Obituary of Amanda Patton Chiles
(C. Avis Catalog entry#14)
DEATHS
Mrs. Amanda Patton Chiles
Mrs. Amanda Patton Chiles, aged 92 years, Falmouth's oldest and most highly beloved and esteemed woman, died Thursday morning, February 16, 1928, at 11:00 o'clock at the home of her son-in-law, Circuit Court Clerk E. F. Bradford, Jr., on East Shelby street. She enjoyed good health all through life but had grown rather frail during the past few months, but had never been confined to her bed. She had splendid rest and sleep Wednesday night and arose Thursday morning at her usual time, but was seized with weakness and returned to bed. The family was aware that here life was slowly ebbing and they remained at here bedside. She was clearly conscious to the last minute. She counted the strokes of the town clock as it was striking and announced it was eleven o'clock, and within the next minute her spirit had left the frail body and returned to the God who gave it.
Mrs. Chiles was born August 12, 1835, at Elizaville, Fleming county, and was a daughter of the late John Poyntz and Julia Anderson Patton. In early childhood, her parents moved to Minerva, Mason county, where she grew to young womanhood. She was united in marriage to John Lewis Chiles, of Mason county, on February 20, 1855. They moved to Falmouth in 1858, where she resided until her death. When the family came to Falmouth they purchased the farm and home now occupied by Misses Icie and Mary Coleman and resided there during the Civil War. To this union six children were born, James, Sue, Julia, Charles, John and David. All have preceded their mother with the exception of John (Jack), who resides in Missouri. She is also survived by one sister. Mrs. Lizzie Swoope, of Owensboro, Ky., and six grandchildren, Mrs. C. W. Barnes, of St. Paul, Minn.; Tom C. Bradford, of this city; Mrs. Barbour Shoemaker, of Parkersburg, W. Va; Mrs. H. R. Morris and David Chiles, of Birmingham, Ala., and Miss Nell Patton Bradford, of this city. Mrs. Chiles' husband died in 1867. Since 1886 Mrs. Chiles made her home with the family of her son-in-law, E. F. Bradford, Jr., and after the death of her daughter she continued to remain one of the beloved members of the household. She was a member of the Falmouth Christian church and a sure and steadfast follower of the Christ.
Mrs. Chiles was woman of culture, refined, gentle, kind and affectionate, a friend true as steel, tenderly devoted to the members of her family -- a Christian not only in profession, but in the deeds of her family life. She came from a fine lineage, that old Kentucky stock so revered and honored in this day when many of the true virtues of womanhood are lost sight of. She kept young in both mind and spirit. She was a charming hostess and friends were always met with open-handed hospitality and shared honors with warm sympathy and tender consideration. She was a devoted mother and grandmother with strong maternal instincts. After her children were grown and went out into the world, she became the mother and guiding counsel to her grandchildren and the devotion that existed between them was a beautiful faith that only ended when the spark of life left her frail body. We must say that those who knew her best will have a grateful memory of a life well lived and a friend worth while.
Mrs. Chiles was educated at Washington College in Mason county, which was the first school west of the Alleghany Mountains. Prof. D. H. Baldwin was her instructer. He afterwards founded the Baldwin Piano Factory in Cincinnati, which is one of the largest piano plants in the world.
The funeral was held at the home Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. L. N. Minks, pastor of the Christian church. Burial took place in the family lot in Spring Grove cemetery in Cincinnati.
I'd have you shed no bitter tear,
When I embark for chartless seas,
When I shall take my leave from here.
"But rather would I have you smile
In sweet remembrance of each day,
When, by your side, the tedious mile
Turned to a merry roundelay.
"Yes, were it given me to plan
You would recall each fond caress
Each living, pulsing day of joy
Filled with unstudied tenderness
"Your memory would smile back at those
Dear wanderings over flowery teas,
When I sail through graying mists
For unseen ports, o'er chartless seas.