CHAPTER XXIV.

                                SOMETHING ABOUT WOMEN.

    Among the early pioneer women of the south end of the county best
remembered and most frequently mentioned by the older class of the
present population, were Mrs. Debby Blevins, wife of Warren Blevins,
and Mrs. Sally Thoriton, wife of Robert Thorlton. Sixty years ago the
two families lived, respectively, on the recent Null place and the present
Harbaugh place, a mile and a half southwest of Middlebury. Then all
articles of clothing were of home make, with no hatter and but one tailor
in the county. Mrs. Blevins made the summer hats for the men and
boys, which she braided of straw, while Mrs. Thorlton cut out and
made up coats for the men and the more than half-grown boys for the
neighborhood round about for several miles. The charge for braiding
hats was twelve and a half cents apiece, and for cutting and making
coats, from fifty cents to one dollar, owing to size and kind of goods.
    Mrs. Millie Cromwell, wife of Nicholas G. Cromwell, who came to
Clay county within the year of its organization, locating on Eel river, in
Cass township, was the pioneer midwife and physician to children
within the territory of the county. Her services were sought both far
and near and she responded to calls by day and by night, at all times and
seasons. She had been taught and trained to this service by her mother,
in the state of Virginia, and practiced it all her life until disabled by
an accident a few months before her death. A daughter, Sarah Crom-
well, later the wife of John Mills, did the same, both before and after
the death of her mother. The services of the mother and the daughter
in this capacity covered a period of sixty years—from 1825 to 1885.
    Mrs. Sarah (Gilbert) Barber was born on the farm, alongside the
National road, between Williamstown and Cloverland, in 1841, from
which place the family moved in 1844, when she was but three years of
age, and settled permanently in Perry township. Since that time, a
period of sixty-five years, she has not visited nor seen the place of her
birth, though living all the while within twelve miles of it.
    Miss Sarah Prather and Miss Alice Hoskins, who accepted positions
in the public schools of the City of Brazil, in the year 1884, have been
re-employed and have taught consecutively every year since. At the
close of the schools for the present school year, their services will have
covered a continuous period of twenty-five years, a most remarkable
record of devotion to the cause and proof of appreciation and approval
on the part of the school, the authorities and the public. Miss Hoskins
has taught all the time in the same department and room.
    Mrs. Sarah (Knight) Jeffers, wife of William Jeffers, who taught

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