The Portland daily press., 1894-02-16
AN INTE RESTING WOMAN.
Tha Death of Mrs. Lucy Evansin Missouri
at the Age of Ill Years,

Mrs. Lucy Evans, the Oldest resident
of the county, and probably the Oldest
person in the State, died at the home of
her daughter. near Independence. Tues
day night Mrs. Evans was born in 1888,
and was III years old on Jan.6, 1894.
During her last years Mrs. Evans, un-
like most persons of extreme age, was
neither bent nor feeble. Her memory
was good of events in her earlier life,
but she had forgotten those Of the past
thirty years. The events o. the war OF
1912 were to her as occurrences of yes
terday, but the war between the States
was only remem bered as a little disturb
ance. She has outlived all her children
save one the daughter with whom she
resided. who is herself advanced in years
Born in the mountains Of Cook county.
Tenn, on Jane, 1888, on" old Christmas
Day." as she called it, she was 80 years
old when the English attempted the sub
jugation of this country a second time.
Of this war she especially loved to tell
the story in her own way. She was an
interesting talker, and delighted to tell
of the great changes she had witnessed
most OF which belonged to the early days
of the present century. She was almost
as old as the republic itself. In her day
it was hardship to live in this State,
or even in Tennessee. She talked inter-
estingly of the journey from Tennessee to
Jackson county and Independence III
1S22-just seventy-two years ago. The
trip was ono of suffering and priva ton,
and fromher story it appears that several
mem bers of the party died, and were
buried along the lonely trail. This sec
ton was overrun at thai time with
wolves. Deer and antelope were plenti-
full, and red men were still more plenti-
full. Even after trees We're felled and log
cabins erected by ventursone settlers
the worst suffering came, the feeling of
loneliness and longing for the old home
and the faces of friends.
Speaking of her age to reporter not
long since Mrs. Evans said that in her
opinion the custom of women doing
much harder work in the days past, to-
gether with the severe hardships to
which she had been subjected, was the
cause of her unusual physical condi-
ton. II always loved,S She said, to
run around and do turns. IT you want
to live long time keep stirring"
In her day, she said, the women wore
/" galluses," the old Missouri name for
snspenders, attached to petticoat. and
all wore Calamanker" shoes. Deaths
were very rare occurrences, and when
one occurred it was great event in the
county. One of the events impressed
upon her mind was the plague" which,
she said, was disease which began i'll
the foot or hand and rapidly extended
all through the body until the heart was
reached, causing death in great agony.
In those days "tea" was made OF birch
bark, and coffee was an unknown lux
ury, but in the last years of her life
steaming cup of Java was enjoyed i'm
mensely. In the days of the youth of
this aged woman men were not allowed
flo vote in the mountains OF Tennessee
unle SIS they owned either property or
horse. She told how dozen men would
vote with one horse. The plan was for
the original owner to vote nfst ana Then
nominaIly sell his horse to neigh boz,
who would cast his ballot, and this
would continue until each had voted.
Others would build wooden horses, and
could then swear that they owned a
horse. In those days honesty in all was
demanded, and man caught stealing
was hung without a trial
The venerable woman's impression OF
the first steamboat was terrible one.
She said it was just at midnight when
the party, en- route for Missouri from
Tennessee, reached the bank of the Ohio
River and there camped. During the
day the march had been very tiresome,
and the weary emigrants were sound
asleep, when the shrill whistle of an up
river steamer broke upon the quietude
of the camp. 1t was out of sight around
a bend, and the thoroughly frightened
men and women Immediately organized
a PRAYER meeting. The steamer slowly
advanced, and, as the light came into
view the excitement became intense
and several women tainted. The dan
ger passed by, aud for several years the
mem beers of that little band believed
that their delivery was due to their
prayers.
The age of Mrs. Evans is not disputed,
az the family is well known and there
is no doubt their statement verifying
Mrs. Evans's claim is true. She leaves
a number of grandchildren and great
andchildren. kansas City Times.