Parents: Jesse D Poor & Elizabeth Elgin
Married: James Conway
Children:
unknown
(All above contributed by Bryan Murphy)
Mrs Helen Conway Quietly Interviewed at Bee Ridge Home.
Approaching the home of Mrs. Helen Conway, southwest of Knox City, the other morning, there was no noticeable stir about the place and a friendly dog wagged a quiet greeting. There was no response to a knock on the front door, but a voice raised in a religious song could be heard from the rear of the house. Mrs. Conway became a member of the Salem M. E. Church, South, many years ago, and no doubt she was giving voice to memories of other days. Sitting on a screened porch, alone, evidently enjoying her musical efforts, she was found by her visitor, a Sentinel representative, who paused a moment to listen.
She readily invited her caller in upon his knocking at the back door, and asked he find a chair and be seated, saying her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main, was about the place and would be back any moment. As she spoke Mrs. Main appeared and extended an invitation into the house where it would be more comfortable. Then followed a pleasant chat with the two women in which they told of some of the interesting episodes of the life of this woman who has spent ninety years of her life in Knox County, and who celebrated her ninety-third birthday May 17.
Helen Zerelda Poor Conway was born at Philadelphia, Marion County, Mo., May 17, 1839. Her parents came from Kentucky, where as were most of the people of that state at that time, they were slaveholders, and her mother often told her of slavery days. When she was about 2 years old her parents moved to Knox County, and they lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place, near the Bishop Bridge. Mrs. Conway says it was not uncommon for deer and wild turkeys to come into the yard at their home.
There were few luxuries in those early days, and neighbors were far apart, but people managed to have a pretty good time anyway, although they had to work hard. Walking was the best means of locomotion for short distances of a few miles, but one had to be on constant lookout for snakes. Rattlesnakes were always a menace and Mrs. Conway tells of her brother, John, killing one as long as himself— a six-footer— and as big through as her arm. It was the longest one ever saw. On another occasion her sister was combing her hair and walked across the room, when suddenly she heard a snake's warning rattle. There were cracks between the boards of the floor and the snake could be seen coiled beneath the boards. A brother was called and he soon dispatched it with a shot from a gun. It was also a large one.
Home remedies were much used in those days, as doctors were few and travel was slow. The numerous snakes made it easy to secure snake oil and it was believed to be effective in many ways, and was sold to doctors for use in their practice. At one time Mrs. Conway was suffering from sore eyes, and she said a doctor wanted to treat them by dropping snake oil in them but she declined.
Visiting in the early days was a feature in their lives that was much enjoyed. The whole family would pile into a wagon and drive miles away to a neighbor's and often stay several days or a week. Or, perhaps the girls would each mount a horse and ride through the tall prairie grass that would come to their shoulders when on horseback and go to see some neighbor girl. Mrs. Conway said it was fun to watch a deer go, bounding off through the grass, when about all that could be seen was the flash of its white tail as it rapidly disappeared.
Despite the crude methods and tools of that time people raised good crops for the soil was rich and productive. Mrs. Conway spoke of the big ears of corn they grew. It was one of her duties to shell the corn for planting and then to drop it in hills in the field. Just the day before we visited her she had helped shell some corn for this year's crop and remarked that much of it was "just nubbins" compared with what they used to raise.
Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. They crossed a stream on a log that reached across the water from one bank to the other, as bridges were not built at that time. At times the water covered the log and crossing was held up until the water subsided. Roads led to a shallow part of the stream where it could be forded under normal conditions.
A brother-in-law, Clement Todd, and James Agnew of Newark came to their home to hunt quail on the prairie north of where they lived. They brought with them a net trap which would be set, then the quail would be driven into the net. Following one hunt Mrs. Conway and her mother picked and salted down "a washtubful" of quail for future use .
Another task for women was preparing wool for the carding machine, scouring and wishing it. After it was carded the women spun the wool into yarn and then it was woven into cloth. Mrs. Conway's mother wove fifty yards of cloth one winter from which clothing was made for the family. Some of the cloth was colored by mixing black and white wool, and other coloring was done with walnut bark.
When Mrs. Conway's father died the body was taken as far as the creek in a wagon. The water was high at the time and men built a raft of logs and boards on which the funeral party crossed the stream. Other wagons were waiting to take them to the Claude Holt place where Mr. Poor was buried, and the body still remains in that private burial plot. He left a widow and twelve children, Mrs. William Bryant, who lived in Edina until her death a few years ago, being one of them. Mrs. Conway is the only one of the family left.
