The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-03-28
cLARksBuRe HADA cENTENARIAN.
a Well. Remembered CoIored Woman
Lived to be alo2 Years Old

BY request we reproduce this article
which was published In the Telegram,
July ID; 1894:
Aunt Milly Chapln, born a slave in
the city OF Richmond about the year
1902, died in Clarhhrrg on the 18th
day Of July, 1884, at the great age Of
102 years.
She was broughtto Clarksburg by
her master, ThomasB. Lacy, as is sup
posed, in the year 1900, and with the
expectation Of living few months
near Parkersburg, where she remem-
bers seeing the unfortunate Blenner-
hasset, and had a trip to Philadelphia
as a domesticiin the family of a Mr..
Sommerville. She always lived here.
\ About the year 1900 she passed into
the possession of James Pindal, the
brilliant. orator OF ''Old time" Clarks-
burg.
At his death, in 1895, Milly became
the property of his wife, and at Mrs.
Pindal's death, in 1929, she was left to
Mrs. Phineas Chapln, a sister Of Mrs.
Pindal, and remainedwith that family
until slavery was abolished.
Aunt Milly was possessed OF good
sense and an excellentmemory, and her
recollection of people and events in
Clarksburg reached back for more
than three.quarters Of century. She
was connecting link between the
present and the distant past, and was
frequently consultedn regard to local
history.
Her hands were the first that ever
clasped the little body and put the
tiny garments on the babe that after
ward became the famous Confederate
General, "Stonewaln jackson. She
often spoke of this occasion, and that
she lived to see him great chieftian
In the Southern army, lends additional
interest and charm tothis event.
In her day Aunt Milly was famous
cook, and her services we're in demand
on occasions OF notable parties and
social gatherings.
She held in reverential esteem her
former owner, Col. Pindal, and could
tell many interesting Incidents in the
life Of that eccentric but gifted man.
Her devotion and Affection for all
members Of the Chapinfamily through
the long period of sixty-five years
never wavered nor lost its strength,
and in return it can be said that the
.Chapins, to the last generation, in
every possible way devoted themselves
to looking after the comfort OF their
faithful follower, and cheered her by
kind attention to thk last hour of her
life.
For some years she has made her
home at her daughter Rates. who
has done everything possible for her
to do to make the declining years Of
her mother contented and happy.
1t was the request Of the deceased
that she be buried in the same grave
yard with those whom She had faith
fully served in life, and this request
was faithfully compiled with, and
though the old cemetery at the west
end of town had not been used for
many years, special permit was
granted by the mayor for the inter
ment to take place there,
The funeral took place on Sunday
and was attended by three generations
OF her descendants and large con-
course of people.
Aunt Milly, after faithfully fulfilling
all the duties of life extended far
beyond the period allotted by the
'Psalmist to human existence, died in
the full faith and hope Of the Christ
ian. ready and willing tomeet her re-
ward.
--.a-., anUA,~U n~,,~-n-n