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Clay County in red.
Matilda Davidson was born in Clay County, Kentucky on August 5, 1863. Her parents were Robert Davidson and Nancy Hays Davidson. The census indicates that both of her parents could read and write. Matilda joined two brothers, Silas and James. The family farmed and the Manchester Post Office was their post office.
Now, Matilda was born during the Civil War. Kentucky was a state caught in the middle of the North and the South. It would become a part of the Union, but loyalties of people in the region could be divided and families were often torn apart. This division would remain long after the war ended as anger aroused during the war continued on as feuds. This led to Manchester in Clay County becoming known worldwide as the violence capitol of the United States.
Now Clay County had grown up around the salt industry. Both armies needed salt, the Rebels had less access to salt than the Union soldiers, so they were in more need of it. The Union was determined to keep the salt from the rebels. Many skirmishes would take place in Kentucky and the area where Matilda's family lived. Both Rebels and Union soldiers would vie for the area and would ravage the land in search of food, horses, mules and anything they could confiscate for their soldiers. Families probably kept lookouts so they could lead their animals up into the hills to preserve their food supplies and work animals from confiscation.
Even as the war raged, the lives of the area residents continued on. Another daughter Alabama, who they called Bamer, was born in 1864. The following year, on April 15, 1865, just a few days after the war ended but not before he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated. In December of that year, the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified.
On a local note, the University of Kentucky was established in 1865. It began as a part of Kentucky University and was known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky.
Now, Matilda was born during the Civil War. Kentucky was a state caught in the middle of the North and the South. It would become a part of the Union, but loyalties of people in the region could be divided and families were often torn apart. This division would remain long after the war ended as anger aroused during the war continued on as feuds. This led to Manchester in Clay County becoming known worldwide as the violence capitol of the United States.
Now Clay County had grown up around the salt industry. Both armies needed salt, the Rebels had less access to salt than the Union soldiers, so they were in more need of it. The Union was determined to keep the salt from the rebels. Many skirmishes would take place in Kentucky and the area where Matilda's family lived. Both Rebels and Union soldiers would vie for the area and would ravage the land in search of food, horses, mules and anything they could confiscate for their soldiers. Families probably kept lookouts so they could lead their animals up into the hills to preserve their food supplies and work animals from confiscation.
Even as the war raged, the lives of the area residents continued on. Another daughter Alabama, who they called Bamer, was born in 1864. The following year, on April 15, 1865, just a few days after the war ended but not before he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated. In December of that year, the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified.
On a local note, the University of Kentucky was established in 1865. It began as a part of Kentucky University and was known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky.
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky was established
in 1865 and would later become the University of Kentucky.
In 1866, the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable would be established allowing information to pass from continent to continent in minutes rather than days. Matilda would gain another sibling, William, in September of 1866. In 1868, Heinz would begin the production of ketchup which would become very popular, but I doubt that Matilda's family would have it in their home.
The 1870 census finds the family still in Clay County. The family is shown farming on Big Creek in Clay County, Kentucky. Another brother, Alfred, would join the family in 1871. In 1873, a gentleman named Levi Strauss would patent his denim pants which would become known as jeans. This sturdy denim wear would become very popular among farmers and miners. In 1875, a Louisville tradition, the Kentucky Derby would be initiated. This began to be celebrated across the state during Derby Days. I do not know if Matilda's family could break from their daily struggles to participate, but many Kentuckians would.
The family did probably take breaks from the monotony of daily tasks at times. Occasionally, there would be community gatherings for house or barn raisings, quilting bees, sorghum cook-offs...Drinking, music, dancing and revelry, in general, might accompany these events. Other gatherings would offer some friendly competitions in marksmanship, hunting, fishing and show off other skills. Welcome fun was made out of everyday chores.
In 1876, Matilda's oldest brother Silas would marry Margaret Eversole and begin his own family. In 1880, Matilda's family is still farming in Clay County. Children James, Tilda, Bamer, William and Alfred still live with Robert and Nancy.
During the years of Matilda's childhood, children as young as four were expected to contribute to the family by performing chores. Preserving the family was truly a family affair. Children might still have time to play tag or Red Rover, and baseball was becoming popular, but playing was for after the chores were done.
