served to all present. Many people met new friends and renewed old acquaintances. The day was quite warm but all enjoyed the occasion in spite of the weather.
Beautiful floral arrangements were furnished by Mrs. Icel Nance.
The entire program was recorded on the tape recording equipment supplied by Irvin E. Allen.
[Note: Typed as printed. Yes, only 11 couples are named as being married 50+ years.]
[Parts I and III taken from articles found in the Lena Wills Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University); "1960" written at top of page. Parts II and IV from Lucile Morris Upton, Papers, 1855-1986, Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia, MO.]
OVER THE OZARKS Edited by Lucile Morris Upton
with our historians, writers, and poets.
80-AND-OVER-DAY
Ed. Note: One of the most unusual annual events in the Ozarks is the reunion of men and women past 80 years of age in Wheatland. Under the leadership of Mrs. Nannie Jinkens, Hickory County superintendent of schools, the day has become something special in the lives of many persons. In this article, which will be continued in the column tomorrow, Mrs. Jinkens gives an interesting report of some of the wonderful oldsters who attended the last get-together. LMU
* * * * * * * *
The seventh annual "80 and Over" Day was a big event in Wheatland, Sept. 4, 1960, with around 130 people present. The day was hot and that fact kept several people away. We had several fans circulating the air and that made the atmosphere fairly comfortable.
Brother J. L. Wright, pastor of the Baptist church where we held the gathering, did a good job as master of ceremonies.
There were five nonagenarians this year: Mrs. Martha Breshears, 90, Wheatland; Mrs. Retta Graves, 92, Eldorado Springs; W. T. Palmer, 92, Weaubleau; Mrs. Stella Matthews, 90, Urbana; and Tom Wilson, 92, Quincy.
We have two more residents in Wheatland who are in this group. Mrs. Olive Coberley, who had her 93rd birthday, Oct. 24, dressed and was ready to go, but her family decided it was too hot for her to get out in the sun. I visited her following the event and she was very alert and still looking forward to Max Hunter coming to record more songs. She is blind and almost deaf, but enjoys singing the old songs. John Crates observed his 95th birthday, Sept. 13. He wanted to go at 1:55 p.m., but his son thought that too late for them to get ready.
Mrs. Cora Goodman is another resident who reached her 89th milestone in September. It was her privilege to fly from Kansas City with her granddaughter via Chicago to Seattle, Wash. to visit her sister, Mrs. Priscilla (Sis) Bennett, of Pullman, Wash. so was away at the time. Her sister will celebrate her 94th birthday Dec. 29. During her stay here, she had many friends call and they talked over old times. She related her family (Quigg) tree very efficiently. Some of the relatives had nine and eleven children and she gave names of all of them. She will spend the winter with her daughter, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Ihrig of Smithton.
* * * * * * * *
There were 39 octogenarians. The following were in that group: 80 — Will Tipton, Wheatland; Belle McCaslin, Pittsburg; and Grace Rogers, Weaubleau; 81 — W. P. Morton, Bolivar; Harry Bennett, Wheatland; and John McCaslin, Eldorado Springs; 82 — Louella Gardner, Lou Cox, and John Rogers, Weaubleau; J. E. Jones, Mollie Paul, Vella Donovan, Venia Breshears, Della Kelly, and Edna Largent, all of Wheatland; 83 — Joe Tipton, Nan Carpenter, of Weaubleau; Nellie Mae Wilson, Hermitage; 84 — Stella Bryan, A. A. Chaney, and Willie Dorman of Hermitage; Mollie Paxton of Elkton; 86 — Nannie Brookshire, Weaubleau; and Alice Butler, Wheatland; 87 — Franklin Bartshe (was 88 on Sept. 8); Hattie Bartshe, both of Wheatland; George Matthews, Urbana; and Wes Carpenter, Weaubleau; 89 — Mary Sue Goans and Annie Palmer, both of Weaubleau.
