First and oldest woman in 1927. to fly in an airplane over Taylor county,TX. she was married TO STEPHAN West Matlock on 7/16/1863 in Phelps Co.,Mo. She CAME to TX WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN TO THE NUGENT COMMUNITY of Jones Co., TX via a covered wagon in late 1800s. she was a homemaker. Elizabeth and Stephen had 12 children and they all farmed in Jones Co. The oldest of their children, Nancy Emaline Matlock is my paternal grandmother.
On a Sunday, June 12, 1927 just 21/2 years before grandmother Matlock's death in 1929, Nancy and others decided to travel out to Nugent to visit relatives. Grandmother Matlock and my grandfather, John Humphrey chose not to go and stayed at home. There was an air plane show at the new airport and John decided to go and he asked grandmother Matlock if she would like to go also. She said yes and off they went. Some pilots were giving rides and who should be asked to climb aboard for a trip? Grandmother Matlock, of course. At the end of her ride she was interviewed by a reporter from the Abilene Reporter News because she was the oldest person from that area to ever fly. The next day her interview was published(June 13, 1927). Around 1990, my cousin Virginia told me of this event and knew the article had been published. I began to look for it in the Abilene Library, but had not found it. A year or so later I had my grandson Matthew Humphrey in Abilene and I thought it would be interesting for us to go to the Abilene airport and see the planes. While in the lobby I saw a display case showing the history of aviation in Abilene. It had been prepared by a gentleman who was an aviation historian. The display had a copy of the newspaper article about grandmother Matlock. What luck. I later learned
of the date.
82-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TAKES FLIGHT OVER ABILENE IN PLANE
Scores of persons watching manuevers at Kinsolving Field Sunday afternoon received a thrill when Mrs. S. W. Matlock, 82-year old pioneer of Abilene, stepped forward and announced she was ready to take to the air.
Mrs. Matlock who came to the Abilene Country in a covered wagon more than thirty years ago, refused fliers helmet and goggles offered by L. E. Derryberry, chief pilot of the West Texas Air Transport, Inc., and took off in the new 150-horsepower Travelair plane in ordinary street clothes.
J. W. Humphrey, her son-in-law, accompanied Mrs. Matlock on the flight over Abilene. Both stated on landing that they enjoyed the flight immensely and had satisfied a desire they had held since airplanes first made their appearance in this country.
Mr. Humphrey and family and Mrs. Matlock reside at 1201 Mulberry St in Abilene, Texas.
Elizabeth Adams and Stephen Matlock were born and raised in Missouri. They married in 1863. After their first child a daughter Nancy and some other of their children were born they m,oved to Texas, around 1890, they settled north of Abilene, Texas,in Nugent just outside of Anson, Jones County, Texas. in a community known as Nugent an area known as the "shenery". They are both buried in the Ft. Phantom Cemetery, close by their home. In the last few years of Elizabeth's life she moved to John and Nancy's home in Abilene. At this time grandma Matlock became completely convinced she did not need to take baths anymore and she proceeded to resist doing so. We are told about once every few weeks was all Nancy would allow. It was a constant battle between Elizabeth and Nancy.
During this time the following event occurred. The story was related by our cousin, Virginia Humphrey Johnston-Osborne , and involves herself and cousin Lafaye Gooch. Virginia was about 5 and LaFaye about 7. Grandma Matlock was around 79-80. Virginia and LaFaye were playing and rough-housing in the floor and making a lot of noise when grandma told them to stop and be still or she was going to spit tobacco juice all over them. Virginia minded her but LaFaye kept on playing. About that time grandmother Matlock, who dipped snuff hauled off and spat all over LaFaye. Need less to say that stopped all of the fun and shocked them both. Obviously she was a person of her word. Lafaye proceeded to take a bath.
On her death certificate the cause of death was stated to be senility, which is not a true death cause at all.
On a Sunday, June 12, 1927 just 21/2 years before grandmother Matlock's death in 1929, Nancy and others decided to travel out to Nugent to visit relatives. Grandmother Matlock and my grandfather, John Humphrey chose not to go and stayed at home. There was an air plane show at the new airport and John decided to go and he asked grandmother Matlock if she would like to go also. She said yes and off they went. Some pilots were giving rides and who should be asked to climb aboard for a trip? Grandmother Matlock, of course. At the end of her ride she was interviewed by a reporter from the Abilene Reporter News because she was the oldest person from that area to ever fly. The next day her interview was published(June 13, 1927). Around 1990, my cousin Virginia told me of this event and knew the article had been published. I began to look for it in the Abilene Library, but had not found it. A year or so later I had my grandson Matthew Humphrey in Abilene and I thought it would be interesting for us to go to the Abilene airport and see the planes. While in the lobby I saw a display case showing the history of aviation in Abilene. It had been prepared by a gentleman who was an aviation historian. The display had a copy of the newspaper article about grandmother Matlock. What luck. I later learned
of the date.