Corn was a staple crop in Kentucky where the land was better served to growing corn rather than wheat. Matilda's diet was probably long on corn products; corn, hominy, grits, cornbread, mush....and many adults partook of corn liquor and Kentucky bourbon made from corn. Animals raised by the family would also consume silage and corn.
Pork was a favorite meat and would contribute to the family's diet. The family's garden would be supplemented by fruits, nuts, wild greens, and other edibles foraged from the family's environs. The family's meat supply would be supplemented by fishing and hunting the game; elk, deer, wild turkeys... plentiful in the region. The family probably had little money, but they likely did not go hungry.
Now somewhere along the way, Matilda met a young man by the name of Joseph Chandler. Joseph's family had also lived in Clay County when the 1870 census was taken. Joseph's family also farmed and they shared the Manchester post office with the Davidson family. The families probably ran into each other during trips to the post office, the store, church services, community gatherings...
Meanwhile, nationwide, the 1870s saw the advent of the telephone. The telegraph had arrived in Kentucky back in the 1840s, but the telephone would further improve communication. Matilda and Joseph's community would probably not experience the telephone on any widespread scale for years to come. Mail was still the most widely used means of communication and would remain so for some time.
The 1880 census, taken in August of 1880 shows Joseph's family residing in neighboring Owsley County on Cow Creek. But somewhere along the way, Joseph and Matilda did meet and they must have struck up some kind of friendship because shortly after that August census was taken, the two were married in Clay County on September 28, 1880.
The 1870 census finds the family still in Clay County. The family is shown farming on Big Creek in Clay County, Kentucky. Another brother, Alfred, would join the family in 1871. In 1873, a gentleman named Levi Strauss would patent his denim pants which would become known as jeans. This sturdy denim wear would become very popular among farmers and miners. In 1875, a Louisville tradition, the Kentucky Derby would be initiated. This began to be celebrated across the state during Derby Days. I do not know if Matilda's family could break from their daily struggles to participate, but many Kentuckians would.
The family did probably take breaks from the monotony of daily tasks at times. Occasionally, there would be community gatherings for house or barn raisings, quilting bees, sorghum cook-offs...Drinking, music, dancing and revelry, in general, might accompany these events. Other gatherings would offer some friendly competitions in marksmanship, hunting, fishing and show off other skills. Welcome fun was made out of everyday chores.
In 1876, Matilda's oldest brother Silas would marry Margaret Eversole and begin his own family. In 1880, Matilda's family is still farming in Clay County. Children James, Tilda, Bamer, William and Alfred still live with Robert and Nancy.
During the years of Matilda's childhood, children as young as four were expected to contribute to the family by performing chores. Preserving the family was truly a family affair. Children might still have time to play tag or Red Rover, and baseball was becoming popular, but playing was for after the chores were done.
Corn was a staple crop in Kentucky where the land was better served to growing corn rather than wheat. Matilda's diet was probably long on corn products; corn, hominy, grits, cornbread, mush....and many adults partook of corn liquor and Kentucky bourbon made from corn. Animals raised by the family would also consume silage and corn.
Pork was a favorite meat and would contribute to the family's diet. The family's garden would be supplemented by fruits, nuts, wild greens, and other edibles foraged from the family's environs. The family's meat supply would be supplemented by fishing and hunting the game; elk, deer, wild turkeys... plentiful in the region. The family probably had little money, but they likely did not go hungry.
Now somewhere along the way, Matilda met a young man by the name of Joseph Chandler. Joseph's family had also lived in Clay County when the 1870 census was taken. Joseph's family also farmed and they shared the Manchester post office with the Davidson family. The families probably ran into each other during trips to the post office, the store, church services, community gatherings...
Meanwhile, nationwide, the 1870s saw the advent of the telephone. The telegraph had arrived in Kentucky back in the 1840s, but the telephone would further improve communication. Matilda and Joseph's community would probably not experience the telephone on any widespread scale for years to come. Mail was still the most widely used means of communication and would remain so for some time.
The 1880 census, taken in August of 1880 shows Joseph's family residing in neighboring Owsley County on Cow Creek. But somewhere along the way, Joseph and Matilda did meet and they must have struck up some kind of friendship because shortly after that August census was taken, the two were married in Clay County on September 28, 1880.
