The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-18
For THE CALEDoNIAN.
Personal Sketches. .--Ryegate.

ANN NELSON, was born in Erskine, Scot
land,n 1867. Her father was black smith ani
tarrler to lord Blantyre. Ann had a stir.
ring, energetic and persevering disposition
and did not like the quiet and dullpess O
country life, consequently at an early age
she lett her fathers house to find more con-
genial place at her uncles, John Nelson who
was for long time tea merchant in Pals
ley. Her neatness, quick step, and read,
wit, made her favorite with her cousins
for number of years. Here she remained
till she was married to John Pedden, who
had been a soldier and had bought his dis.
charge. She had an aunt in Ryega,e, VT
whose husband, John Ritchey, had been
writing to Scotland for some of her relations
to come and take care them in their old age
they not having any children.
Accordingly Ann and her husband shortly
after their marriage sailed for America
but not before Mr.. Ritchey died. They
arrived in Ryegate in 1903. Mr.. Pedden
had not been accustomed to hard labor, and
found himself unfit for the hard labor of the
farmer Of sixty years ago, and therefore left
for Hartford, CT where he found a situation
| in a mercantile house. He was we'll liked
by his employers, and Ann by her accom-
lishments made herself quite attractive in
the circle in which she moved. But in the
midst of happiness and the promise o1
prosperity, her husband was stricken down
with yellow fever, and sent to a premature
grave.
Having no children she with sad hear,
made arrangements to leave that place
where she had buried her hopes and hel
husband. She hired horse and sde-saddle
and with guide, performed journey oI
almost $50 miles without accident, though a
part Of the road was through a wilderness
and known only by spotted trees. Ona rrivins
in Ryegate she found sympathIsing friends
She afterwards formed an acquaintance with
Alexander Cochran, who was clearing a farm
on the southern slope of the Blue Mountain
(who by accident mad broken his leg while
choppng and must have persisted had he moi
been accidentally found.) They were mar
ried in 1907, and she now took hold OF al
kinds of farm work, out doors and in, with
fixed determination to have the farm clear
ed and buildings up in as short time as posi-
bic. Thus they continued until they hat
four children, Che first diving in infancy
when sh., together with many others, wa
made widow by the spotted fever, in 1915
This was a severe ati!icton. Though al
he. mist1rtuI rs she never lost that Self-re
liant ,,n,l persrvrriug spirit which vas hel
Distinguishing characteristic. She still KEEP
clearing and improving the farm and in 1872
had a house erected and finished. Thi.
house, with little renovation by her son, il
at the present time, for It's size about as goot
as any in town. Ann lived to acquire goo(
, property, to see her daughters ard son res
pectably married, and to witness the be
ginning of that popularity of her son whicl
has since matured He has been captain O
company cf independent militia, has helt
all the p'~ces OF trust and honor his towns
men could bestow--twice representing tn,
town in the legislature. For a few year
previous to her death Ann was somewha
broken down both mentally and physically
but during all the days of her latter aiiiictiol
she was much comtorted by the attention
and tender care of her son, who still lives o,
the old homestead, enjoying the reward O
those who honor father and mother. Fo
many years Ann was respected member G
the Church, and after successfully battling
many of the Ills CT life, gave herself int
the hands of her Maker in 1912.