Lydia Stone was the name she was best known by, but she was born Lydia Smith and died Lydia Crews, the name of her second husband.
Lydia Stone was known by such various nicknames as "Queen of the Okefenokee," "The Swamp Baroness," and simply "Miz Liddie."
In an interview in 1928, the simple-living millionairess told her formula for success: "When I was a girl, my `pappy' gave me and my sisters a cow and a sow apiece and told us if we would look after them we could make some money. Before the year was out, I made a few dollars off mine and had saved every penny of it. After another year I made enough to buy 45 acres of land. I got it dirt cheap. And as soon as I could save little money ahead, I would buy some timber land; until now, I own nearly 30,000 acres."
"I never went to school but six days and the pity of it is, I didn't learn anything in those six days. But a man ain't livin' that can outfigger me." All witnesses agreed that this woman's self-education in the fields of economics, business, timber and cattle placed her in as powerful position as the Indian chieftain Osceola, who once had roamed this area. Her loyalty to that childhood dream allowed the swamper very little time for anything else but her land, which she talked about constantly and expanded continually until the entire Racepond community was Miz Liddie's holdings.
The "Queen of the Okefenokee" died at her Racepond home on January 4, 1938; she was laid to rest beside her parents, a sister, and a former husband. And the tallest monument in the cemetery was erected to the unschooled woman who, once, very simply, stated the chief rule of finance: "I always said I could make $5 out of every $1 I could get my hands on. I believe anybody can if they're careful and not afraid to work." And her estate of over a million confirmed her philosophy.
(First Appeared in Sunday Magazine,
Florida Times-Union, February 26, 1967)
October 12, 1928
WEDDING. An interesting event of the week was the marriage of Mr. J. Melton Crews, age 22, son of Mr. Bryant Crews, who resides on the Little Okefenokee, to Mrs. Lydia Stone, a blushing bride of 63 years, who is the best known character of Charlton County, being the owner of some 17,000 acres in the Racepond section of the Okefinokee Swamp, an accumulation of her own honest toil and frugal habits. The ceremony was performed in the courtroom at Masonic Hall by H.G. Gibson, Ordinary before an audience of a hundred and fifty friends and well-wishers of the happy couple who showered upon them their hearty congratulations. The groom has been assisting with the care of the large interest of Miss Lydia's for the past year or so and proved his ability in taking care of her interest in such a splendid way and won the esteem and affection of the lady. The bride, it is stated, said that having laid by in store a plenty for rainy days intends to enjoy her remaining years with her husband as their desires prompt them, the income being sufficient, while the landed estate will be kept intact. A lease on a part of the timber the past week supplied some $2,000.00 for honeymoon expenses and a handsome Chevrolet Sedan purchased by the bride for that occasion brought them to the wedding place and more than happily on their way back to their home near Racepond. The Herald wishes them all the joys that life has in store for those that can and are able to enjoy it.
Lydia Stone was known by such various nicknames as "Queen of the Okefenokee," "The Swamp Baroness," and simply "Miz Liddie."
In an interview in 1928, the simple-living millionairess told her formula for success: "When I was a girl, my `pappy' gave me and my sisters a cow and a sow apiece and told us if we would look after them we could make some money. Before the year was out, I made a few dollars off mine and had saved every penny of it. After another year I made enough to buy 45 acres of land. I got it dirt cheap. And as soon as I could save little money ahead, I would buy some timber land; until now, I own nearly 30,000 acres."
"I never went to school but six days and the pity of it is, I didn't learn anything in those six days. But a man ain't livin' that can outfigger me." All witnesses agreed that this woman's self-education in the fields of economics, business, timber and cattle placed her in as powerful position as the Indian chieftain Osceola, who once had roamed this area. Her loyalty to that childhood dream allowed the swamper very little time for anything else but her land, which she talked about constantly and expanded continually until the entire Racepond community was Miz Liddie's holdings.
The "Queen of the Okefenokee" died at her Racepond home on January 4, 1938; she was laid to rest beside her parents, a sister, and a former husband. And the tallest monument in the cemetery was erected to the unschooled woman who, once, very simply, stated the chief rule of finance: "I always said I could make $5 out of every $1 I could get my hands on. I believe anybody can if they're careful and not afraid to work." And her estate of over a million confirmed her philosophy.
(First Appeared in Sunday Magazine,
Florida Times-Union, February 26, 1967)
October 12, 1928
WEDDING. An interesting event of the week was the marriage of Mr. J. Melton Crews, age 22, son of Mr. Bryant Crews, who resides on the Little Okefenokee, to Mrs. Lydia Stone, a blushing bride of 63 years, who is the best known character of Charlton County, being the owner of some 17,000 acres in the Racepond section of the Okefinokee Swamp, an accumulation of her own honest toil and frugal habits. The ceremony was performed in the courtroom at Masonic Hall by H.G. Gibson, Ordinary before an audience of a hundred and fifty friends and well-wishers of the happy couple who showered upon them their hearty congratulations. The groom has been assisting with the care of the large interest of Miss Lydia's for the past year or so and proved his ability in taking care of her interest in such a splendid way and won the esteem and affection of the lady. The bride, it is stated, said that having laid by in store a plenty for rainy days intends to enjoy her remaining years with her husband as their desires prompt them, the income being sufficient, while the landed estate will be kept intact. A lease on a part of the timber the past week supplied some $2,000.00 for honeymoon expenses and a handsome Chevrolet Sedan purchased by the bride for that occasion brought them to the wedding place and more than happily on their way back to their home near Racepond. The Herald wishes them all the joys that life has in store for those that can and are able to enjoy it.