Joseph Chandler
The 1880s saw big changes not only for Matilda, but for the world. Railroads had come into Kentucky early due to the need for transportation for Kentucky coal, but the railroad industry continued to grow nationwide. By 1854, Louisville was on the nation's rail system and as the railroad grew and more people and goods were transported via rail, a better system for scheduling was needed. During these early days, time was based on a high noon system. As travel became more widespread and speedy, a better system was needed to make the scheduling of rail travel into different areas efficient. The time zone system was established in 1883 to address this need. It was well received and would soon be accepted worldwide. In that same year of 1883, Thomas Edison would light up the Southern Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky with his recently invented incandescent light bulbs. Matilda's family would probably depend on candles and oil lamps for quite some time, but just the news of the night being illuminated by those lights must have inspired awe.
I have found little info on Joseph and Matilda's life together. All I am certain of is that they had a daughter born on April 18, 1885. They named her Nancy Ann Chandler and she was born in Clay County, Kentucky. The marriage did not last and both Joseph and Matilda would go on to remarry. Joseph would marry Nancy Jane McIntosh and have a family with her. They would stay in Clay County and would have Carrie, Dave, Brock and Johnny together. Joseph would die on April 23, 1912 from tuberculosis of the bowels.
Matilda would marry James Boss Stewart in 1886. They would remain in Clay County. During the early days of their marriage, the nation would become fascinated with a feud which took place between the Kentucky McCoys and the West Virginia Hatfields. Folks would eagerly await the next edition of the local newspaper giving details. In 1888, the local news would be filled with different news, the Kentucky state treasurer would abscond with the equivalent of $6 million in today's currency. This led the state of Kentucky to limit the terms for all state officers. The Kentucky state government would once again know scandal at the turn of the century. A contentious race for Governor between an incumbent and William Goebel would end with Goebel winning the election, but he would be shot before taking office. The assassin's bullet would not immediately kill Goebel. He would live long enough to be sworn in, but would die before the office could efficiently change hands. The transition would leave the government temporarily in a shambles.
By 1889, Matilda's daughter Nancy Ann would be joined by a half-sister Alabama. Unfortunately, over 99% of the 1890 US census was destroyed by fire and flooding. I can only guess that the family would remain in Clay County. In 1892, the first professional football game ever played in the United States would be played. This probably didn't even cause a blip on the radar of Matilda's family. In 1893, her family would continue to grow with Sylvania being born. The Louisville Slugger would come to be in 1894, bringing industry and fame of a different sort to Louisville, Kentucky. Meanwhile, Matilda and Boss' family would grow with the birth of Maggie in 1895.
I have found little info on Joseph and Matilda's life together. All I am certain of is that they had a daughter born on April 18, 1885. They named her Nancy Ann Chandler and she was born in Clay County, Kentucky. The marriage did not last and both Joseph and Matilda would go on to remarry. Joseph would marry Nancy Jane McIntosh and have a family with her. They would stay in Clay County and would have Carrie, Dave, Brock and Johnny together. Joseph would die on April 23, 1912 from tuberculosis of the bowels.
Matilda would marry James Boss Stewart in 1886. They would remain in Clay County. During the early days of their marriage, the nation would become fascinated with a feud which took place between the Kentucky McCoys and the West Virginia Hatfields. Folks would eagerly await the next edition of the local newspaper giving details. In 1888, the local news would be filled with different news, the Kentucky state treasurer would abscond with the equivalent of $6 million in today's currency. This led the state of Kentucky to limit the terms for all state officers. The Kentucky state government would once again know scandal at the turn of the century. A contentious race for Governor between an incumbent and William Goebel would end with Goebel winning the election, but he would be shot before taking office. The assassin's bullet would not immediately kill Goebel. He would live long enough to be sworn in, but would die before the office could efficiently change hands. The transition would leave the government temporarily in a shambles.
By 1889, Matilda's daughter Nancy Ann would be joined by a half-sister Alabama. Unfortunately, over 99% of the 1890 US census was destroyed by fire and flooding. I can only guess that the family would remain in Clay County. In 1892, the first professional football game ever played in the United States would be played. This probably didn't even cause a blip on the radar of Matilda's family. In 1893, her family would continue to grow with Sylvania being born. The Louisville Slugger would come to be in 1894, bringing industry and fame of a different sort to Louisville, Kentucky. Meanwhile, Matilda and Boss' family would grow with the birth of Maggie in 1895.
Matilda is sitting on left.
This is a photo of Matilda owned by my great-aunt Cleo Nolen Allen, who was Matilda's granddaughter. Cleo's children called the lady in the picture "Muh".
