By Stephen D. Bowling

In 1891, Rev. John J. Dickey dedicated nearly an entire column of print in the local paper to the life of one of Jackson’s most beloved ladies. He eulogized the “relict of John Cardwell” in the highest tones and fondly remembered her kindness and love. Dickey offered his assessment of Arminta Watkins Cardwell’s life as one well-lived and worthy of remembrance.

Rev. Doctor John J. Dickey and a host of family and friends followed the crape-draped hearse as it left the Methodist Church on Court Street and slowly rolled between the Creech lot and the George W. Sewell Boarding House on Jockey Street. The matched horses dug their hooves into the unpaved clay street, and the full weight of the wagon settled behind them as they turned onto Hurst Lane.

Down the hill, the wagon traveled before pausing at the bottom to rest the horses. Then, the driver eased them forward and up the steep climb to the Combs Cemetery. The large crowd and her children followed close behind. A bevy of hand-picked pallbearers chosen from among the most respected men in Jackson removed the hand-made coffin from the hearse and carried the remains of one of best-known Jackson’s matriarchs up the bank to the awaiting open grave.

The dark rolling clouds of the cool early Spring day relented. Many of those who attended remembered the brilliant rays of sunlight that shot down through the slivers in the sky as if “the Divine had beamed his approval of a well-spent life.” Eight young men lowered the coffin into the ground as Dr. Dickey stepped to the edge of the grave. He opened his pocket Bible and spoke a few words after he read a brief scripture. The family added shovels of dirt and made their way down the hill as friends of the family closed the grave.

Later that afternoon, Dr. Dickey sat at his desk in the office of The Jackson Hustler in a small room at the Breathitt County Courthouse. He wrote and later set the type for a fitting eulogy for Armenta Watkins Cardwell. The obituary ran on page 5 of the April 3, 1891 edition of The Jackson Hustler.

In Memoriam.

Cardwell. – Mrs. Arminta W. Cardwell, relict of John Cardwell, was born in North Carolina on May 13, 1799, and died in Jackson, Kentucky, on March 29, 1891, aged 91 years 10 months and 10 days.

When she was a child, her parents removed to Jefferson County, in East Tennessee, where she grew to womanhood.  In 1822, she was married to John Cardwell of Knox County, Tennessee, and shortly afterward removed to Barbourville, Ky., where John W. Cardwell was born.  After living there for a few years, they moved to Williamsburg, Ky., and after a brief residence there, they returned to Tennessee.  In 1839, they came back to Kentucky and located in Harlan County.  In October 1840, they removed to Jackson, Breathitt County, Ky., where they lived in happy union till 1877, when Mr. Cardwell died at the advanced age of 87.  He was a native of Virginia.

To them were born five sons and a daughter, in the following order John, Daniel, Isaac, Thomas, Miranda, and Edwin.  Edwin, the youngest, died in 1859.  The daughter, Miranda, Mrs. Little, died in 1882, leaving three children, Cappie, Dora, and Oscar.

Four children survive her, viz, John W. Cardwell, Circuit Clerk of Breathitt County, who has held the office for fifteen years, and who held the office of County Clerk eight years, Maj.  I. N. Cardwell, of the Winchester bar, an ex-member of the Lower House of the Kentucky Legislature; Hon. T. P. Cardwell, of Jackson, twice a Representative and once a Senator, and W. D. Cardwell, of Breathitt county.  She also leaves 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Of this large progeny, all but six live in Breathitt County.  Mrs. Cardwell lived in Jackson for fifty years.

Rarely has a life been so free from unfriendly criticism.  She had the confidence of all who knew her.  An accommodating neighbor, a true friend, and a devout Christian, she moved steadily along, keeping the “even tenor of her way,” more careful of the wants of others than of her own.  She was a woman of a strong personality.  Her presence commanded respect both from her inferiors and superiors.  She possessed great decision of character.  She usually knew her own mind and was not accustomed to acting contrary to her convictions.  If anyone wished her advice, they could get it, but they had to indicate their desires freely and fully.

She was converted at nine years of age and joined the Methodist church in whose communion she lived and died.  Her life was a sermon, teaching fidelity to duty and adherence to principle.  She saw her country three times involved in war and three times win an honorable peace. 

In the War of 1812, her husband was a soldier, in consideration of whose services she drew a pension till her death.  Many of her relatives in Tennessee were people of distinction.  Her maiden name was Watkins.  Her brother, Col. O. R. Watkins, was Tennessee’s Commissioner to survey the line between that state and Kentucky in 1849-50.  Austin O. Cox of Frankfort, Kentucky’s Commissioner, acted with him.

Albert G. Watkins of Tennessee, her nephew, was four times a member of Congress, and his brother, W. W. Watkins, one.  By marriage, she was connected with President Jackson. 

Until two months before her death, she was able to look after her domestic affairs, always presiding at the table.  She was quite unwell for some time before she died but seemed to be getting better till the deadly La Grippe attacked her and, in ten days, she succumbed to its power.  Her work is done, and her record is on high.  We shall hardly “look upon her like again.” She has bequeathed to her posterity a character more valuable than titles or gold.  Her virtues, embalmed in their memory and incorporated into their lives, will mark their lineage to remote generations.

Her funeral obsequies were attended by a large concourse of people, and every possible evidence of respect was shown by a bereft community.  Upon a beautiful eminence overlooking the town, she rests in unbroken slumber till the trump of God shall sound.    

J.J.D.

The Jackson Hustler, April 3, 1891, page 5

© 2024 Stephen D. Bowling