Maude Nellie Stiles

     Maude Nellie Stiles was born on 20 July 1873 at Erving, Massachusetts.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of Burritt Anthony Stiles and Sarah Ann Brigham.^1,2 Her real name is a mystery. It may be Nellie or Nancy. Throughout her life, she went by Maude.² Maude Nellie Stiles was also known as N. Maude Stiles. On 17 September 1887 at Wendell, Massachusetts, Maude married William Herbert Ballou, son of Stephen Ballou and Josephine Beach. In later life, she told her grand children, that she married on a dare.^1,4 Maude Nellie Stiles and William Herbert Ballou were divorced.¹ Betty-Sue Pratt said of her in 1997, "I remember Grandma as a very tiny lady with hair that was combed into deep waves from her natural curls. Her hair was always dark and she never did have white hair even at the time of her death. She was always thin. In later years, her hands were severely deformed by arthritis. She lived and worked as housekeeper for the Carpenter Family. They were 1st cousins by marriage. Grandma stayed there long enough to raise 3 generations. She was able to maintain an independent life style with the help of her daughter-in law, Mary Ballou, before moving into a Rest Home and then to a Nursing Home in Athol.... She ...once had a catastrophic automobile accident. She was told she would probably never walk as her pelvis was crushed. Grandma did walk, probably out of shear stubbornness, and the only concession she ever made was to sit in a straight chair as it was too difficult to get out of a low one. She did retain a bit of a limp and learned to use a walker the last few years of her life. She was holder of the Boston Post gold headed cane.¹" Maude Nellie Stiles died on Tuesday, 29 January 1974 at Athol, Massachusetts, at age 100 years, 6 months and 9 days.^1,2,3 Maude was buried at Central Cemetery, Orange, Massachusetts.¹