Plessy vs Ferguson would establish separate but equal facilities for blacks and whites in 1896. This would later force the local Berea College to build separate facilities in order to continue the education of their black students. The Spanish American War would occur in 1898 between the births of Boyd in 1897 and Mary Lee in 1900. This war would establish the United States as a world power.
The 1900 census shows the family farming in Bull Skin, Clay County, Kentucky. Nancy Ann would marry Joseph Nolen in August of 1900 and would move nearby to raise her own family. Sister Alabama also left not long after the 1900 census was taken to begin her own family. As the family was decreasing in size through the marriage of children, Matilda and Boss would see their own family continue to grow. Additions to the family include Burchell in 1903. The Ford Motor Company would be established in Dearborne, Michigan in June of that same year; and Wilbur and Orville Wright would make the news with their historical first flight that same year. I can just imagine the awe, perhaps even disbelief the family may have had at this news! Matilda and Boss would have Martha in 1906, the same year the first radio broadcast was made. A daughter, Bitha was born in 1907 and son Estill was born in 1910.
The 1910 census shows the family farming in Oneida, Clay County, Kentucky. The family consists of Boss and Matilda, Sylvania, Maggie, Boyd, Mary Lee, Burchell, Martha and Estill. Bitha is not accounted for on this census, so I do not know where she was. I just know that she is accounted for on the 1920 census.
The 1900 census shows the family farming in Bull Skin, Clay County, Kentucky. Nancy Ann would marry Joseph Nolen in August of 1900 and would move nearby to raise her own family. Sister Alabama also left not long after the 1900 census was taken to begin her own family. As the family was decreasing in size through the marriage of children, Matilda and Boss would see their own family continue to grow. Additions to the family include Burchell in 1903. The Ford Motor Company would be established in Dearborne, Michigan in June of that same year; and Wilbur and Orville Wright would make the news with their historical first flight that same year. I can just imagine the awe, perhaps even disbelief the family may have had at this news! Matilda and Boss would have Martha in 1906, the same year the first radio broadcast was made. A daughter, Bitha was born in 1907 and son Estill was born in 1910.
The 1910 census shows the family farming in Oneida, Clay County, Kentucky. The family consists of Boss and Matilda, Sylvania, Maggie, Boyd, Mary Lee, Burchell, Martha and Estill. Bitha is not accounted for on this census, so I do not know where she was. I just know that she is accounted for on the 1920 census.
Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart and James "Boss" Stewart
Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart
The world would receive the tragic news of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Matilda's family may have been unaware of the launching of the mighty ship, but I imagine that they were awestruck by the sinking of an unsinkable ship and, even more so, by the loss of over 1500 lives. For a woman who had been born in Clay County and resided most of her life in that same area, I imagine that Matilda was awed by the fact that folks could actually take such a trip in the first place.
The year 1913 would bring news of the construction of the Lincoln Highway, the country's first transcontinental highway. The highway proved popular and businesses began springing up along it. More roads were being built leading to the increasing use of automobiles. Matilda's family would probably not own one, but they would have family members who one day would.
1914-1918 would have the world involved in the Great War. Beginning in 1917, this would include the United States. Boss and Matilda would have friends and family involved in this war. I am sure they worried and prayed for their country and their loved ones just as folks all across the country did. In 1917, during the war, Woodrow Wilson would establish the National Parks Service. This would ensure that some of the beauty of our country would forever be preserved for future generations. Even as our soldiers were sacrificing to preserve our country and the world, the home front did in some way also act to preserve it.
The Spanish flu epidemic would strike the world in 1918 before WWl ended. Just as the war was claiming the lives of so many, this epidemic would claim over 650,000 American lives alone. Few families were untouched by this devastating disease. 1919 would show that Congress had been busy. Congress passed both, the 18th Amendment, Prohibition, and the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.
The 1920 United States census shows Mary Lee, Burchell, Tobitha and Estill living with Boss and Matilda in Clay County, as well as a granddaughter Thelma. I believe that Thelma is Mary Lee and Albert Nolan's daughter. By 1920, children Sylvania, Maggie and Boyd have moved away to begin their own families.