Mrs. Conway was married to James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old, and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm where they made their home. There their only child, Mrs. Lena Main, was born in 1876. Later they bought the land where they now reside as well as the Ed McGinnis place. They lived on the McGinnis place until it was sold, then built their present home in 1889. Mrs Conway has lived there continuously except for one year in Knox City and one year in Kirksville. Mr. Conway has been dead a number of years.
Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main have made their home together on the farm since M.r Main's death. Mrs. Conway's eyesight is poor and she gets about with a cane. She has remarkable hearing for one of her age but her memory is failing slightly. Her brown hair is streaked with gray. Otherwise she has the appearance of a woman much younger.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 26, 1932, Page 5, Columns 3, 4 & 5
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
AN AGED PIONEER GONE
Mrs. Helen Conway Resident of County 92 of Her 95 Years, Dies Tuesday Morning.
Mrs. Helen Conway, a resident of Knox County 92 of her 95 years, died Tuesday morning at her home south west of Knox City. She was seriously ill for some time.
During her long life in Knox County Mrs Conway saw it develop from pioneer country, as told in The Sentinel in May, 1932, following an interview with Mrs. Conway and her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main.
The aged woman, at that time 93, told of coming to Knox County when she was 2 years old with her parents from Philadelphia, Marion County, where she was born May 17, 1839. Her parents were slaveholders from Kentucky, and her name was Helen Zerelda Poor.
The family lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place. Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. She married James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm, where Mrs. Main, their only child was born. They later bought the farm, where Mrs. Conway died, and they built the present house in 1889. Mrs. Conway lived there continuously except for a year each in Knox City and Kirksville.
Mr. Conway died a number of years ago, since when Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main made thier home together. Although her eyesight was poor at the time ot the interview, Mrs. Conway was in remarkable health for her age one. She was the last of twelve children. Besides the daughter Mrs. Conway is survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandhild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Conway were at the Bee Ridge Church at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, conduct by the Rev. E. W. Croy of Knox City, pastor. Burial was in the Bee Ridge cemetery.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 10, 1934, Page 1, Column 3
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
Married: James Conway
Children:
unknown
(All above contributed by Bryan Murphy)
Mrs Helen Conway Quietly Interviewed at Bee Ridge Home.
Approaching the home of Mrs. Helen Conway, southwest of Knox City, the other morning, there was no noticeable stir about the place and a friendly dog wagged a quiet greeting. There was no response to a knock on the front door, but a voice raised in a religious song could be heard from the rear of the house. Mrs. Conway became a member of the Salem M. E. Church, South, many years ago, and no doubt she was giving voice to memories of other days. Sitting on a screened porch, alone, evidently enjoying her musical efforts, she was found by her visitor, a Sentinel representative, who paused a moment to listen.
She readily invited her caller in upon his knocking at the back door, and asked he find a chair and be seated, saying her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main, was about the place and would be back any moment. As she spoke Mrs. Main appeared and extended an invitation into the house where it would be more comfortable. Then followed a pleasant chat with the two women in which they told of some of the interesting episodes of the life of this woman who has spent ninety years of her life in Knox County, and who celebrated her ninety-third birthday May 17.
Helen Zerelda Poor Conway was born at Philadelphia, Marion County, Mo., May 17, 1839. Her parents came from Kentucky, where as were most of the people of that state at that time, they were slaveholders, and her mother often told her of slavery days. When she was about 2 years old her parents moved to Knox County, and they lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place, near the Bishop Bridge. Mrs. Conway says it was not uncommon for deer and wild turkeys to come into the yard at their home.
There were few luxuries in those early days, and neighbors were far apart, but people managed to have a pretty good time anyway, although they had to work hard. Walking was the best means of locomotion for short distances of a few miles, but one had to be on constant lookout for snakes. Rattlesnakes were always a menace and Mrs. Conway tells of her brother, John, killing one as long as himself— a six-footer— and as big through as her arm. It was the longest one ever saw. On another occasion her sister was combing her hair and walked across the room, when suddenly she heard a snake's warning rattle. There were cracks between the boards of the floor and the snake could be seen coiled beneath the boards. A brother was called and he soon dispatched it with a shot from a gun. It was also a large one.