Brother J. E. Jones gave a fitting invocation. Mrs. Stella Bryan recited "The Old Rail Fence" and another poem; Mrs. Retta Graves gave from memory, "The Church Organ"; Mary Sue Goans gave, "It Got Up and Went"; Mrs. Mollie Paul read a poem, "Living by Faith"; Mrs. Alice Butler, and her brother, Joe Tipton, sang, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" without any accompaniment. Mrs. Nellie Wilson read, "The Old Dinner Bell"; Harry Bennett played the Gibbs Milligan piece and "The Masonic March" on his violin; Mrs. Edna Largent read, "I'm Fine for the Shape I'm In"; Mrs. Annie Palmer talked about her first school, which was 83 years ago. Mrs. Brookshire and Mrs. Goans sang a duet, "Bringing in the Sheaves." Lige Bray of Preston repeated, "It Got Up and Went." Mrs. Florence Browning gave a tribute to the deceased members. Nine members who formerly attended the event had passed on since last year.
That list included Ed Swicegood of Weaubleau, died Nov. 22, 1959, at the age of 82; Eva Sherman, Wheatland, 90, Dec. 14, 1959. (She prayed to live till the "80 and Over" Day, then she wanted to live for her 90th birthday, both were realized); Mrs. Clara Erickson, 87, born in Sweden and died Jan. 26, 1960; Mrs. Maude Mann, 85, died Feb. 26, 1960; Mrs. Etta (Mabary) Reser, Preston, died April 6, 1960, and was about 82; W. K. Edens, 89, Wheatland, died May 5, 1960; A. T. (Tom) Donovan, 88, died July 5, 1860; James S. Gardner, 88, Weaubleau, died July 27, 1860, and Thomas Andrew Largent, 87, of Wheatland July 29. The two latter men had been ill for several months.
Brother Wright gave the benediction. The group sang, "When the Roll is Called up Yonder" and "When We All Get to Heave," which Mrs. Palmer requested. Some of the group got happy and almost shouted.
* * * * * * * *
Gifts were distributed to each man and woman in the honor group. Special gifts were given to the oldest man — W. T. Palmer; oldest woman, Mrs. Retta Graves; and longest married couple, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Palmer, Weaubleau, 69 years. Franklin Bartshe received a gift for the father of the most children (He has eight). This gift was duplicated to Will Tipton, who also had eight children, (one son, Norval, met with a highway accident May 6 and was killed). Mrs. Martha Breshears and Mrs. Will Tipton were each given gifts, as they were mothers of eight children. Tom Wilson received a pair of gloves for the oldest man who had driven his car. Mrs. Carrie Mabry was presented the gift for the oldest woman who had driven her car (she was not a member of the honorees); Mrs. Alice Butler was given the gift for the woman walking the farthest. John P. McCaslin was given a gift for the oldest man who had driven the longest distance.
There were eleven couples who had been married 50 years or more: Messrs. and Mesdames Will T. and Annie (Vaughn) Palmer, 69 years; Wes and Nan (Campbell) Carpenter, 64; Will and Bertha (Ketchum) Tipton, 60; Dan and May (Sutt) Huffman, 55; Willie and Dora (Stroud) Dorman, 59; Harry and Cleo (Wente) Bennett, 51; John P. and Emma (Hobson) McCaslin, 51; Ernest and Zilla (Maberry) Jones, 57; W. P. and Stella (Woodward) Morton, 58; Marion and Ethel (McGee) Parson, 52; Ira and Lou (Roth) Moore, 52.
(To Be Continued)
MRS. NANNIE JINKENS
Wheatland
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Part II, published Dec. 28, 1960
Will T. Palmer and his wife, Annie, seem as active as when they first came to our "80 and Over." They have had a productive garden this year and shared the fruit of their labors with their neighbors and friends. They still walk to church, never miss a service, but some one brings them home. Mrs. Palmer still teaches her Sunday school class of elderly ladies. They are a grand old couple and are looking forward to their 70th wedding anniversary come January 1. They have done quite a bit of traveling during the past year and have enjoyed every bit of it. They have also entertained lots of visitors to their comfortable home.