On a national scene, the Scopes Monkey Trial would make the news in 1925. The results of this trial would reinforce the separation of church and State seen in the Constitution. On a more local note in that same year, Mary Breckinridge would establish the Frontier Nursing Service in Wendover, Kentucky. Mary established this as a means to educate nurse midwives in providing safer assistance in childbirth for local families. The Frontier Nurses were too late to assist Matilda in the births of her children, but they would be there for future generations. The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 would prove to be a very noteworthy medical advance. Penicillin would save the lives of many soldiers injured in WWll.
1929 would bring the stock market collapse which led to the Great Depression. Many Americans would lose investments and many more would lose their employment. People all across the country were in dire straits. Mining and logging had been strong industries in Kentucky. The folks employed by these industries were more negatively affected than the folks who lived off of the land. This led to an increase in tension between miners and the mining companies in particular, which in turn led to strikes and violence.
As if the Great Depression weren't enough, the Dust Bowl would happen out west. Drought and years of improper farming practices on the fertile ground, along with hot, dry winds would allow the once fertile soil to be blown up until the earth was fallow and the lungs of area residents were polluted by the windblown dust. Families lost their livelihoods and their ability to feed their families, as well as their health in many cases.
1930 shows Boss and Tilda living on Red Bird Road in Clay County. They live alone now. But daughter Maggie and her family don't live far away. Son Burchell and his family also live nearby. Matilda's daughter Nancy Ann's family also lived in Clay County at this time. So children and grandchildren are not far away. Matilda and her family were probably not as affected as many by the depression. They could still raise food on their land, and they could also forage in the woods, hunt and fish.
1931 would bring the completion of the Empire State Building in New York City. It would become the tallest building in the world. The completion of the Empire State Building seemed to become a symbol of hope to the American people and that most likely included Matilda's family. It became a symbol that our country would rise out of the Great Depression that had gripped it and once again flourish.
1932 would bring the news that Amelia Earhart had become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Charles Lindberg had made the first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight in 1927. Earhart made news again in 1937 when her plane disappeared during an attempt to make a solo trans-Pacific flight. Her disappearance still remains a mystery.
In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt began implementing his New Deal. The New Deal was designed to provide employment for the many Americans who were struggling from the loss of their employment due to the Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration provided needed income for thousands of Americans. Matilda's family most likely benefited from these programs in some way.
1937 would provide a bit of fascination for the residents of Kentucky, particularly around the Louisville area. Fort Knox had been built just outside of Louisville and it became the nation's depository for its gold stores. Wagonloads of gold traversed across the state from across the country to be deposited for safekeeping in the impenetrable Fort Knox. Matilda's family probably heard the news, but they probably continued on in their daily lives, unfazed as all of that gold poured into their state.
The 1940 census shows Boss and Tilda still farming on Red Bird Road. They now have a widowed 16-year-old granddaughter, Reva Frost, living with them. I believe that this Reva is the daughter of Mary Lee and Albert Nolan.
Matilda's great-granddaughter remembers her as being a little woman who always wore lace-up shoes and long skirts... She was a nice woman and she and Boss pretty much stayed to themselves. Boss was said to be a little rough around the edges, but he would often ride his mule around to check on how their children were doing.
Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart and James "Boss" Stewart
James and Matilda with some of their children.
Soon after this momentous occasion, sometime before Christmas, Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart would become ill with the flu. She would be attended by a physician on Dec 24, 1941 and would last be seen by the physician on Jan 5, 1942. Matilda would die on Jan 8, 1942 from pneumonia as a result of the flu. James Boss Stewart would die on Bear Creek in Clay County, Kentucky three years later on September 20, 1945. He would also die from pneumonia. Son Boyd Stewart was the informant on the death certificates for both of his parents.
So this is the story of my great-great-grandma Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart. She was born during the Civil War, she lived during the Spanish-American War, she lived during WWl and she died just after the start of WWll. She lived when the world was experiencing wondrous things for the first time; the first telegraph, the first telephone, the first automobile, the first flight! She lived in this world as the events of the world were taking place. I cannot be certain of the extent that national and world events impacted Matilda's rather isolated life. I am certain that they did impact her in some way. Just as certain as I am of that, I am certain that Matilda shook off the events of the world and soldiered on through the events of her own life in a gracious and loving way. Tilda did this until she succumbed to pneumonia brought on by the flu at the age of 78. She was buried in the Martin-Davidson Cemetery in Oneida, Clay County, Kentucky.
Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart lived, died, and was buried within the same county she had been born in.
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