Home remedies were much used in those days, as doctors were few and travel was slow. The numerous snakes made it easy to secure snake oil and it was believed to be effective in many ways, and was sold to doctors for use in their practice. At one time Mrs. Conway was suffering from sore eyes, and she said a doctor wanted to treat them by dropping snake oil in them but she declined.
Visiting in the early days was a feature in their lives that was much enjoyed. The whole family would pile into a wagon and drive miles away to a neighbor's and often stay several days or a week. Or, perhaps the girls would each mount a horse and ride through the tall prairie grass that would come to their shoulders when on horseback and go to see some neighbor girl. Mrs. Conway said it was fun to watch a deer go, bounding off through the grass, when about all that could be seen was the flash of its white tail as it rapidly disappeared.
Despite the crude methods and tools of that time people raised good crops for the soil was rich and productive. Mrs. Conway spoke of the big ears of corn they grew. It was one of her duties to shell the corn for planting and then to drop it in hills in the field. Just the day before we visited her she had helped shell some corn for this year's crop and remarked that much of it was "just nubbins" compared with what they used to raise.
Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. They crossed a stream on a log that reached across the water from one bank to the other, as bridges were not built at that time. At times the water covered the log and crossing was held up until the water subsided. Roads led to a shallow part of the stream where it could be forded under normal conditions.
A brother-in-law, Clement Todd, and James Agnew of Newark came to their home to hunt quail on the prairie north of where they lived. They brought with them a net trap which would be set, then the quail would be driven into the net. Following one hunt Mrs. Conway and her mother picked and salted down "a washtubful" of quail for future use .
Another task for women was preparing wool for the carding machine, scouring and wishing it. After it was carded the women spun the wool into yarn and then it was woven into cloth. Mrs. Conway's mother wove fifty yards of cloth one winter from which clothing was made for the family. Some of the cloth was colored by mixing black and white wool, and other coloring was done with walnut bark.
When Mrs. Conway's father died the body was taken as far as the creek in a wagon. The water was high at the time and men built a raft of logs and boards on which the funeral party crossed the stream. Other wagons were waiting to take them to the Claude Holt place where Mr. Poor was buried, and the body still remains in that private burial plot. He left a widow and twelve children, Mrs. William Bryant, who lived in Edina until her death a few years ago, being one of them. Mrs. Conway is the only one of the family left.
Mrs. Conway was married to James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old, and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm where they made their home. There their only child, Mrs. Lena Main, was born in 1876. Later they bought the land where they now reside as well as the Ed McGinnis place. They lived on the McGinnis place until it was sold, then built their present home in 1889. Mrs Conway has lived there continuously except for one year in Knox City and one year in Kirksville. Mr. Conway has been dead a number of years.
Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main have made their home together on the farm since M.r Main's death. Mrs. Conway's eyesight is poor and she gets about with a cane. She has remarkable hearing for one of her age but her memory is failing slightly. Her brown hair is streaked with gray. Otherwise she has the appearance of a woman much younger.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 26, 1932, Page 5, Columns 3, 4 & 5
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
AN AGED PIONEER GONE
Mrs. Helen Conway Resident of County 92 of Her 95 Years, Dies Tuesday Morning.
Mrs. Helen Conway, a resident of Knox County 92 of her 95 years, died Tuesday morning at her home south west of Knox City. She was seriously ill for some time.
During her long life in Knox County Mrs Conway saw it develop from pioneer country, as told in The Sentinel in May, 1932, following an interview with Mrs. Conway and her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main.
The aged woman, at that time 93, told of coming to Knox County when she was 2 years old with her parents from Philadelphia, Marion County, where she was born May 17, 1839. Her parents were slaveholders from Kentucky, and her name was Helen Zerelda Poor.
The family lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place. Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. She married James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm, where Mrs. Main, their only child was born. They later bought the farm, where Mrs. Conway died, and they built the present house in 1889. Mrs. Conway lived there continuously except for a year each in Knox City and Kirksville.
Mr. Conway died a number of years ago, since when Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main made thier home together. Although her eyesight was poor at the time ot the interview, Mrs. Conway was in remarkable health for her age one. She was the last of twelve children. Besides the daughter Mrs. Conway is survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandhild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Conway were at the Bee Ridge Church at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, conduct by the Rev. E. W. Croy of Knox City, pastor. Burial was in the Bee Ridge cemetery.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 10, 1934, Page 1, Column 3
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
Parents: Jesse D Poor & Elizabeth Elgin
Married: James Conway
Children:
unknown
(All above contributed by Bryan Murphy)
Mrs Helen Conway Quietly Interviewed at Bee Ridge Home.
