The Crittenden Press, Marion, KY  30 Mar 1928. Used with permission.

   MRS. VICTORIA B. HARPENDING was born February 10, 1844 and is perhaps
the oldest person in the western part of the county.  She is the 
daughter of Blakely and Emily Brown Travis, who came to Kentucky from
North Carolina with the early settlers.  Her grandfather, Col. Travis,
was in command of the American troops during the massacre by the
notorious Santa Ana at the Alamo.
   Mrs. Harpending is most interesting in her conversation, her brain
being very alert for one of her age.  Her recitals of happenings of 60
and 70 years ago helds the attention of her listeners, especially when
she recites conditions during the Civil War.  A most interesting event
of that period was, when by ruse and a bit of strategy, she saved the
life of one of Crittenden county's most distinguished citizens during
the battle of Salem.  
   Her recitals and comparisons of her early years with those of
today, the crude manner of farming, marketing, the slow and tedious
method of transportation, when children had to walk from four to six
miles to school with only one or two books in which to study, the
moral and social conditions are very interesting.  When you ask her
a question along these lines her eyes begin to kindle, a smile comes
to her lips and face as she tells you how the girls of the early 
sixties dressed, danced and were courted.  She says that girls were
vain then as they are today and as they will ever be, that boys were
dashing, daring and full of adventure.
   Mrs. Harpending is the widow of the late Thomas A. Harpending.  She
is the mother of six children: Emma, who died 1901; Carrie, wife of 
W.H. LaRue; Lorena B., widow of B. Hopkins; Harry T., J.L. and E.L.
Harpending.
   Mrs. Harpending has all her life been greatly interested in politics.
She is a republican of the old school and was a great Union sympathizer
during the Civil War, having two brothers in the Union army.  One 
brother, William L. Travis, was a lieutenant.  

Harpending Travis Brown LaRue Hopkins 
=
NC Salem-Livingston-KY

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