One of Clinton's Oldest Native Born Citizens
Submitted by Donnie PickardVan Buren County Democrat, July 25, 1935
Celebrates 80th Birthday
Born in County
Wednesday July 17 was the 80th anniversary of one of Clinton's oldest native born citizens, Mrs. Mary Ann Hargis, who makes her home with he son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Bradley. Mrs. Hargis was born July 17, 1855, on the farm now owned by John Sneed, two miles west of Clinton, the daughter of John and Mahulda Peel, her mother's maiden name being Griggs. She was also the mother of the late W. M. Peel, his father being Richard Peel, an older brother of John Peel.
July 25, 1885, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to John Hargis, the ceremony being said here in Clinton by the late C. H. Culpepper, father of our Charles Culpepper and a very early pioneer Methodist minister of the county. To their union two children were born and only one of whom, Mrs. Kate Bradley, survives. The death of the father and husband occurred August 14, 1913.
All her life Mrs. Hargis has been blessed with good health and considering her four score years is enjoying exceptionally good health today. She has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for sixty-two years.
Asked about her early recollections of Clinton she said she remembered quite distinctly the killing of her half-brother, Jeff Peel, at the beginning of the Civil War. Having enlisted in the Lost Cause he returned home to get his equipment, bedding, etc., but was killed by a man named Pleas York, the murder occurring in the storeroom now occupied by O.L. West. He was buried at the Shakerag graveyard. Shortly thereafter John Morrow and Jack Griggs, well known local citizens, were killed by federal sympathizers and buried in a single grave at the same place.