Wes and Nan Carpenter enjoy life in a cozy little home in Weaubleau. His eyesight is failing and he does not drive his car any more, but they still have it, and when they need to make a trip one of their children drives for them. Their son and daughter live near them. They enjoy meeting with old friends and making new ones on this special day.
Brother and Mrs. Jones live in a pretty home in town. Anyone driving by would think some young people live there as the garden is always plentiful, the yard is a mass of color with many beautiful flowers. The little white trellises, the flower planters, and the walks are very colorful. The appearance betokens a large amount of work. The Joneses are faithful to their church and Sunday school. They have two sons and two grandsons who are ministers.
Will and Bertha Tipton celebrated their 60th anniversary Dec. 29, 1959 with their children and grandchildren, friends and relatives helping to make it a big event. Children came from California and New Mexico. The group was brought together again May 6, when the son, Norvel, who lived with his parents, was killed in a one car accident on the highway near Lowry City as he was returning from Kansas City on a business trip and a visit with his children. This time the home was filled with sadness instead of joy as on the previous occasion.
Harry and Cleo Bennett are trying to stay on the young side, as they made a trip to Florida this spring with their daughter, Kathryn and Arley Parker of Poplar Bluff. They took chairs our on the beach at Daytona Beach and dipped their feet in the ocean. They had a wonderful trip.
· · ·
Harry had a little trouble with his violin this year, but when we know the history back of it, why not? His grandfather, Amos Paxton, built mills. He worked on a mill at Bennett Springs and walked home about once a month to see the family, a distance of some 40 miles. He came by a house and saw some children dragging a violin around with a string tied to the neck. Knowing violins, he asked to look at it and priced it from $2.50 and bought it. Now it is in the hands of his grandson. It is more than 100 years old. Harry played a selection he heard when he was 11 years old at a last-day school dinner at Prairie Union. He does well for one of his age and can also play the piano and guitar.
Dan and May Huffman of Jasper, Mo., made the usual trek this year and seemed to enjoy every minute seeing old friends. They also visit May's mother, who lives at Collins, and is 95 years old. They come every two weeks to see to her needs. Dan was a former mail carrier between Preston and Weaubleau during the "horse and buggy" days. He knew the perils of rough, rocky, rutty roads, the cold and snow. Another partner took half of the trip a day. Wheatland was home to them for many years.
Marion and Ethel Parson have a nice little home in Wheatland and all their children are near except one, who lives at Holden. Mrs. Parson stays in most of the time but does go for rides at times. Mr. Parson has stock on a farm north of town and drives about five miles twice each day to see to his farm chores. He had a little mis-hap with the snow and ice on one of his trips this year, so one of his sons went with him while the weather was bad. There is a long straight steep hill that he has to go up and down. He did not quite "cut the mustard."
Ira and Lou Moore have lived in Hermitage for a number of years and he has been deputy sheriff for several of them. She is of German descent of the Roths and Reams, and has cooked for many people, as she was employed in cafes and has operated restaurants with her husband. They have two children, a daughter who married into a German Mennonite family, Zehr. The son is considerably younger and lives in Houston, Tex. He is a building contractor.
· · ·
Willie and Dora Dorman are of the lineage of the old families around Hermitage. Mr. Dorman's father was instrumental in building the old brick church there. When the church was finished, Willie and his father, Lafayette, went to Warsaw to get the church bell.
When they neared Hermitage on their return, Mr. Dorman told Willie to get back and ring the bell. He did. Finally, his father wanted to change places with him and let Willie drive the team. Willie was afraid the team would run away, but the father laid the lines across the spring seat so he could grab them if anything happened. It was after dark. They kept ringing the bell until they got to their destination. Mr. and Mrs. Dorman recondition old organs. They have one of the old family organs in a walnut case which they have redone. They take turns playing hymns. They are now working on an old family organ for a niece who is a music lover.
John and Emma McCaslin have been to our meeting the last two years and seem happy to see people they have known in former years. Mrs. McCaslin brought a lovely bouquet from her flower garden in Eldorado Springs. This was their former home and he was sheriff of Hickory County several years ago.
