Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Mrs. Aderholt Is 101, Alert, Abreast of News - Oxford, Alabama January 7, 1955 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net October 10, 2010, 6:22 pm The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama January 7, 1955 Source: The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama Date: January 7, 1955 She Recalls Tiny Lickskillet Mrs. Ophelia Aderholt Is 101, Alert, Abreast of News By John Cathey Mrs. Ophelia Aderholt, the oldest living person in Calhoun County, is being honored today on her 101st birthday. During the inexorable march of history-making years, Mrs. Aderholt has know the tragedy of five wars and the joy of a hundred springs. She has seen Oxford grow from the tiny Lickskillet to the thriving community it is today. She has lived in the same house since 1882. And through it all she has found peace and strength in her favorite reading: the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Yesterday, sitting in the living room of her home where she lived quietly with her daughter, Mrs. Paul D. Vann, Mrs. Aderholt recounted wonderful tales of the past century. A handsome woman, she is alert and maintains a lively interest in all current events. She Remembers Morgan Mrs. Aderholt told of the time the great Confederate General John Morgan, the "Raider," and his troops camped in her backyard. She remembers passing a tree to which a Southern deserter was tied when she went to her uncle's. Later, she saw this deserter shot after being ridden on his own coffin, with his family walking behind in mourning. She relived moments as a child, when the Cherokee Indians, camped in the woods behind her father's two-story mansion in Choccolocco Valley. Mrs. Aderholt told how the Indians walked single file and wore mirrors in their headdress so the man behind could make sure they weren't being followed. Mrs. Aderholt was ten years old when the Yankee soldiers pillaged her father's house, took all the hams in the smokehouse, and stole the horses. The former Ophelia Allen, she was the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Asa Allen. She was born in a log cabin on the site where Attorney Phil Whiteside's home now stands. The log cabin housed the family until her father's two story home was completed. She Likes The Star An avid reader, Mrs. Aderholt has kept abreast of the changing times. She looks forward watch day to The Star, and her favorite reading always has been the Bible. Her preferred topics of discussion are history and literature. She also likes politics and religion and can discuss these subject with more clarity than many of the younger generations. The King of Liberia, who recently visited this country, was of great interest to Mrs. Aderholt. His grandmother was a former slave of the Allens. Television is a particular favorite. She thinks its a marvelous thing and she enjoys the fights and westerns. Mrs. Aderholt also finds the cooking show enjoyable. Mrs. Paul D. Vann, her daughter, announced open house this afternoon from 1 till 4 o'clock as all Calhoun County pays tribute to its oldest citizen. Additional Comments: Name: Ophelia Aderholt Born: January 7, 1954 Choccolocco, Benton (Now Calhoun), Alabama Died: March 2, 1958 Oxford, Calhoun County, Alabama Father: Asa F. Allen Mother: Adeline Cunningham Spouse # 1: Henry Thompson Spouse # 2: William Samuel (Sam) Aderholt File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/mrsaderh1825gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb