When I was in high school, I remember always seeing a drawing my Grandmother had handed down to my Mom that I thought was a "scary"woman. As time progressed and I matured, I was captivated by the "scary" looking woman in the drawing. After a little digging, I decided she wasn't so "scary" after all. She was in fact, interesting, full of determination and in a way beautiful. Her face was full of a life of loss and sadness. The haunting eyes had witnessed things that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Her face shows years of strength which didn't give up even under the darkest circumstances. The "scary" woman who grew into beauty is my Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Eliza Jane Riffe.
From what I know, Eliza's life started out happy. She was born January 10, 1836 in Hustonville, Kentucky to George M. Weatherford and Elisabeth Conden Weatherford. She had two sisters, Cynthia Ann and Mary "Mollie" Julia. Her Grandfather was a Methodist Minister in the Casey County area. Eliza and her family lived a humble but happy life in the same area during her childhood.
Her life remained happy. She met and then after a period of old fashioned courtship, married Dr. JC Riffe in Kentucky on July 20, 1850. During her early marriage, she lived a life of privilege as the Riffe family were rather aristocratic type people. A small amount of time passed and the newlywed couple started a family. Then life started to change. They had two babies; a daughter, Bettie, and a son. Sadly, both babies didn't make it to age one. They tried again and a son, George Walter, was born. George grew older and lived a happy childhood. When George was an older child, the family was blessed with three more beautiful children. Two daughters and another son were born to them.
Being full of pioneer spirit, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas. I cannot imagine how difficult the move to Texas was in a covered wagon with three children. I am sure they were hoping to find a better life and escape the bad memories of losing the two older Riffe children. With there being quite an age gap between George and the three younger children, George was about to marry and stayed in Kentucky. I am sure this was another very sad loss to Eliza as back then when you left home to move across country, it was likely you would not see the loved ones you left behind again as travel was difficult in those days. George married and started a family of his own. The haunting memories of loss became further inescapable as George, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren died several years after Eliza had left Casey County.
Sadness and loss followed them even into Texas as two more of Eliza's children died under tragic circumstances. Son, Jimmie died during the Yellow Fever Epidemic. Then daughter Mollie, died during the birth of her first baby. This left only two living Riffe children. The children thrived and grew into adults. Loss was not done with this family though as Eliza's only living son died as a young adult under very tragic circumstances. The only child to survive into later adulthood and carry on the family legacy was my Great-Great Grandmother, Annie "Mama" Jones.
I asked my Grandmother about Eliza Jane several times. She said that her mother told her that Eliza was known as "Big Grandma" in her later years due to her size. She said that she didn't know great details about Eliza as she died before my Grandmother was born. My Grandmother always told me that her Grandmother could be rather private and didn't share the painful details of great loss. After I became an adult and had my own family, I hung this drawing in my home. Each time I see it, it reminds me of where my family came from so very long ago. It makes me grateful for those before me who chose not to give up even though they experienced events that we most likely will never face. I see what I blessed life I lead and how privileged I am to have my family. Now, take a look at the drawing below. I hope after reading this, you see a vision of strength and beauty. I know, I do.
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| Eliza Jane Weatherford aka "Big Grandma". Her daughter Mollie drew this shortly before Mollie died during childbirth. In my younger days, I thought it was scary. After knowing more about her, I see her differently. I see sadness, pain but also a type a haunting beauty in her face. I am sure some of the sadness was from the hardship of everyday frontier life but the majority from burying so many of your children before their time. |
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| Her wedding ring. It was passed down to my Grandmother. I remember my wonderful Grandmother wearing it almost every day on her index finger. So much history behind that ring. |
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| Eliza's prairie dress. It is over 120 years old..... |
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| Hand stitched, of course! |
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| A close-up of the pattern. I am so happy my family treasured their Southern roots and passed down so many things from mother to daughter...... |
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| Eliza ended up in Lonewolf, Oklahoma living with family as an elderly woman. |