Approaching the home of Mrs. Helen Conway, southwest of Knox City, the other morning, there was no noticeable stir about the place and a friendly dog wagged a quiet greeting. There was no response to a knock on the front door, but a voice raised in a religious song could be heard from the rear of the house. Mrs. Conway became a member of the Salem M. E. Church, South, many years ago, and no doubt she was giving voice to memories of other days. Sitting on a screened porch, alone, evidently enjoying her musical efforts, she was found by her visitor, a Sentinel representative, who paused a moment to listen.
She readily invited her caller in upon his knocking at the back door, and asked he find a chair and be seated, saying her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main, was about the place and would be back any moment. As she spoke Mrs. Main appeared and extended an invitation into the house where it would be more comfortable. Then followed a pleasant chat with the two women in which they told of some of the interesting episodes of the life of this woman who has spent ninety years of her life in Knox County, and who celebrated her ninety-third birthday May 17.
Helen Zerelda Poor Conway was born at Philadelphia, Marion County, Mo., May 17, 1839. Her parents came from Kentucky, where as were most of the people of that state at that time, they were slaveholders, and her mother often told her of slavery days. When she was about 2 years old her parents moved to Knox County, and they lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place, near the Bishop Bridge. Mrs. Conway says it was not uncommon for deer and wild turkeys to come into the yard at their home.
There were few luxuries in those early days, and neighbors were far apart, but people managed to have a pretty good time anyway, although they had to work hard. Walking was the best means of locomotion for short distances of a few miles, but one had to be on constant lookout for snakes. Rattlesnakes were always a menace and Mrs. Conway tells of her brother, John, killing one as long as himself— a six-footer— and as big through as her arm. It was the longest one ever saw. On another occasion her sister was combing her hair and walked across the room, when suddenly she heard a snake's warning rattle. There were cracks between the boards of the floor and the snake could be seen coiled beneath the boards. A brother was called and he soon dispatched it with a shot from a gun. It was also a large one.
Home remedies were much used in those days, as doctors were few and travel was slow. The numerous snakes made it easy to secure snake oil and it was believed to be effective in many ways, and was sold to doctors for use in their practice. At one time Mrs. Conway was suffering from sore eyes, and she said a doctor wanted to treat them by dropping snake oil in them but she declined.
Visiting in the early days was a feature in their lives that was much enjoyed. The whole family would pile into a wagon and drive miles away to a neighbor's and often stay several days or a week. Or, perhaps the girls would each mount a horse and ride through the tall prairie grass that would come to their shoulders when on horseback and go to see some neighbor girl. Mrs. Conway said it was fun to watch a deer go, bounding off through the grass, when about all that could be seen was the flash of its white tail as it rapidly disappeared.
Despite the crude methods and tools of that time people raised good crops for the soil was rich and productive. Mrs. Conway spoke of the big ears of corn they grew. It was one of her duties to shell the corn for planting and then to drop it in hills in the field. Just the day before we visited her she had helped shell some corn for this year's crop and remarked that much of it was "just nubbins" compared with what they used to raise.
Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. They crossed a stream on a log that reached across the water from one bank to the other, as bridges were not built at that time. At times the water covered the log and crossing was held up until the water subsided. Roads led to a shallow part of the stream where it could be forded under normal conditions.
A brother-in-law, Clement Todd, and James Agnew of Newark came to their home to hunt quail on the prairie north of where they lived. They brought with them a net trap which would be set, then the quail would be driven into the net. Following one hunt Mrs. Conway and her mother picked and salted down "a washtubful" of quail for future use .
Another task for women was preparing wool for the carding machine, scouring and wishing it. After it was carded the women spun the wool into yarn and then it was woven into cloth. Mrs. Conway's mother wove fifty yards of cloth one winter from which clothing was made for the family. Some of the cloth was colored by mixing black and white wool, and other coloring was done with walnut bark.
When Mrs. Conway's father died the body was taken as far as the creek in a wagon. The water was high at the time and men built a raft of logs and boards on which the funeral party crossed the stream. Other wagons were waiting to take them to the Claude Holt place where Mr. Poor was buried, and the body still remains in that private burial plot. He left a widow and twelve children, Mrs. William Bryant, who lived in Edina until her death a few years ago, being one of them. Mrs. Conway is the only one of the family left.