W. P. (Billy) and Mrs. Morton of Bolivar attended this year for the first time. He especially enjoyed the singing and said, "We could stand more of that." The Mortons have three daughters, two of them living in Springfield and one here in Wheatland, Mrs. Opal Chaney. They have two sons, Norman, who is a retired Naval veteran after 26 years of service and lives in Washington, and W. P., Jr., has 20 years of Naval service and is in California. The family seems to prefer Naval careers as Lloyd and Opal's son, Harold, 26, has seen several years of service and has been cited for a number of good conduct medals. The Mortons have been residents of our county most of their lives and had a store at White Cloud, north of Wheatland, some 36 years ago. Opal brought her parents and they seemed to enjoy every minutes.
Tom Wilson, 92, hale and hearty, lives on his farm northwest of Quincy.
His son, Glover and wife, live not too far way. His other son, Dr. Wallace Wilson, has been superintendent of Schools at Camdenton for 12 years.
Mrs. Retta Graves, 92, of Eldorado Springs was present for the first time this year. She has several relatives living here. Mrs. Ernest Jones is her niece. She repeated a long poem for the program and not one time did she forget. Her voice faltered slightly, but she kept right on and finished her number. She has had broken hips three times and has recovered sufficiently to walk without crutch or cane. She does not wear glasses, and is very alert, and enjoys church services. Her daughter, Mrs. Docia Donovan, lives with her and sees to her needs. They were both here in late summer and attend revival meeting and hardly missed a service.
(To Be Continued)
MRS. NANNIE JINKENS
WHEATLAND
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Mrs. Martha Breshears (Aunt Mat) reached her 90th year March 16. She still travels, but not so far away as in former years. The children gathered at the family home at Avery (which is still maintained for occasions like this) for her birthday celebration with the five daughters and families present. The only son living, Orval, who resides in California, could not be here then. However, the circle was made complete Thanksgiving Day when all the children: Ethel, Retti, Zula, Venora, Oleta, and Orval (Bus) with the in-laws and grandchildren gathered for a family reunion. Aunt Mat lives in a trailer in the yard of her daughter, Rettie and Asa McKinzie, in Wheatland. She enjoys good health, attending her home church at Avery (Brethren).
George and Stella Matthews of the Nemo community attended the 80 and Over Day for the first time this year and seemed to enjoy it. Mrs. Matthews has white hair and made a lovely appearance for her 90 years. They were new to most of us, but we were glad to have them. Elmer and Mentha Zirschky furnished transportation for the Matthews.
Mrs. Hattie Bartshe, 87, is quite crippled with rheumatism, but gets around several miles during the year by being taken by her son, Homer, and daughter, Veda. Mrs. Bartshe attends church when she is able. She and her daughter divide their time living on their little farm in Williams Bend, northeast of Wheatland, and at Jordan in the northeast part of the county, where Homer has a store. She has two other sons, Garrett and Harry.
Abby A. Chaney, 86, lives in Hermitage alone and does his own work. He had an operation on his eyes for cataracts and is able to see with the aid of glasses. Mr. Chaney is quiet and minds his own business. At times he sits in the courthouse square and listens to the Bench Club iron out the county's and nation's problems. His son, Bertram Chaney, is the circuit clerk and recorder for the county. Mr. Chaney is a former resident of Pittsburg.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Allen of Warrensburg also were guests. Mr. Allen, 86, did not like the idea having people make a big fuss, so he seated himself where he pleased and did not care to participate in the program. Their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jimmy Allen, and two children brought them.
Mrs. Lou Cox, 83, is of the old Parke family who lived west of Wheatland in the Butcher neighborhood many years ago. She lived in Weaubleau alone since the death of her husband. She is a neat seamstress and still plies her hand at the art. Mrs. Cox and her cousin, Margaret Morris, of Troy, in Lincoln County, are the only living grandchildren of Perry and Nancy (Wilson) Parke family. Mrs. Morris will celebrate her 93rd birthday in April. She recalls how her mother and other children drove an ox team and covered wagon from Hickory to Lincoln County when she was seven years old. She would have to beat the oxen on the head with a stick to make them go through water when they came to a creek or river. Mrs. Cox paid her cousin a visit in September and really enjoyed the trip. A family tree is being made of the Parke family.
