Because of her happy smile...her willingness to help others...her fondness for children....that's a few reasons "Aunt Sude" Ward was loved by everyone. Her's was a life filled with thoughtful deeds for her neighbors and friends.

"The first time I saw her," said an old timer, "she was teaching Sunday School in the old building on Main Street near Cumberland hardware in 1890." Children went to school there on week days and Sunday School on Sunday.

"Aunt Sude" was an outstanding figure in hr later years. She wore long, full skirts, usually black, with a little white lace collar and her greying hair was tucked high upon her head with side combs. She was a straight as a military soldier and her steps were short and precise.

Enters Into Activities

When Marion Howard and Tom Ward were little fellows about 10 years of age, "Aunt Sude" found time to enter into their activities, which pleased them immensley.

One day the boys sat before a big open log fire in the grate of their home melting lead. "Aunt Sude" joined them.

"We thought that was the greatest thing," one of them said. The boys used a long ladle to melt the lead. "Aunt Sude" sat down on the floor like "one of us yonguns" and held the ladle and helped them run the led for bullets.

The melted lead was poured into bullet molds. After it cooled they had lead bullets for their "hog rifle." To fire a rifle, a little powder was places in the gun with a little "patchin" over it. They used a "tamping rod" to make room for the lead bullet.

Pennies For Children

Children liked to stop by "Aunt Sude's" house every day or two. They know she had pennies for them. Some of the shy little girls stood and listened to "Poll" her pet parrot until they received their pennies or cookies.

"Aunt Sude's" forefathers were among the early settlers of Harlan County (then Mount Pleasant). Her grandfather, George Brittian, was a lieutenant colonel in the War of 1812.

He came to this country from Virginia in 1890 with William Turner, Sr., and Carr Bailey. "Aunt Sude" and her husband, John Ward, lived at one time in a log house on South Main Street. The house had two rooms downstairs and one upstairs.

Grandpa Builds House

The house was built by his Grandpa Jones. The Wards bought it and about 50 years ago built the big house where the Whitcombs live today. It was later sold to Daniel Ball.

The Wards' six children, Thelma, John,Jr., Carl, Harry, Lucy, and Jim, are native Harlan Countains.

Sunday March 28, 1954

Volume 53 Number 72

Page 1 & 8

Click Here to return to Main Harlan County Page