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103 years in Aiken, still going strong
5/3/2009 2:52 AM
By RACHEL JOHNSON
Staff writer

Today in 1906, the President of the United States was Theodore Roosevelt, the cost of a first class U.S. postage stamp was 2 cents and Ellis Arnold Redd was born in Aiken County.

Redd turns 103 years old today and he has a spent all of those years as a resident of Aiken County. Born on Cedar Creek Farm near Montmorenci where the Cedar Creek golf course community is today, Redd's father was the overseer of a cotton/corn farm. He had three brothers and one sister and shared a bedroom with his brothers.

Some of Redd's earliest memories involve playing ball with homemade bats and balls, using kerosene lamps to light the house at night and working hard. His chores included milking the cows, tending to a large vegetable garden and picking wild blackberries.

Trips into town were taken by horse and buggy along curvy red clay trails. The trip from the farm to the hitching post on Laurens Street took about 40 minutes with a good horse.

Redd remembers a small grocery market named Hornes in Aiken and a couple of clothing stores where the wealthy shopped. With the exception of overalls, Redd's family's clothing was all hand-made.

Redd began driving at the age of 15. His favorite car of all time was the Ford Model T with a rumble seat. He was never involved in a car wreck and never received a ticket he had to pay.

At age 99, Redd stopped driving after leaving a friend's house and rolling through a stop sign and being stopped by the police. When the officer asked if he saw the stop sign, Redd's response was "I saw the stop sign, I just didn't see you."

Redd also remembers who different dating was when he was growing up.

"Ladies wore long dresses, and it was indecent for men to see their legs," he said. "If you had a date, it meant a horseback ride to the young lady's house where you would sit and converse in the living room with the parents monitoring the suitors."

Redd's first job was plowing a field for a local farmer. The hours were sun up to sun down and the pay was 50 cents a day. He said in those days you were too tired for entertainment.

However he recalls the first radio he ever saw. It belonged to a nearby farmer, and everyone would gather to listen to the music.

"The sound wasn't real good, but if you put your ear up close and listen carefully, you could hear it," he said.

For his 100th birthday, Redd was presented a citizenship award at an Aiken Council meeting. Today he celebrates 103 years with his children and grandchildren.

Happy birthday, Ellis Arnold Redd.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.

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