Mrs. Stella Bryan has celebrated her 85th birthday with a surprise party by her friends at the church annex at Hermitage in November. She is active in church, club, and community, and served as woman deputy sheriff when there were feminine jurors to be escorted. She spent about three months last winter in California with her daughter, going alone by bus. She embarked again this week for California. She has been nurse to a daughter, Mrs. Avanelle Snodgrass, who was involved in a car wreck more than a year ago.
Mrs. Mollie Paul, 82 is not too well any more but still gets out some. She lived in the day when the midwives were active and took care of the neighbors, "laid out" the dead and walked miles to reach the bedside of a sick person. She knew all this and much more in the way of service to mankind. Now she works with quilts and comforts, and in her flower garden, and at other chores when she can.
Mrs. Nannie Brookshire, 87, is a busy person, attends her church, clubs, social gatherings and still uses her alto voice to blend with that of her neighbor, Mrs. Mary Sue Goans, 89. They are quite a pair. They enjoy each other's companionship, live diagonally across the street, and spend considerable time together. Mrs. Goans went to California last year and spent several months with her daughters. She had a wonderful time, but was glad to get back to her friends and neighbors at Weaubleau. Mrs. Brookshire entertains many guests in her home. Once I dropped by this summer to see her. She said, "Your have to come to the kitchen. I'm making jelly and can't leave it." I did.
(To Be Continued)
MRS. NANNIE JINKENS
Wheatland
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Part IV, published Dec. 30, 1960.
(Conclusion)
Franklin Bartshe, 88, lives on his little farm in Williams Bend with his daughter, Frankie. He is still active for his years, cuts brush, splits wood, and kindling. He goes to Hermitage occasionally to the barber shop operated by two of his grandsons, Bob and Bill Dickenson, and visits with friends. He also attends church sometimes. His son, Don and wife, of Kansas City, came to bring him to the "special day."
Mrs. Vella Donovan, 82, enjoys these occasions and is always ready to go. She is a regular attendant at church and Sunday school. She is quite dressy when she goes out. She was quite happy recently when her son, Junior Johnson, a lieutenant in the Air Force and his family from the Far East arrived. He will be stationed in Kansas.
Della Delly, 82, lives in Wheatland and walks to town, and to church sometimes, but is somewhat crippled. She has a good memory and enjoys talking old times. She has two daughters who live out from town, but they have telephones, so she is about as near them as the telephone. Her family, (Parson) was among the early settlers of the Dooly Bend, which will be mostly gone when the reservoir on the Pomme de Terre Dam is filled. Most of the residents of that neighborhood have found new homes and the area is about deserted.
Alice Butler has seen her 87th natal day since we met and is still going strong. She has had her house modernized recently and is quite happy over the results. She is a regular attendant at church, never missed a service during a revival in October. She wears a broad smile and enjoys her religion, gets happy enough to shout occasionally. Mrs. Butler and her brother, Joe Tipton, enjoyed singing for us this year. He is from Weaubleau and is also a faithful member of church and likes to sing. There are four Tipton brothers, Joe, Will, Johnny, and Sammy, and Mrs. Butler, the sister who are still living. Three of them are past 80. The family had a get-together in February, 1960, and celebrated in a grand way.
Miss Louella Gardner, 80, was a new member this year. She helped to fill the vacancy left by her uncle, Jim Gardner. She, too, was born in Iowa. After the death of her mother when she was small, she went to live with her grandparents. They went to Oklahoma to homestead land. Later she went to Texas and made her home for a number of years. She has lived a busy and useful life and misses the contacts with the public. Her home is in Weaubleau with Mr. and Mrs. Roy Curtis.
John and Grace Rogers live at Weaubleau in a cozy little home and bide part of their time tacking carpet rags and making knitted rugs. Both are blessed with good health. Mr. Rogers, 82, is the oldest of eleven children with six still living. He was born in Dayton, Tenn. He was a carpenter by trade and cement finisher. She was the daughter of an old family that settled on the Wheatland prairie many years ago, John and Emily (Rogers) Crutsinger. They gave land for a cemetery southwest of Wheatland which bears the family name. Mrs. Rogers has one brother, Frank, living in Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been married seven years and get around quite a bit and enjoy life together.
