Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-01-10
"GRANDMA ELMORE."

The subject of this sketch was one
among the early settlers of Pike coun-
ty. Her maiden name ives Margaret
Calbreth. She was born in Virginia,
September 9th, 1902. Here she was
raised to womanhood, and acquired a
thorough knowledge of the duties and
work that in after life and in a new
country were to be imposed upon her.
Here she was married, about the year
1928, to her first husband, Thomas 6.
Kerr, and in the fall of 1928, started
with him to the wilds of Missouri.
There were then no railroads, with
their swift speeding trains. They
travelled by wagon, camping at night,
in the deep forest, or in the broad
prairies. They landed in Pike county,
November, 1928, and having entered
some land 2 miles southwest of Ashley,
they addressed themselves at once to
the duties of the hour and soon sub
stantial cabin dotted the hillside
Then there were but few settlers in
these parts and neighbors were few;
among the nearest was Uncle Alfred
Oden, one of our oldest and best citi-
zens. For nearly sixty years she has
lived on the same farm and has seen
the heavy forests, transformed into
smiling fields, and the meager settle
ment into a prosperous district. The
bowling wolves have disappeared and
the pestiferous flies, that infested the
country, and made travelling so dis
agreeable and often dangerous, have
long since gone, while many of her
neighbors and all of her children ex-
cept one, have passed away to that
land from whose bourne no traveller
returns.
al, hat
Sarah, John, Thomas and Gordon.
John. the only surviving child, resides
at Salida, California.
Her two daughters, Elizabeth and
Sarah, married brothers. James @. and
Anderson P. Gilmore, and were married
at the same time and place, December
%, 1912, Rev. James w. Campbell, Off
ciating.
In August 1884 her first husband
died. During her widowhood she still
resided on the farm and by her own
persistent energy, good management
and economy, provided for her family
and accumulated some property. She
often went on horseback to Louisville
(the only trading point at that time, a
distance of niles with produce and
returned before breakfast. (This was
before the thriving village of Ashley
was laid out.) Louisville then boosted
of one store, kept by Emerson and
Krider, one horse mill, run by Col
Cox, and Smother's tan yard.
In March, 1850, the subject of this
sketch was again married to Benjamin
Gilmore. For many years she has beer
a consistent member of the Old SchOo
Presbyterian Church, was strictly at
tentive to her religious duties and was
always punctual attendant, in former
DAYS at the "Old Waverly Meeting
House." the first church of this demon
ination ever organized in this county
At the time of her death she was &
member of the 0. S. P. Church, al
Ashley, Mo. She was we'll prepared
for the final change and patiently
waited the final summons.
On February 81, 1878, her last hus
band passed over the silent river at the
advanced age of ninety one years.
In former years she was always al
active stirring woman and contributed
her full part in the great battle of life
But during the last few years of hel
life, her mind became impaired anC
especially the last year has been very
helpless. Having seen both husbands
and most of her children pass away
her own health becoming impaired by
advancing age, she too succumbed tC
the touch of death and passed with the
unnumbered myriads that have gone
to the Great Beyond.
She was in her S5th year. She dice
at the old homestead where she spent
most of her life, and was buried in the
family burying ground on the place
The funeral services were conducted
by Rev. L. P. Walton, her pastor.