82-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TAKES FLIGHT OVER ABILENE IN PLANE
Scores of persons watching manuevers at Kinsolving Field Sunday afternoon received a thrill when Mrs. S. W. Matlock, 82-year old pioneer of Abilene, stepped forward and announced she was ready to take to the air.
Mrs. Matlock who came to the Abilene Country in a covered wagon more than thirty years ago, refused fliers helmet and goggles offered by L. E. Derryberry, chief pilot of the West Texas Air Transport, Inc., and took off in the new 150-horsepower Travelair plane in ordinary street clothes.
J. W. Humphrey, her son-in-law, accompanied Mrs. Matlock on the flight over Abilene. Both stated on landing that they enjoyed the flight immensely and had satisfied a desire they had held since airplanes first made their appearance in this country.
Mr. Humphrey and family and Mrs. Matlock reside at 1201 Mulberry St in Abilene, Texas.
Elizabeth Adams and Stephen Matlock were born and raised in Missouri. They married in 1863. After their first child a daughter Nancy and some other of their children were born they m,oved to Texas, around 1890, they settled north of Abilene, Texas,in Nugent just outside of Anson, Jones County, Texas. in a community known as Nugent an area known as the "shenery". They are both buried in the Ft. Phantom Cemetery, close by their home. In the last few years of Elizabeth's life she moved to John and Nancy's home in Abilene. At this time grandma Matlock became completely convinced she did not need to take baths anymore and she proceeded to resist doing so. We are told about once every few weeks was all Nancy would allow. It was a constant battle between Elizabeth and Nancy.
During this time the following event occurred. The story was related by our cousin, Virginia Humphrey Johnston-Osborne , and involves herself and cousin Lafaye Gooch. Virginia was about 5 and LaFaye about 7. Grandma Matlock was around 79-80. Virginia and LaFaye were playing and rough-housing in the floor and making a lot of noise when grandma told them to stop and be still or she was going to spit tobacco juice all over them. Virginia minded her but LaFaye kept on playing. About that time grandmother Matlock, who dipped snuff hauled off and spat all over LaFaye. Need less to say that stopped all of the fun and shocked them both. Obviously she was a person of her word. Lafaye proceeded to take a bath.
On her death certificate the cause of death was stated to be senility, which is not a true death cause at all.
First and oldest woman in 1927. to fly in an airplane over Taylor county,TX. she was married TO STEPHAN West Matlock on 7/16/1863 in Phelps Co.,Mo. She CAME to TX WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN TO THE NUGENT COMMUNITY of Jones Co., TX via a covered wagon in late 1800s. she was a homemaker. Elizabeth and Stephen had 12 children and they all farmed in Jones Co. The oldest of their children, Nancy Emaline Matlock is my paternal grandmother.
On a Sunday, June 12, 1927 just 21/2 years before grandmother Matlock's death in 1929, Nancy and others decided to travel out to Nugent to visit relatives. Grandmother Matlock and my grandfather, John Humphrey chose not to go and stayed at home. There was an air plane show at the new airport and John decided to go and he asked grandmother Matlock if she would like to go also. She said yes and off they went. Some pilots were giving rides and who should be asked to climb aboard for a trip? Grandmother Matlock, of course. At the end of her ride she was interviewed by a reporter from the Abilene Reporter News because she was the oldest person from that area to ever fly. The next day her interview was published(June 13, 1927). Around 1990, my cousin Virginia told me of this event and knew the article had been published. I began to look for it in the Abilene Library, but had not found it. A year or so later I had my grandson Matthew Humphrey in Abilene and I thought it would be interesting for us to go to the Abilene airport and see the planes. While in the lobby I saw a display case showing the history of aviation in Abilene. It had been prepared by a gentleman who was an aviation historian. The display had a copy of the newspaper article about grandmother Matlock. What luck. I later learned
of the date.
82-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TAKES FLIGHT OVER ABILENE IN PLANE
Scores of persons watching manuevers at Kinsolving Field Sunday afternoon received a thrill when Mrs. S. W. Matlock, 82-year old pioneer of Abilene, stepped forward and announced she was ready to take to the air.
Mrs. Matlock who came to the Abilene Country in a covered wagon more than thirty years ago, refused fliers helmet and goggles offered by L. E. Derryberry, chief pilot of the West Texas Air Transport, Inc., and took off in the new 150-horsepower Travelair plane in ordinary street clothes.
J. W. Humphrey, her son-in-law, accompanied Mrs. Matlock on the flight over Abilene. Both stated on landing that they enjoyed the flight immensely and had satisfied a desire they had held since airplanes first made their appearance in this country.
Mr. Humphrey and family and Mrs. Matlock reside at 1201 Mulberry St in Abilene, Texas.
Elizabeth Adams and Stephen Matlock were born and raised in Missouri. They married in 1863. After their first child a daughter Nancy and some other of their children were born they m,oved to Texas, around 1890, they settled north of Abilene, Texas,in Nugent just outside of Anson, Jones County, Texas. in a community known as Nugent an area known as the "shenery". They are both buried in the Ft. Phantom Cemetery, close by their home. In the last few years of Elizabeth's life she moved to John and Nancy's home in Abilene. At this time grandma Matlock became completely convinced she did not need to take baths anymore and she proceeded to resist doing so. We are told about once every few weeks was all Nancy would allow. It was a constant battle between Elizabeth and Nancy.
