Welcome to this episode of “Laurel’s Legacies,” a podcast about Laurel County, Kentucky’s history, highlighting its people, places and events, presented by the Laurel County History Museum and Genealogy Center in London, Kentucky.
I’m your host, Danna Estridge, a former journalist turned historian with a passion for local history.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, women with a career, other than maybe being a school teacher, was not the norm.
But there were a lot of women in the past who did have careers.
Several women in Laurel County had careers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and I'd like to tell you about five of them in this episode.
All of these women chose to remain single and childless throughout their lives.
I want to begin with two women who were sisters: Sue Evelyn and Elizabeth McNeill.
Sue was born on March 8, 1874, at Pittsburg, Laurel County.
Elizabeth was born August 11, 1878, also at Pittsburg.
Sue Evelyn was the business manager for a coal business owned by three of her brothers, and Elizabeth was her assistant.
In 1913, Sue also began a 16-year career as assistant cashier and bookkeeper at the First National Bank of East Bernstadt.
In addition to helping Sue with their brothers' coal business, Elizabeth taught school at Peacock in downtown Pittsburg.
Another interesting Laurel County woman was Dora B. Faris, born March 31, 1858.
Dora was involved in several businesses in London, and became quite wealthy as a result of her success in business.
Another Faris woman, Eva Farris, was born June 7, 1858 in Laurel County.
From the time Dr. Pennington established the local hospital, Eva was a nurse there until ill health forced her to retire.
The fifth woman for this episode was Sarah Wyatt, who was born on November 16, 1849 in the Crawford area of Laurel County.
She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was also active in the Laurel County Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Sarah became a successful business woman, as well.
She was a stockholder and director of the First National Bank, of East Bernstadt for many years.
If you'd like to learn more about these women, please listen to this episode.
If you liked this episode, be sure to tune in again next Thursday for another interesting story from Laurel County’s past.
And if you did enjoy this episode, please tell your friends about this podcast, presented by the Laurel County History Museum and Genealogy Center at Heritage Hills off Tom Jensen Highway in London.
The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to acquire and preserve historical documents and artifacts related to the rich history of Laurel County and Southeastern Kentucky.
You can get directions to the museum and genealogy center on their website at laurelcokyhistorymuseum.org or call 606-862-1693. They’re open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment.
Until next week, I’m your host, Danna Estridge.
Thanks for stopping by!
Welcome to this episode of “Laurel’s Legacies,” a podcast about Laurel County, Kentucky’s history, highlighting its people, places and events, presented by the Laurel County History Museum and Genealogy Center in London, Kentucky.
I’m your host, Danna Estridge, a former journalist turned historian with a passion for local history.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, women with a career, other than maybe being a school teacher, was not the norm.
But there were a lot of women in the past who did have careers.
Several women in Laurel County had careers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and I'd like to tell you about five of them in this episode.
All of these women chose to remain single and childless throughout their lives.
I want to begin with two women who were sisters: Sue Evelyn and Elizabeth McNeill.
Sue was born on March 8, 1874, at Pittsburg, Laurel County.
Elizabeth was born August 11, 1878, also at Pittsburg.
Sue Evelyn was the business manager for a coal business owned by three of her brothers, and Elizabeth was her assistant.
In 1913, Sue also began a 16-year career as assistant cashier and bookkeeper at the First National Bank of East Bernstadt.
In addition to helping Sue with their brothers' coal business, Elizabeth taught school at Peacock in downtown Pittsburg.
Another interesting Laurel County woman was Dora B. Faris, born March 31, 1858.
Dora was involved in several businesses in London, and became quite wealthy as a result of her success in business.
Another Faris woman, Eva Farris, was born June 7, 1858 in Laurel County.
From the time Dr. Pennington established the local hospital, Eva was a nurse there until ill health forced her to retire.
The fifth woman for this episode was Sarah Wyatt, who was born on November 16, 1849 in the Crawford area of Laurel County.
She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was also active in the Laurel County Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Sarah became a successful business woman, as well.
She was a stockholder and director of the First National Bank, of East Bernstadt for many years.
If you'd like to learn more about these women, please listen to this episode.
If you liked this episode, be sure to tune in again next Thursday for another interesting story from Laurel County’s past.
And if you did enjoy this episode, please tell your friends about this podcast, presented by the Laurel County History Museum and Genealogy Center at Heritage Hills off Tom Jensen Highway in London.
The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to acquire and preserve historical documents and artifacts related to the rich history of Laurel County and Southeastern Kentucky.
You can get directions to the museum and genealogy center on their website at laurelcokyhistorymuseum.org or call 606-862-1693. They’re open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment.
Until next week, I’m your host, Danna Estridge.
Thanks for stopping by!