Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-12-13
MRS. ELIZABETH BEARDEN DEAD
Passed Away at Age Of 1O3 Years, Is
Months, o Days.

haps the oldest lady in our State,
Granny Bearden," as she was famil-
iarly known, passed away at the
home Of her son, j. w. Bearden, on
December 7, 1911.
Before marriage she was Miss Eliz-
abeth McGuffin, daughter of James
and Anice McGuffin. She was twice
married, her first husband being Will
liam Ables. To this union four chill
dren we're born.-Arminda Ables
Brown, Anice Ables Land, Newton
Atles and Elizabeth Ables Cole-all
of whom preceded their mother to
the grave except Mrs. Elizabeth Cole,
who Is now 76 years old. Her second
marriage was to William Bearden,
who died March 20, 1882. To this
union nine children were born-Jo-
seph Bearden, Sarah Ann Bearden,
Thompson Bearden, Andrew Bearden,
John Wesley Bearden, James Bear
den, Amanda Bearden Tannery, L.iza
Bearden Reeder and Samuel Bearden
all Of whom survive except Sarah
Ann, who died in infancy, and John
Wesley, who died while in the army
at Petersburg, Va, in 1866.
The funeral services of Mrs. Bear
den were held at Bethel Baptist
church on Friday, December 8, con-
Quoted by her pastor, Rev. +. G. Law
ender, assisted by the Methodist pas
tor, Rev. j. l.. Singleton. The pail
bearers were her five sons-Joseph,
73 years Of age, Thompson, 60 years,
Andrew, Ct years, James, 63 years,
Samuel, SIS years, and her oldest
grandson, VIM. Brown, 65 years of
age. Her favorite hymns, "How Firm
a Foundation, Amazing Grace" and
Nearer, My God, to Thee" were
sung, as she requested, unaccompa-
MED by any musical instrument.
Old age having deprived her of the
pleasure OF going to church, she al
ways enjoyed having prayer and song
service in her room. She lived a
Christian life for over 80 years, and
her life stands out as q living testi-
mony OF her good deeds. One Of her
chief delights wac giving to the poor,
who always found in her a true friend
in need She retained all her facul-
ties to the last, and 1t was remarka-
BILE how we'll she could hear and see.
Although she was not able to leave
her room for several years, she was
always jovial, enjoyed conversation,
and nothing gave her more pleasure
than to have her friends come in and
talk with her. Truly Mother in
Israeli has gone TO her reward.
Sketch of Her Life.
Elizabeth McGufin Ables Bearden
was born on the 2Sth day Of June,
1903, in South Carolina, not far from
the Old stone church, in what Is now
Anderson county, (then the Old Pick
ems Disl..ct). Her grandparents. Jo-
seph Andrew McGomn and wife, we're
-J,,;Ct
came to America among the early set
tiers from Ireland. Her father
James McGoffin, was a baby of six
weeks when they came over, and his
two oldest brothers were left be-
hind with their grandparents, who
were to come over the following year,
but never made the trip. In America
the name became confused as McGuf-
FIN, and In this section Of the coun-
try Is known as McGuffin still,
Her father married Anice Jolly, and
to them were born thirteen children.
all of whom have passed away save
one daughter, Mrs. Caroline Hull, of
Hartwell, GA Her grandfather, Jo-
seph Andrew McGoffin, fought In the
Revolutionary War, and she remem-
bered distinctly things that we're told
her of the Tory bands and other incl
dents. She remembered the war of
1872, and as child the Incl dent Of
an affectionate parting between an
uncle of hers and his wife, as he
started to New Orleans in 1916; but.
hearing that articles Of peace had
been signed, he came back.
During the Civil War she helped
her husband bore guns out and work.
ed faithfully in every way for the
cause. Five sons and one grandson
went to the front, and one son, JOHN
Wesley Bearden, lost his life at Pet
ersburg, Va.
The girlhood days Of Mrs. Bearden
we're spent in Pickens District, but
she later went to Georgia and lived
TOT while with an aunt near Deca-
tur. Then Atlanta was village, and
was spoken OF as "Peachtree." One
or her fondest recollections, and one
that she enjoyed telling, was Of going
10 Dig dance at Decatur, when they
danced till midnight, then went
home, ate breakfast and returned the
next morning and finished. This was
one Of the good old Georgia break
downs"
At the age of 8 years she married
William Ables, and four children
were born unto them. Her husband
died at about the time Of the birth
of her last child, and she was then
alone except for her four children.
VINO were too small to work. Still
she was not destined to live alone.
Tor William Bearden, fa miliarly
known as Buckle Bearden, the noted
blacksmith and rifle maker, came
into her life, courted and married the
widow Nine children were born to
them, seven OF whom are living to-
day -Four sons are prosperous farm
ers OF the Oakway section, one son IS
at Royston, Ca, in the oil mill bust
ness, one daughter resides at Hughes
SprlngS. IeXaS and ono q 10 ho,.