Mrs. Conway was married to James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old, and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm where they made their home. There their only child, Mrs. Lena Main, was born in 1876. Later they bought the land where they now reside as well as the Ed McGinnis place. They lived on the McGinnis place until it was sold, then built their present home in 1889. Mrs Conway has lived there continuously except for one year in Knox City and one year in Kirksville. Mr. Conway has been dead a number of years.
Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main have made their home together on the farm since M.r Main's death. Mrs. Conway's eyesight is poor and she gets about with a cane. She has remarkable hearing for one of her age but her memory is failing slightly. Her brown hair is streaked with gray. Otherwise she has the appearance of a woman much younger.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 26, 1932, Page 5, Columns 3, 4 & 5
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
AN AGED PIONEER GONE
Mrs. Helen Conway Resident of County 92 of Her 95 Years, Dies Tuesday Morning.
Mrs. Helen Conway, a resident of Knox County 92 of her 95 years, died Tuesday morning at her home south west of Knox City. She was seriously ill for some time.
During her long life in Knox County Mrs Conway saw it develop from pioneer country, as told in The Sentinel in May, 1932, following an interview with Mrs. Conway and her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main.
The aged woman, at that time 93, told of coming to Knox County when she was 2 years old with her parents from Philadelphia, Marion County, where she was born May 17, 1839. Her parents were slaveholders from Kentucky, and her name was Helen Zerelda Poor.
The family lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place. Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. She married James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm, where Mrs. Main, their only child was born. They later bought the farm, where Mrs. Conway died, and they built the present house in 1889. Mrs. Conway lived there continuously except for a year each in Knox City and Kirksville.
Mr. Conway died a number of years ago, since when Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main made thier home together. Although her eyesight was poor at the time ot the interview, Mrs. Conway was in remarkable health for her age one. She was the last of twelve children. Besides the daughter Mrs. Conway is survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandhild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Conway were at the Bee Ridge Church at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, conduct by the Rev. E. W. Croy of Knox City, pastor. Burial was in the Bee Ridge cemetery.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 10, 1934, Page 1, Column 3
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
Married: James Conway
Children:
unknown
(All above contributed by Bryan Murphy)
Mrs Helen Conway Quietly Interviewed at Bee Ridge Home.
Approaching the home of Mrs. Helen Conway, southwest of Knox City, the other morning, there was no noticeable stir about the place and a friendly dog wagged a quiet greeting. There was no response to a knock on the front door, but a voice raised in a religious song could be heard from the rear of the house. Mrs. Conway became a member of the Salem M. E. Church, South, many years ago, and no doubt she was giving voice to memories of other days. Sitting on a screened porch, alone, evidently enjoying her musical efforts, she was found by her visitor, a Sentinel representative, who paused a moment to listen.
She readily invited her caller in upon his knocking at the back door, and asked he find a chair and be seated, saying her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main, was about the place and would be back any moment. As she spoke Mrs. Main appeared and extended an invitation into the house where it would be more comfortable. Then followed a pleasant chat with the two women in which they told of some of the interesting episodes of the life of this woman who has spent ninety years of her life in Knox County, and who celebrated her ninety-third birthday May 17.
Helen Zerelda Poor Conway was born at Philadelphia, Marion County, Mo., May 17, 1839. Her parents came from Kentucky, where as were most of the people of that state at that time, they were slaveholders, and her mother often told her of slavery days. When she was about 2 years old her parents moved to Knox County, and they lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place, near the Bishop Bridge. Mrs. Conway says it was not uncommon for deer and wild turkeys to come into the yard at their home.
There were few luxuries in those early days, and neighbors were far apart, but people managed to have a pretty good time anyway, although they had to work hard. Walking was the best means of locomotion for short distances of a few miles, but one had to be on constant lookout for snakes. Rattlesnakes were always a menace and Mrs. Conway tells of her brother, John, killing one as long as himself— a six-footer— and as big through as her arm. It was the longest one ever saw. On another occasion her sister was combing her hair and walked across the room, when suddenly she heard a snake's warning rattle. There were cracks between the boards of the floor and the snake could be seen coiled beneath the boards. A brother was called and he soon dispatched it with a shot from a gun. It was also a large one.
Home remedies were much used in those days, as doctors were few and travel was slow. The numerous snakes made it easy to secure snake oil and it was believed to be effective in many ways, and was sold to doctors for use in their practice. At one time Mrs. Conway was suffering from sore eyes, and she said a doctor wanted to treat them by dropping snake oil in them but she declined.
