Aline Chronoscope, Friday, July 20, 1923
Country's Grand Old Woman
Dies at Age of 107 Years
Mrs. Elizabeth Hampton Lived
a Century of Hardship. -- Twice
Widowed by Tragedy.Stricken with paralysis last Thursday, Mrs. Elizabeth Hampton died Sunday at the home of her grandson, John W. Sherrell, eight miles west of Carmen. She was past 107 years old and up to the time of her last illness was enjoying good health and taking active part in the affairs of the neighborhood. At the last presidential election she cast her first vote for Harding going into the voting booth unaided. Her sight was good.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Sand Creek Church and the body was laid to rest there. A large gathering of neighbors and friends attended and paid honor to the "Country's Grand Old Woman."
An obituary sketch written by S. A. D. Easterling, a neighbor and a friend, is an interesting story of the remarkable life of the good old woman and is here presented.
Wood's country's oldest citizen, Mrs. Elizabeth Hampton, passed away at her grandson's, John W. Sherrell, west of Carmen about seven o'clock Sunday evening. She was stricken with paralysis last Thursday, her left side being completely paralyzed and her speech so she could not speak distinctly. Her health for the past few weeks had been better than usual and she was cheerful and happy having just been discussing with her daughter, Martha Jane, about a bundle of remnants she had ordered for her favorite work, piecing quilts.
Grannie, as she was familiarly called had passed beyond the century mark but her exact age is not known as the record of her birth was burned years ago when she lost her home by fire. In answer to a phone call the writer and his wife were at her bedside Friday evening. She seemed to recognize us and gripped my hand with her right hand which she still had the use of. Dr. Harris of Carmen visited her and advised her that there was no hope for her recovery. Readers of the Chronoscope will remember a few years ago an incident in the life of this aged woman we tried to pen, we try to write the closing chapter of this remarkable woman. Few live to the advanced age to which she lived. She went through hardships beyond the average person of this life. She was born in Miller county, Missouri on a farm. On account of her father's health and lack of boys to do the work she became a farmen, plowing the soil, planting and tilling and in fact doing everything that was done on the farm as well as the work about the home. She lived in the days of the homespun and home woven cloth and did a great deal of this work for others as well as for the household at home. She was married twice, both of her husbands being murdered. Her first husband, William Shearly who was murdered by a drunken man for which he was executed for his crime.
Seven years later she was married to John Hampton and for years they lived on the Osage river near Babtown, where they owned a farm besides doing the farming they made railroad ties cut cord wood and kept a wood yard on the Osage and sold wood to the steamboats which plied the Osage. She was not afraid of the river or high water and had many thrilling adventures when the water was high many rafts of rail road ties would break loose above, with cables or heavy ropes at hand she would paddle her skiff, as she called it, out to the floating raft, make fast the rope and paddle back to the shore and anchor it to a tree for which she would be amply rewarded by the owner who would identify his timber by the brand attached. Later they sold out and moved to Iowa where Mr. Hampton was robbed and murdered. She had six children, three by each husband.
In later years she moved to Oklahoma and made her home with her grandson, the Sherrell brothers for a few years. She made her home in Alabama with Eleck Sherrell whom she loved and esteemed very much for his noble Christian character. It was at the coming of her grandsons, and at her advanced age about sixteen years ago she was converted. She was addicted to the tobacco habit, having used it so long that she could not remember when she began but on being converted her appetite entirely left her. She identified herself with the Free Methodist Church and remained a member until called home.
Her funeral was conducted by the Rev. Shipley of Carmen assisted by Rev. E. O. Davenport of Oklahoma City at the Sand Creek Holiness church and the precious remains laid to rest in the cemetery at that place to await the first resurrection.
Her kindly disposition won for her admiring friends everywhere she was known. She romped and played with the children to their delight. She made her home the last few years with her grandsons John and Silas Sherrell. We enjoyed several good visits with her at our own home. Her last visit was last winter during the revival meeting at the church here conducted by Rev. Waters of Estes Park, Colo. She was a regular attendant and her testimony was an inspiration to all. She was indeed an interesting figure. She had longed to go home and be with her lord she loved so well and she felt resigned, especially the last few weeks of her life to stay and suffer if it was his will. Her loved ones are heartbroken but do not sorrow as those who have no hope. While they have bidden adieu to her here they will meet her again around the great throne to part no more.
Transcribed from microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society,
Oklahoma City, by Rodney C. Murrow, 9 August 1973.
Spelling and punctuation remain as they appear in the original document.
Biographical sketch of Mrs. Hampton's life, written by S. A. D. Easterling