During this time the following event occurred. The story was related by our cousin, Virginia Humphrey Johnston-Osborne , and involves herself and cousin Lafaye Gooch. Virginia was about 5 and LaFaye about 7. Grandma Matlock was around 79-80. Virginia and LaFaye were playing and rough-housing in the floor and making a lot of noise when grandma told them to stop and be still or she was going to spit tobacco juice all over them. Virginia minded her but LaFaye kept on playing. About that time grandmother Matlock, who dipped snuff hauled off and spat all over LaFaye. Need less to say that stopped all of the fun and shocked them both. Obviously she was a person of her word. Lafaye proceeded to take a bath.
On her death certificate the cause of death was stated to be senility, which is not a true death cause at all.
On a Sunday, June 12, 1927 just 21/2 years before grandmother Matlock's death in 1929, Nancy and others decided to travel out to Nugent to visit relatives. Grandmother Matlock and my grandfather, John Humphrey chose not to go and stayed at home. There was an air plane show at the new airport and John decided to go and he asked grandmother Matlock if she would like to go also. She said yes and off they went. Some pilots were giving rides and who should be asked to climb aboard for a trip? Grandmother Matlock, of course. At the end of her ride she was interviewed by a reporter from the Abilene Reporter News because she was the oldest person from that area to ever fly. The next day her interview was published(June 13, 1927). Around 1990, my cousin Virginia told me of this event and knew the article had been published. I began to look for it in the Abilene Library, but had not found it. A year or so later I had my grandson Matthew Humphrey in Abilene and I thought it would be interesting for us to go to the Abilene airport and see the planes. While in the lobby I saw a display case showing the history of aviation in Abilene. It had been prepared by a gentleman who was an aviation historian. The display had a copy of the newspaper article about grandmother Matlock. What luck. I later learned
of the date.
82-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TAKES FLIGHT OVER ABILENE IN PLANE
Scores of persons watching manuevers at Kinsolving Field Sunday afternoon received a thrill when Mrs. S. W. Matlock, 82-year old pioneer of Abilene, stepped forward and announced she was ready to take to the air.
Mrs. Matlock who came to the Abilene Country in a covered wagon more than thirty years ago, refused fliers helmet and goggles offered by L. E. Derryberry, chief pilot of the West Texas Air Transport, Inc., and took off in the new 150-horsepower Travelair plane in ordinary street clothes.
J. W. Humphrey, her son-in-law, accompanied Mrs. Matlock on the flight over Abilene. Both stated on landing that they enjoyed the flight immensely and had satisfied a desire they had held since airplanes first made their appearance in this country.
Mr. Humphrey and family and Mrs. Matlock reside at 1201 Mulberry St in Abilene, Texas.
Elizabeth Adams and Stephen Matlock were born and raised in Missouri. They married in 1863. After their first child a daughter Nancy and some other of their children were born they m,oved to Texas, around 1890, they settled north of Abilene, Texas,in Nugent just outside of Anson, Jones County, Texas. in a community known as Nugent an area known as the "shenery". They are both buried in the Ft. Phantom Cemetery, close by their home. In the last few years of Elizabeth's life she moved to John and Nancy's home in Abilene. At this time grandma Matlock became completely convinced she did not need to take baths anymore and she proceeded to resist doing so. We are told about once every few weeks was all Nancy would allow. It was a constant battle between Elizabeth and Nancy.
During this time the following event occurred. The story was related by our cousin, Virginia Humphrey Johnston-Osborne , and involves herself and cousin Lafaye Gooch. Virginia was about 5 and LaFaye about 7. Grandma Matlock was around 79-80. Virginia and LaFaye were playing and rough-housing in the floor and making a lot of noise when grandma told them to stop and be still or she was going to spit tobacco juice all over them. Virginia minded her but LaFaye kept on playing. About that time grandmother Matlock, who dipped snuff hauled off and spat all over LaFaye. Need less to say that stopped all of the fun and shocked them both. Obviously she was a person of her word. Lafaye proceeded to take a bath.
On her death certificate the cause of death was stated to be senility, which is not a true death cause at all.
Family Members
Children
-
![]()
Nancy Emmaline Matlock Humphrey
1865–1945
-
![]()
Lucinda Frances "Fannie" Matlock Daniels
1868–1931
-
![]()
Charlottie Adeline "Lottie" Matlock Daniels-Chambers
1871–1955
-
![]()
Andrew J. Matlock
1873–1951
-
![]()
John Walter Matlock
1884–1944
-
![]()
Nettie May Matlock Ware
1886–1962
-
![]()
Etta Belle Matlock Wylie
1889–1965
-
![]()
Oscar Clayton Matlock
1893–1954
