20. A Randolph County Pioneer, Asenath Smith Edwards

By "A Neighbor." Journal-Herald, October 23, 1930.

  Asenath was born September1, 1838, hence is now a little more than 92 years of age, retaining her faculties and strength to a remarkable degree. She was the seventh child of Durant and Elizabeth Keys Smith.
  Her parents emigrated from Surrey County, North Carolina about the year 1825, with two small children, Nancy and Alexander, and settled on land which afterward became the farm now owned by Charles Edwards, about four miles southeast of Winchester, afterwards moving to a point about three miles east of what is now our county seat, then only a very small village. There were born ten more children, all but one of whom lived to rear families of their own
  Quite early in the life of the settlement, Durant Smith donated ground on which was built the school house afterwards known as Roundtop, because of it's octagonal form. Here the children, grand children and even some great great grand children of the family received their pioneer education.
  Just here let me say that Mrs. Edwards wishes to emphasize the fact that the foremost thought of these early settlers, especially of the Society of Friends, of which she has been a lifelong, birthright member, was to erect homes for their families, next to build a house for Divine worship, and, third, to build a school house, thus placing all importance upon Divine worship and Christian love, and fellowship for all mankind.
  She distinctly remembers the building of the Bee Line Railroad, and seeing the first train that passed over its rails in 1853.
  Wild animals at this time were common; bears, deer, wolves, squirrels, coons, opossums and many smaller animals as well as wild turkeys, pigeons and other birds without number. All of these were very important to the settlers as they furnished a large part of their food, as well as clothing and bedding. Wolves and bears were often troublesome, carrying off sheep and calves which the settlers could ill afford to lose.
  Mrs. Edwards in speaking of her childhood relates the following incidents. While she and other children were one day playing in the woods near home, they discovered a bear cub in a tree above them. Being pioneer children, they knew that "Mother Bear" might put in an appearance at any moment and decided that their safety depended on scampering home which they did.
  On October 22, 1857, Asenath became the bride of Hamilton Edwards also from North Carolina. They became the parents of ten children, five of whom with the father have passed on to the Great Beyond.
  Many and wonderful have been the changes witnessed by Asenath Edwards; changes made by clearing the forests and laying out roads; changes in modes of travel, the ox cart, the saddle and high wheel wagon giving way to the automobile and plane; changes in lighting from the home made tallow dip to gas and electricity; changes in clothing from the home spun garments made of wool or flax by the long and tiresome processes then used to the "ready to wear" garments; changes in cooking methods from the cast iron pots and skillets in the old time fire place to the modern electric range of today-these and many more changes all occuring within the span of one lifetime.
  Aseneth and Hamilton Edwards settled, soon after their marriage, on a part of what is now the Randolph County Infirmary farm, where they lived throughout most of their married life, acquiring, through industry, economy and frugality, a competence of this worlds goods, and setting for future generations, examples of quiet, neighborly, forebearance and Christian love for all mankind.-A neighbor.