Visiting in the early days was a feature in their lives that was much enjoyed. The whole family would pile into a wagon and drive miles away to a neighbor's and often stay several days or a week. Or, perhaps the girls would each mount a horse and ride through the tall prairie grass that would come to their shoulders when on horseback and go to see some neighbor girl. Mrs. Conway said it was fun to watch a deer go, bounding off through the grass, when about all that could be seen was the flash of its white tail as it rapidly disappeared.
Despite the crude methods and tools of that time people raised good crops for the soil was rich and productive. Mrs. Conway spoke of the big ears of corn they grew. It was one of her duties to shell the corn for planting and then to drop it in hills in the field. Just the day before we visited her she had helped shell some corn for this year's crop and remarked that much of it was "just nubbins" compared with what they used to raise.
Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. They crossed a stream on a log that reached across the water from one bank to the other, as bridges were not built at that time. At times the water covered the log and crossing was held up until the water subsided. Roads led to a shallow part of the stream where it could be forded under normal conditions.
A brother-in-law, Clement Todd, and James Agnew of Newark came to their home to hunt quail on the prairie north of where they lived. They brought with them a net trap which would be set, then the quail would be driven into the net. Following one hunt Mrs. Conway and her mother picked and salted down "a washtubful" of quail for future use .
Another task for women was preparing wool for the carding machine, scouring and wishing it. After it was carded the women spun the wool into yarn and then it was woven into cloth. Mrs. Conway's mother wove fifty yards of cloth one winter from which clothing was made for the family. Some of the cloth was colored by mixing black and white wool, and other coloring was done with walnut bark.
When Mrs. Conway's father died the body was taken as far as the creek in a wagon. The water was high at the time and men built a raft of logs and boards on which the funeral party crossed the stream. Other wagons were waiting to take them to the Claude Holt place where Mr. Poor was buried, and the body still remains in that private burial plot. He left a widow and twelve children, Mrs. William Bryant, who lived in Edina until her death a few years ago, being one of them. Mrs. Conway is the only one of the family left.
Mrs. Conway was married to James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old, and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm where they made their home. There their only child, Mrs. Lena Main, was born in 1876. Later they bought the land where they now reside as well as the Ed McGinnis place. They lived on the McGinnis place until it was sold, then built their present home in 1889. Mrs Conway has lived there continuously except for one year in Knox City and one year in Kirksville. Mr. Conway has been dead a number of years.
Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main have made their home together on the farm since M.r Main's death. Mrs. Conway's eyesight is poor and she gets about with a cane. She has remarkable hearing for one of her age but her memory is failing slightly. Her brown hair is streaked with gray. Otherwise she has the appearance of a woman much younger.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 26, 1932, Page 5, Columns 3, 4 & 5
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
AN AGED PIONEER GONE
Mrs. Helen Conway Resident of County 92 of Her 95 Years, Dies Tuesday Morning.
Mrs. Helen Conway, a resident of Knox County 92 of her 95 years, died Tuesday morning at her home south west of Knox City. She was seriously ill for some time.
During her long life in Knox County Mrs Conway saw it develop from pioneer country, as told in The Sentinel in May, 1932, following an interview with Mrs. Conway and her daughter, Mrs. Lena Main.
The aged woman, at that time 93, told of coming to Knox County when she was 2 years old with her parents from Philadelphia, Marion County, where she was born May 17, 1839. Her parents were slaveholders from Kentucky, and her name was Helen Zerelda Poor.
The family lived in a log house on what is now the Jim Kennedy place. Mrs. Conway and her brothers and sisters attended school at Newark. She married James Conway, a neighbor boy, when she was 30 years old and they built a house on the James Goodwin farm, where Mrs. Main, their only child was born. They later bought the farm, where Mrs. Conway died, and they built the present house in 1889. Mrs. Conway lived there continuously except for a year each in Knox City and Kirksville.
Mr. Conway died a number of years ago, since when Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Main made thier home together. Although her eyesight was poor at the time ot the interview, Mrs. Conway was in remarkable health for her age one. She was the last of twelve children. Besides the daughter Mrs. Conway is survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandhild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Conway were at the Bee Ridge Church at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, conduct by the Rev. E. W. Croy of Knox City, pastor. Burial was in the Bee Ridge cemetery.
The Edina Sentinel, Edina, Missouri • Thu, May 10, 1934, Page 1, Column 3
(Contributor: Pam Witherow)
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