Civil War: "Grandma" Kelly Submitter: Carolyn P. Avery Feb 2001 Source: West Carroll Gazette 11 March 1948 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** 99 YEARS YOUNG "GRANDMA" KELLY HOLDS MALICE 'AGIN' YANKEES AFTER 83 YEARS Ninety-nine year-old Mrs.Annie (Grandma) Kelly, West Carroll's oldest living resident, vividly recalled Civil War days and pointed out that "I got no use for yankees-don't want'em in my sight, they wounded my father," in an interview Tuesday with a Gazette staff represent- ative. "Grandma" as she is called by friends and neighbors, will celebrate her 100th birthday anniversary October 20, 1948. She was born in 1848 in Simpson County, Miss.,and is now and has been living with her daughter, Mrs. Katie Bridges, and grandson, J.B. Bridges, and family, in Fiske-Union community. The perky, blue eyed lady of 99, who was active until she suffered a hip injury last year ( until then she did all her housework including washing and ironing) has 84 grandchildren, "not less than"132 great- grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren and nine members of the fifth generation. Mentioning that, in order to live a long life, people should work hard, not lie up and loaf, Mrs. Kelly said she "had to have her little "toddy" it won't hurt anyone." She aserted that she had had her snuff stick most of her life and still enjoyed it. During the war (Civil, that is) I worked in the field all day and did my spinning and weaving at night...never went to bed before midnight until here recently. Got a little rheumatism now but if I had'nt gotten hurt I'd be working in the garden right today. In recalling her "younger" days, the 90-pound member of the Baptist church for 84 years, explained that her husband, the late Martin Kelly, who died in 1926, along with her father, John Richardson fought the yankees four long years...through the battle of Vicks- burg and many skirmishes in other parts of Mississippi and Ala- bama. "I have heard many slaves and runaway negros being lashed with a trace chain, and have seen yankees destroy property. "I used to love square dancing", she said, "but never went to a "hugging" dance in my life. After I was married I never danced a step." Mrs. Kelly, the former Miss Annie Richardson, became the bride of Martin Kelly, Christmas Eve, 1865, in a cermony held at Old West- field, Miss. now Pinola. As a remedy to aid those who want to grow old, the spry little woman suggests: "take good care of yourself and let the Lord help you...everybody ought to go to church." She boastingly pointed out that she had a father in the Civil War, a son in World WarI, and 14 grandsons in World War II who returned safe and sound. "Grandma" has very little, if any, doubt that she will live to be "100 years young" and perhaps longer.