Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-12-05
REMARKABLE
OLD WOMAN
LIVES NEAR PORTLAND AND "a
IN HER ONE HUNDRED AND
NINETEENTH YEAR.


time that the American colonies real
lied the necessity of federation. while
the United States constitution was a:
yet unwritten and the nation still un
born, there came into the world or
a farm near Knoxville, Tenn, a cir
baby who was destined to witness the
marvellous changes that have since
transformed the world and to survive
out of the old time into ours. The
child that learned to lisp when Wash
ington was president, in the eigh
teenth century. still lives to talk OF
President Roosevelt in the twentieth
century. and eyes that hundred
years ago looked lovingly upon hel
first born. today smile with fad
ing light upon the child of her old
age woman now past Is.
Mary Ramsey Woods. was born as
Mary Ramsey on May 90 1887. Now
Ill her 18th year. she is still quite
active and maintains lively interest
in the world and it's doings. Daily
she walks about her garden or sits
upon the porch in sunny weather, to
chat with neighbors, to sew, or to live
over in memory scenes Of long ago
And what memory is hers. She was
tiny maid when the French revolu.
ton was dyeing the cutters of Paris
red; she was a laughing school girl
of Z when Tennessee was admitted
as state to the Union; she was a
blushing bride when the great Napo-
leon coded Louisiana to the United
States, and proud young mother
when Lewis and Clark tramped over
continent to where rolls the Ore.
gon' And she well remembers her
father taking down his old gun, Shout.
dering his blankets and going out to
fight the battles of his country in the
war of 1872
Intellect Still Keen.
Though probably the oldest woman
in the world, ner intellect is still
bright and keen, as is shown by the
fact that this last summer her testi-
mony decided lawsuit and settled
the title to property which was deed
ed over 40 years ago. Her answers
were to the point and efforts to con.
fuse her were unavailing. She testi-
fed regarding minute details, showing
that the years have not dulled ner
recollection.
One can scarcely realize the mar
velOus changes that have taken place
in the world during Mrs Woods event
full life When she was a child people
literally lived the Simple life" none
of the comforts and conveniences of
today were in existence Gentlemen
still wore the fancy costume. knicker-
bockers frilled shirts and cooked hats,
while the common people wore home
spun She was a babe of two years
when this government began business.
She was 90 years old when Robert
Fulton first plOughed the waters with
ms primitive steamboat, and 40 years
clG when the first railway was laid.
In those old days the spinning jenny
was not invented and the trust was
a thing undreamed Of
Long Lived Ancestors.
Mary Ramsey Woods comes of good
old English stock. Her ancestors were
all long lived people. Her parents
came from England just after their
marriage and pushed on through the
Carolinas to Tennessee, where they
settled upon farm that was after
wards the scene of the decisive battle
of the Paducah Indian war. Here the
couple settled and here their children
We're born and reared. There were
five girls and three boys in the fam.
lily, and Mary was the sixth child, &C.
cording to the old family Bible.
Kate Ramsey, the mother, died at.
ter few hours illness, at the age
of 10, 65 years ago. The day before
her death she had walked distance
of five miles, knitting all the way, as
was her custom. A few years before,
the father, Richard Ramsey. had drop
ped dead from heart disease. He was
brick maker and contractor, and
burned the brick used and built the
first brick house in Knoxville
When Mary was IL years old, she
Joined the Methodist Episcopal church
south. For 1O6 years she has been
a communicate and is still a devoted
Methodist Her folks were we'll to do,
We're slave owners and possessed con-
siderable property. She was married
at the age of II to Jacob Lemons, a
prosperous farmer, and the couple liv-
ed happily together in their Tenne-
see nome for many years She was
left widow 70 years ago, about the
time that Andrew Jackson was near.
ing the end of his first term as presi-
dent. Four children were born to the
couple, Mary ]. Lemons, who died in
Tennessee two years ago at the age of
80: Isaac Lemons, who died in Kan
sas City, Mo-, 40 years ago; Nancy
E. Bullock, who died at Hillsboro, 38
years ago, and Mrs. C. B. Ramsey.
who is now living in Hillsboro, and
who, though IS years of age. is devot-
ing her life to the care of her aged
parent.
For the next 20 years Mrs. Lemons
lived with her children. sometimes
with one and sometimes with another.
They were settled in Alabama, Geor-
gia. Kentucky and Missouri. and the
widow lived with first one and then
the other. In 1852 she accompanied
her youngest daughter Mrs. c. B.
Southworth, across the plains to Ore.
son, arriving in Hillsboro in 1853. She
was then Sc years old, but rode bay
mare the entire distance from Tenne-
ssee. while her daughter and her hus.
Rand rode in an OK cart. The party
came leisurely, bringing dozen slaves
with them, some Of whom are still
alive.
knits at Advanced Age
After her arrival in Oregon, Mrs.
Lemons buitl the first hotel in Hills.
boro Shortly after she married John
Woods. with whom she lived until his
death score of years later. The
couple ran the hotel until 40 years
ago. when they turned 1t over to ,er
daughter Mrs O. r RovnO1dS form.