Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of BETTIE M. ALDERSON This biography was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Greenbrier County J. R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 322-324 BETTIE M. ALDERSON. The following sketch of Miss Bettie M. Alderson was taken from the columns of the Alderson Advertiser. She died July 9, 1918: The writer says: "A Good Woman Gone. "The announcement on Tuesday morning of the death of Miss Bettie Marcus Alderson came as a shock to the people of Alderson, w'here she was born and among whom her life was spent. And the announcement of her death caused unfeigned sorrow as well as surprise. She had not been in good health for the past few months, but on Monday night was apparently as well as usual, and when the other inmates of the household retired was working on an article for a history of Greenbrier county which is being prepared by J. R. Cole. This was about 10 o'clock and was the last time she was seen alive. She was found lying lifeless on the floor of the dining room of her home about 6 o'clock Tuesday morning. Dr. Argabrite, who was called, stated that death was due to apoplexy and that Miss Alderson had been dead for about tw'0 hours. When stricken down she was evidently on her way to her chamber to retire and never regained consciousness. "Miss Bettie was a daughter of John Marcus and Malinda Patton Alderson and was born in Alderson in the house in which she died, "Western View," and which for several generations extending as far back as a century has been the home of her branch of the family. She was descended on her grandfather's side from Rev. John Alderson, founder of Greenbrier Baptist church in 1781, and on her grandmother's side from Thomas, son of Rev. John Alderson, Senior, on the maternal side. She was descended from "Parson" John Craig, pioneer Presbyterian preacher, of Augusta, and from Tristram Patton, a member of Washington's bodyguard, who after the Revolutionary war became a large land owner on Second creek, owning about 2,000 acres of land, three mills and many slaves. He was noted for his broad intelligence and was the writer of many legal documents. By reason of her family connections, her long residence here, her activity in church work and her work as a school teacher in Alderson and in Greenbrier county for many years, she had won a large circle of devoted friends and also a vast number of acquaintances. From the time in early girlhood when she began her education she showed a remarkable thirst for knowledge and an ambition to acquire informa-tion. History was the study that most attracted her and she was thoroughly familiar with the works of the best known ancient as well as modern writers. When at Marshall College she took the Peabody medal for scholarship and a medal for mathematics. "In her conversation Miss Bettie showed the effects of a deep and wide mental culture. She also had the faculty of expressing her thoughts well on paper and contributed many articles to the press on events of joyous or sorrowful import in the Alderson family and in the families of friends. These articles, whether written in j6y or sorrow, showcd a calm and even mental state that could neither be depressed by misfortune nor unduly elated by good fortune. She was especially well informed on local history and reminiscences. Amid all the cares of life she pursued the even tenor of her way, care free as far as self was concerned and con-tributing to the pleasure and welfare of others, the mark of a kind heart and generous nature. "To Miss Alderson the world was beautiful and its shifts and changes constantly brought forth new wonders thoughts to the mind. The book of nature thus unfolded to her gaze taught her many things of the glory, wisdom and goodness of the Divine Creator. "Miss Bettie possessed a keen sense of humor and an original manner of expression that added to the charm of her conversation. She was charitable and to a remarkable degree understood the colored people, who in her death have lost a true friend. Nor was she less helpful in extending aid to others in trouble or need, grasping intuitively the best method of ministering to their wants. "Perhaps the secret of Miss Bettie's success in every-day affairs of life that confronted her may be found in a contented mind that the passing years were unable to warp or rob of its natural amiable qualities, but which always maintained the cheerfulness and freshness of youth. "She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Norah Pack, who lived with her, and Mrs. George Argabrite, of Lewisburg. She was a devoted member of the Greenbrier Baptist church from childhood and was a generous contributor to all its activities, being especially interested in its Mission Circle and Ladies' Aid Society. She was a member of the Woman's Literary Club and was historian of Alderson Chapter of the U. D. C. and held that office since the organization of the chapter."