Marinda Alderson (1815–1908)
Early Life
Marinda Swope Alderson was born July 25, 1815, near Elk Creek in Shelby County, Kentucky (later Spencer County), during the presidency of James Madison. She was the eldest daughter of Joseph Swope and Sallie Redman. Her family traced English descent through her mother’s line, which connected to Solomon Redman, and ultimately to English royal lineage. Marinda grew up on her father’s prosperous sugar plantation, where she was taught domestic skills and experienced the self-sufficiency of early Kentucky life, including spinning, weaving, and making household goods from flax, hemp, wool, and cotton.
Marriage and Family
At just thirteen years old, on September 28, 1828, Marinda married Samuel B. Alderson, a distant relative from Virginia. The wedding took place in New Albany, Indiana, despite family objections due to her youth. Together they had eight children: Elizabeth, William, Matilda, James, Thomas, Ann, Samuel, and Margaret. By the early 1900s, only her sons William and Samuel survived. Samuel Alderson died in November 1886, leaving Marinda a widow.
Life in Henderson County
In 1839, Marinda and her family moved to Hopkins County, Kentucky, where they farmed and raised livestock for seven years before settling in Cairo, Henderson County, in 1846. There they bought a large farm and remained for the rest of their lives. Their home, built then, stood for decades as one of the earliest residences in Cairo. Marinda lived in this same house for more than sixty years.
Community and Religion
Marinda joined the Missionary Baptist Church at Cherry Hill in 1852, where she became a devoted member until ill health limited her attendance. She was remembered as deeply religious, charitable, and steadfast in her faith, often described as a “mother to orphans” and a source of comfort to the poor, widows, and sick.
Later Years and Death
Despite her age, Marinda remained active well into her nineties, remembered for her sharp memory of pioneer life and her willingness to share stories of early Kentucky days. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 1905 surrounded by a large family, with living descendants numbering over 125 at that time.
She passed away on March 26, 1908, at her home in Cairo, Kentucky, at the age of 93. At her death, she was recognized as the oldest woman in Henderson County. She was survived by her son Samuel Alderson, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.