Lydia Stone was the name she was best known by, but she was born Lydia Smith and died Lydia Crews, the name of her second husband.
Lydia Stone was known by such various nicknames as "Queen of the Okefenokee," "The Swamp Baroness," and simply "Miz Liddie."
In an interview in 1928, the simple-living millionairess told her formula for success: "When I was a girl, my `pappy' gave me and my sisters a cow and a sow apiece and told us if we would look after them we could make some money. Before the year was out, I made a few dollars off mine and had saved every penny of it. After another year I made enough to buy 45 acres of land. I got it dirt cheap. And as soon as I could save little money ahead, I would buy some timber land; until now, I own nearly 30,000 acres."
"I never went to school but six days and the pity of it is, I didn't learn anything in those six days. But a man ain't livin' that can outfigger me." All witnesses agreed that this woman's self-education in the fields of economics, business, timber and cattle placed her in as powerful position as the Indian chieftain Osceola, who once had roamed this area. Her loyalty to that childhood dream allowed the swamper very little time for anything else but her land, which she talked about constantly and expanded continually until the entire Racepond community was Miz Liddie's holdings.
The "Queen of the Okefenokee" died at her Racepond home on January 4, 1938; she was laid to rest beside her parents, a sister, and a former husband. And the tallest monument in the cemetery was erected to the unschooled woman who, once, very simply, stated the chief rule of finance: "I always said I could make $5 out of every $1 I could get my hands on. I believe anybody can if they're careful and not afraid to work." And her estate of over a million confirmed her philosophy.
(First Appeared in Sunday Magazine,
Florida Times-Union, February 26, 1967)
October 12, 1928
WEDDING. An interesting event of the week was the marriage of Mr. J. Melton Crews, age 22, son of Mr. Bryant Crews, who resides on the Little Okefenokee, to Mrs. Lydia Stone, a blushing bride of 63 years, who is the best known character of Charlton County, being the owner of some 17,000 acres in the Racepond section of the Okefinokee Swamp, an accumulation of her own honest toil and frugal habits. The ceremony was performed in the courtroom at Masonic Hall by H.G. Gibson, Ordinary before an audience of a hundred and fifty friends and well-wishers of the happy couple who showered upon them their hearty congratulations. The groom has been assisting with the care of the large interest of Miss Lydia's for the past year or so and proved his ability in taking care of her interest in such a splendid way and won the esteem and affection of the lady. The bride, it is stated, said that having laid by in store a plenty for rainy days intends to enjoy her remaining years with her husband as their desires prompt them, the income being sufficient, while the landed estate will be kept intact. A lease on a part of the timber the past week supplied some $2,000.00 for honeymoon expenses and a handsome Chevrolet Sedan purchased by the bride for that occasion brought them to the wedding place and more than happily on their way back to their home near Racepond. The Herald wishes them all the joys that life has in store for those that can and are able to enjoy it.
Lydia Stone was known by such various nicknames as "Queen of the Okefenokee," "The Swamp Baroness," and simply "Miz Liddie."
In an interview in 1928, the simple-living millionairess told her formula for success: "When I was a girl, my `pappy' gave me and my sisters a cow and a sow apiece and told us if we would look after them we could make some money. Before the year was out, I made a few dollars off mine and had saved every penny of it. After another year I made enough to buy 45 acres of land. I got it dirt cheap. And as soon as I could save little money ahead, I would buy some timber land; until now, I own nearly 30,000 acres."
"I never went to school but six days and the pity of it is, I didn't learn anything in those six days. But a man ain't livin' that can outfigger me." All witnesses agreed that this woman's self-education in the fields of economics, business, timber and cattle placed her in as powerful position as the Indian chieftain Osceola, who once had roamed this area. Her loyalty to that childhood dream allowed the swamper very little time for anything else but her land, which she talked about constantly and expanded continually until the entire Racepond community was Miz Liddie's holdings.
The "Queen of the Okefenokee" died at her Racepond home on January 4, 1938; she was laid to rest beside her parents, a sister, and a former husband. And the tallest monument in the cemetery was erected to the unschooled woman who, once, very simply, stated the chief rule of finance: "I always said I could make $5 out of every $1 I could get my hands on. I believe anybody can if they're careful and not afraid to work." And her estate of over a million confirmed her philosophy.
(First Appeared in Sunday Magazine,
Florida Times-Union, February 26, 1967)
October 12, 1928
WEDDING. An interesting event of the week was the marriage of Mr. J. Melton Crews, age 22, son of Mr. Bryant Crews, who resides on the Little Okefenokee, to Mrs. Lydia Stone, a blushing bride of 63 years, who is the best known character of Charlton County, being the owner of some 17,000 acres in the Racepond section of the Okefinokee Swamp, an accumulation of her own honest toil and frugal habits. The ceremony was performed in the courtroom at Masonic Hall by H.G. Gibson, Ordinary before an audience of a hundred and fifty friends and well-wishers of the happy couple who showered upon them their hearty congratulations. The groom has been assisting with the care of the large interest of Miss Lydia's for the past year or so and proved his ability in taking care of her interest in such a splendid way and won the esteem and affection of the lady. The bride, it is stated, said that having laid by in store a plenty for rainy days intends to enjoy her remaining years with her husband as their desires prompt them, the income being sufficient, while the landed estate will be kept intact. A lease on a part of the timber the past week supplied some $2,000.00 for honeymoon expenses and a handsome Chevrolet Sedan purchased by the bride for that occasion brought them to the wedding place and more than happily on their way back to their home near Racepond. The Herald wishes them all the joys that life has in store for those that can and are able to enjoy it.
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