He was honest, also shrewd in his business dealings. Not a person to be easily taken advantage of. He owned horses and sheep. In his youth, an horse he was riding stumbled and fell with him landing on top of him. One of his lungs was crushed leaving him incapacitated for hard work, so he had to make his living by his witts [sic]. It is said of him that he was a good thinker and people came to him for advice. He was respected for his sound judgment and wisdom. He was a good mathematician and was good at figureing [sic] out puzzles and problems. He was a man of his word and expected others to be the same. He was from the old school when a man’s word was his bond and could be relied upon. He taught his family these same principles so they also possessed [sic] many of these sterling characteristics. He liked to figure and his third wife (Aunt Mandy) as she was lovingly called, often said to him, John, you are going to figure yourself right out of your dinner.” They were hospitable and charitable. It is said of him that he would share right down to his last crust with someone in need. I sincerely believe this to be true as my mother was the same way. He didn’t want any fifth calves, as he expressed it, looking on while the rest ate.
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| John William Pritchett and Martha Ann Tidwell Pritchett Martha Ann was a daughter of James Harvey Tidwell and granddaughter of John Tidwell |
Grandpa liked to play checkers and whittle. He didn’t leave worldly wealth, but he did leave a noble family. They worked hard for what they got: pitched hay, rode horses, cooked for thrashers, made wedding cakes for people, and did all farm chores. Money was scarce in those days.
His wife, Martha Ann Tidwell died of typhoid pneumonia when she was 29 years old leaving him with five little girls to be father and mother to. He did a good job in this capacity as they were all astute, honest, good business heads with leadership ability, thrifty, great cooks, compassionate to others, good at sewing and quite versatile. I don’t know of anything they couldn’t do if they set their minds to it.The word “no” was not in their vocabulary. Grandpa always said, “I can’t is a sluggard too lazy to try.” They were taught not to say, “IQ” but “I will” and that anything was possible if enough effort were expended. It really worked in their case. They were athletic, artistic, industrious, and all of high moral character. To say nothing of being fun-loving, witty, and possessing a fine sense of humor into the bargain. They were not easily out-ran, out-spelled or outsmarted. They -- whatever they were, were real and genuine. This is not fantasy, heresay, or bragging. I knew them and it is the truth. I forgot to say that they plain spoken [sic]. They said it like it was.
Some of his favorite sayings are as follows: “Some people want the whole world and a calf pasture on the outside.” “It is the wait that breaks the wagon down.” “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders.” “Take care of today, and tomorrow will take care of itself” “Keep your feet hot and your heads cool.” “Never go into debt for food or what you wear, or you are always paying for a dead horse.”
“A dollar saved is a dollar earned.”
John William Pritchett
Sarah Emily Rawson Pritchett (2nd wife)
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