Newspaper: Richey-Fergueson 60th Anniversary, Allen Co., Kentucky May 1894 -------------------------------------------- Contributed for use in USGENWEB Archives by: Sharon Clark April 20, 2000 7:17 PM -------------------------------------------- WEDDED OVER SIXTY YEARS The Remarkable Conjugal Record of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Richey Born, Reared and Married In Allen County, KY The Devoted Wife Long An Invalid, But Still Happy (Corresponcence of the Courier-Journal) Scottsville, KY May 26, --- This city is the home of a couple who have lived together as husband and wife probably longer than any other in Kentucky. They are Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Richey, who recently celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding. Andrew Jackson Richey, farmer and ex-Sheriff of Allen County, was born in this county near Walnut Creek, January 17, 1813. His father, who called himself a "Tuckahoe," was James Richey; his mother, a woman of German descent, was Jennie Levi both natives of North Carolina. She died at the age of seventy years and was buried near Pageville, Barren County. He died at something over eighty years of age in Missouri, whence he had moved after his wife's death. Mr. Richey had one sister, Frances, who married Reuben Kinslow, of Barren County, where she died some ten years ago, and three brothers, Solomon Levi, who died in Allen County in 1888, William, who died in Allen County in 1892, and James Harrison Richey, now living in Arkansas and about seventy-two years of age. They are a long lived family, the brothers who died having each attained the ripe old age of eighty-two years. On the 31st day of December, 1833, Andrew Jackson Richey was married to Miss Cary Ann Fergueson, the Rev. Zachary Emmerson, a Baptist minister of Barren County, officiating, and on the last day of last year this happily-mated pair celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding. Mrs. Richey was a daughter of William G. Fergueson and Catharine Gillmore Fergueson, both natives of Albemarle County, VA. She was born April 10, 1812, in the same neighborhood in which occurred the birth of her husband. She received her education at home and in the subscription schools of her locality. Until the failure of her health, she was a splendid housekeeper, and as such was faithful, unobtrusive and heroic in the discharge of her duties. And many were those, in the years now gone, who enjoyed the old-time Kentucky hospitality of her fireside and table. But suffering from nervous prostration she has been an invalid for nearly fifty years and confined to bed, not able to sit up or walk during the last twenty-six years. Mr. Richey has a thorough knowledge of men and business, though his education is limited. During his boyhood and youth he attended several private schools, but for short intervals only. The first school he attended was taught by Nathan Y. Cosby in 1825. Mr. Cosby was addicted to the intemperate use of whiskey, in fact got drunk nearly every day, and whipped the boys in school two or three times per day, using a beech limb. To this young Richey became so averse that he asked his mother to let him stay at home and help her spin wool rolls. She consented and he spun at the old-fashioned spinning wheel at the rate of seven outs per day for several weeks. He afterward went to school to John Ashley, Bob Gibson and William Fergueson, who are remembered as teachers in Allen County fifty to seventy years ago. Up to twenty-six years ago, when he moved with his family to Scottsville, Mr. Richey's life was spent on a farm four miles north of that place, and during the time he held several positions of trust and importance. In 1864 he was elected Coroner for his county, and filled the position four years. During the term he held but one inquest, which was over the dead body of Mrs. Uriah Porter, a most estimable lady, whose throat was cut by the negro boy Jack Porter in 1858. Upon the evidence elicited Jack was tried and hanged in 1859. In 1867 he was chosen Constable of Scottsville district and served as such four years. After that he was Deputy Sheriff under James T. Stark during his term and then held the office himself for two years, being appointed one year by County Judge Ben. P. Wilson, and the next year by Judge J. D. Gilliam. He is a Master Mason of twenty-four years' standing, and was Treasurer of his lodge for eleven years and until he declined to hold the position longer on account of failing health. Politically Mr. Richey is a Jackson Democrat and always voted the Democratic ticket, except, he says, he makes it a rule to vote for no man who gets drunk. He has always been a man of the strictest economy, prompt to pay and always able to pay. He had been a member of the Baptist Church for fifty-five years and a deacon for forty-two years. His wife has never been a member of any church, but he says "she is decidedly the best Christian of the two." Mr. and Mrs. Richey have three living children and twenty grandchildren. Their children are: Rev. T. E. Richey, of Princeton, KY, the author of several excellent religious books, editor of a paper and a minister of note, Mrs. Eliza Spillman, wife of Virgil Spillman, of Dallas County, Texas, and Mrs. Alice H. Tucker, wife of L. K. Tucker, of Gainsville, KY. When Mr. Richey was a boy there were no buggies in Allen County, only a few ox-carts and four wagons. The fortunate owners of the wagons were Mr. Richey's father, Harry Collins, another pioneer of Allen County, and father of John H. Collins, the late County Clerk of Allen County, his brother, "Barefoot Bill" Collins, and James Spillman, father of T. B. Spillman, ex-merchant, now of Scottsville. During this period young Richey made several trips with his father to Scottsville to buy salt and other goods. They paid $1 per bushel for salt. They made the trip in the wagon, and while camping out in the woods at night the wolves howled around them. At this time, there were a great many wolves, bear, deer and wild turkey in Allen County and many a fine representative of those now almost extinct races tumbled to the crack of young Richey's flintlock rifle. The pictures of these old people here presented are true likenesses, though that of Mrs. Richey, the only one she ever had made, was taken a number of years ago. W. B." (NOTE: this was probably written May 26, 1894 since the article said they celebrated their sixtieth anniversary "on the last day of last year.") ***************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. 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