Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-12
HERMIT;FOR NINETY YEARS
"Aunt Betty" Elliott Died Without
Ever Ridina. On a TSain.


Ninety years in the back country
of Missouri, without ever having rid
den on II railroad train or visited II
town larger than Mobcrly, tluniSvill"
or Macon. was the record Of Aunt
Betty" Elliott. whose death occurred
Thursday ut the home Of her sister,
Mrs. $. 7. Rice, six miles west o!
Jacksonville, Missouri.
Miss Elliott was one Of n very in
teresting trio, the other two being her
brothers, Perry and Jordan. Elliott.
who died Il few years ago All their
lives they had lived upon the lands
which was taken up by their father,
William Elliott. when he came from
Kentucky 10 Northern Missouri in
1916. After the death Of their parents
and the marriage of the younger chil-
1ren, Miss Elliott and her two broth
crs lived on the old homestead, carry
ing on their farming operations and
duties about the house in thc same
primitive manner as was conducted
by their parents in the pioneer days.
Had One Ride in Motor Car.
Miss Elliott once enjoyed tho expcr-
icnce of riding in a motor car. she
said she got as far as College Mound
when something about il went dead
and they had 10 hitch on Il, couple .oi
mules to haul them back home. She
never cared much for. motor cars since
then Us.
The Elliott lrothcrsalcvclored tho
estate until it comprised about two.
thousand acres and, although in the
heart Of the very richest growing see
ton of Missouri. much of it was rough
pasture land For great many years
the farm was inclosed with rail fences,
which as time went by sank far into
the ground. The fencing around this
farm marks almost the last Of thc old
rail fences in Northern Missouri.
None of the three had found time in
their busy lives TO go 10 school, but
they knew the value Of stock AMI
grain, and weref rs shrcwd in their
deals us anybody. Underneath Il large
part Of their land arc valuable beds ol
coal.
Fight shy OF doctors and medicine.
Have something TO interest yon ANA
keep going. Learn To 90 TO sleep cas-
lily and don't borrow trouble. Get out
in the air and raise turkeys. ducks
and chickens. Eat hearty and go to
bed early"
That was the rule of Aunt Betty
Scorned Luxury for Simple Life.
Fourteen years ago staff corr"-
spondenL for The Star visited thr FL
lott trio and spent n~1lay With "thc
children Of nature" who scorned Ink
uries To live the simple life nf their
parents. pioneers Of Missouri. There
the CORES spondcnL found a lriiy
house. built by their parents: II we'll
which was started Tn" year aTi"' IN"
Civil war and never had hc"n COM
ple;ed, and three "clIildrrn.' all more
than 70, who never had had timn TO
ever think about marriage. The only
thing modern nn The farm was nice
looking range in the kitchen which
the boys" had purchased for Aunt
Betty"
Friends? Why "Aunt Betty" had
thousands CT them. il seemed. 81"
tossed Il few lInndfulS Of corn on lhr
bed Of wood chips. Which served as Il
roadway up 10 the house. FlncEs al
fowls, turkeys, ducks and chickens
|. Immediately clustered about h"r'
Here are my friends, and you sec why
| never get lonesome" shc tod the
correspondent
And it was IN extremely happy fam
ily. Late in the evening The lW"
boys" returned To tho house. All
talked in gentle. quiet tones. In BRIEF
they outlined their lives as follows:
Never too old To work.
Never had quarrel with anyhudy.
Never swHppcd Il horse.
Never owned II dog.