Mrs. Venia Breshears, 82, was there dressed so pretty and neat. She is a very quiet person. She lives alone, but has been in the hospital at Columbia for treatment. She has a daughter and grandson who live in Wheatland and they see after her needs. She has not been out much the past year. Her neighbors had a little party for her January 6, her birthday. She has one son and two daughters.
Mrs. Edna Largent has celebrated her 83rd birthday since our event. She has also made a trip to Idaho by train to visit her sister whom she had not seen for 29 years. She visited a granddaughter at Mission, Kan., who helped her embark on her train trip from Kansas City. She made a number of nice friends along the way. She lives alone at her home since the death of her husband, Thomas Andrew Largent, this summer. Her daughter lives near and Mrs. Largent proves to be a helpful person in her household.
Mrs. Mae Wilson, 83, of Hermitage, attended for the first time and thought she had a grand time. She gave a reading the "Old Dinner Bell." She has the old dinner bell that belonged to the Fayette Dorman family mentioned earlier. Each tap of the bell carried a connotation that members of the family understood when they heard the bell ring. Mrs. Wilson is the mother of Mrs. Earl Jenkins, editor of our county paper, "The Index." Mrs. Wilson has a nice home in Hermitage and rents rooms. Her family (Stroud) have been residents of Hermitage for many years. Mrs. Wilson's father-in-law published a book in 1907, "Wilson's History of Hickory County" that is quite popular and hard to find, as it contains much information pertaining to the early history of the county.
Mollie Paxton, 83, lives at Elkton. She carries a store of unwritten history containing family relationships, incidents, and happenings years ago. She bought the material for the dress she wore this year in Mexico. She made it herself and one would have thought a tailor had fashioned it. The body of her twin sister was one that was disinterred by the government recently and moved to another cemetery, as it was in one of the cemeteries that is in the Pomme de Terre Reservoir area. Mrs. Paxton does not hear well but she enjoys visitors.
This was the first year for Mrs. Belle McCaslin of Pittsburg to attend. Her daughter, Mrs. Icel McCoy, of Hermitage and her granddaughter, Mrs. Clinton Walker, of Preston brought her. Wheatland was her former home and her children grew up there. She had a good time renewing old acquaintances. She looked forward to the event all summer and could hardly wait for the day to come. Mrs. Nellie Brown of Preston came with the group and she is looking forward to becoming a member, since a birthday late in September made her an octogenarian.
There are a few others of our nonagenarians who are still here, but have not attended for a few years. None of our 90s had passed on last year except Mrs. Eva Sherman who reached 90 after our event in September, 1959.
Mrs. Margaret Breshears reached her 93rd birthday March 16. She is being cared for at a home in Warsaw. She is able to be up and around in her room.
Mrs. Mary Foster had her 95th birthday Nov. 9 at Lowry City, where she makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Raymond Carnahan. She is a paternal aunt of Charley Green of our town. She wanted to come, but her family thought the weather was too hot for her to make the trip.
Mrs. Eliza (Durnell) Chaney celebrated her 93rd [?] birthday June 1 and is still going strong. She was here and visited her son, Wessie Chaney, and wife, late in September. She walks with a cane but is able to care for herself in every way.
Mrs. Stella Blair had her 91st birthday November 16. She is at the Craig Retirement Home in Bolivar. Mrs. Blair is one of the old Boone-Jopling offspring. She has not been able to be with us since she sustained a broken hip two years ago but is up and about and really enjoys visitors and mail.
We would not forget to thank every one who helped in any way to make the day a success. The lovely flower arrangements of lavender and pink asters furnished and arranged by Mrs. Icel (Carpenter) Nance was deeply appreciated. Many people commented on the flowers and thought they came from a greenhouse.
NANNIE JINKENS
Wheatland
Posted 6 Nov 2006 and 20 May 2007 by Ginny Sharp
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