Still happy and of good memory, Mrs. Nancy Ridgeway of Bruin, Kentucky says that in all the past 92 years she has witnessed many changes in the progress of our country.
Eighty-five years ago, little six year old Nancy lived with her family and mother and father, Mr. James Maggard, near Bruin, Kentucky. This was during the close of the Civil War and Nancy saw many soldiers pass at the bend in the road near Mr. Bob Fraleys in Carter County. Mrs. Nancy remembers vividly the bitter end of the Civil War and the difficult times that followed.
Also she recalls the progress from those days 85 years ago. In those days, they only had candles for light, then kerosene and lamps developed beter lights and now the owner of electric lights. Mrs. Nancy says that back in those days they washed their clothes with a "batteling stick" and homemade soap. They put clothes down in a wooden tub in the soapy water, then took them out, laid the clothes on a board and beat the dirt out with the batteling stick. This batteling stick is what we call a "pattle stick." It is a flat board with handle.
"From batteling stick to wash board and tub, then to the hand crank washer, then to the gasoline washer, now we have the electric washer, and to think," says Mrs Nancy, "I have lived to have all this in my home."
"Back in those days," she says, "we had no roads in Elliott and Carter County and we thought we were flying when we finally got the first horse and buggy." (After saying this, Mrs. Nancy grins and chuckles--and I can imagine that she is not thinking of the comforts and speed of today's cars, but she is remembering some of those particular buggy rides.)
Mrs. Nancy says, "We are very happy to have our electricity. It is the best of all."
(Here is her name written by hand).
Nancy Ridgway
Mrs John Ridgeway, the daughter-in-law, tells us that Mrs Nancy is well and hardy and that she is the mother of 12 children and has raised 10 to be good citizens for this country. Mrs John Ridgeway also says:
"Our Grayson Co-op has cake baking contests and tractor driving contests, I think Mrs Nancy should be able to win a prize on her 92nd birthday, which is January 19th, if she can remember all of the past as set down here."
This co-op is grateful to Mrs. Nancy Ridgeway and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Ridgeway, for this interesting story. We feel sure that our membership as a whole will enjoy reading this and it will bring back the days gone by. Thanks again.