114 YEARS
THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE—AX EXTRA- OKDINARY SKETCH
Jeffrey Wilson (colored) was born in Virginia about 1773 and died in Mecbaniosburg, O., Aug. 1, 1887.
The history of hia life, which is a remarkable one, is somewhat indefl- nate, for the reason that he was de¬ prived of keeping the record of his birth and ranch of the history of his life. Enough deflnatc, however, is known to assure us of the history in many respects of a remarkable character.
He was born in Boone county, Vir- ginia, and, as he himself states, he distinctly remembers the fact of Washington being President, he be¬ ing at that time a youth ot about 12 years and a teamster for his master,
est 41. His total nurabeFof grand¬ children foot up to 76. Great-grand¬ children 13, and 1 great-great grand child; the total offspring of this one man extendiug through all four generations, thus being 106 souls. His remarkable longevity is attribu¬ ted to the fact that in his veins fi(>w- ed the blood of three races—White, NegrQ and Indian, For physical strength and endurance he was prob¬ ably one of the most remarkable men ot bis time. He gloried in a strength that disease never preyed upon, Some of his physical feats related to his children by hlmselt were that of drinking liuuor from the bung-hole of a full barrel suspended in mid air b}'- his own strength, and on anoth'- er occasion retarding the' progress of a steer bj^ pulling him back over the fenee by the tail. The last four years of his life were spent in this place with his daughter, Mrs. Mary
!—*
and at this early date he told me, a
year ago, he remembered his master | Clarkson, who has cared for him
commenting upon his good driving fjr a boy of that age, in the moun¬ tains of Virginia, He repeatedly as¬ serted, several 3'ears ago, that his ago Was over tliat of a huntlred, thou; ': above this he could not tell, but b statements left to his chil dreH ui different times fixes his age to have been a few months past 114 years. He was a slave from his birth to the close of the civil war, a period which is a remarkable one for human bondage—of about 92 years. His was the checkered life of a slave under different masters; some good and some otherwise, his last days of bondage being served in Kentucky, from which place, af¬ ter his freedom, he came to Ohio to live his remaining days with his children who had also just been treed from bondage. By his first wife he became the father of eight children, three of whom are living, the average age of which are 80 years; the eldest being 87 and the youngest 79 years. By liis second wife 9 children, 6 of whom are liv¬ ing, the average age being 52 years, the eldest being 58 and the young-
with all the devotion of a true chris tian daughter for an aged father. Though feeble he was even during this time confined to his bed only at short periods, and was not utterly helpless until the last three days ot his life. His aged second wife sur¬ vives him at the age of 80 years. He was a member of a christian church for 50 years and was buried in Maple Grove cemetery, C. D,
Our Girls.
Kitty is -witty,
Nettie is pretty, IjUtie is cute and siniill;
Irene is a queen,
Annette is a pet, NeU is th-3 beHe of thr> ball;
Dlantlia is wealthy.
Bertha is healthy. And health, is the best of all.
Perfect health keeps her rosy and ra¬ diant, beautiful and blooming, sensible and sweet. It is secured by wholesome habits and the use of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Pre¬ scription. Bertha takes it, and she also "takes the cake." The only guaranteed cure for those distressinor ailments peculiar to women. Satisfaction or your money re¬ turned.
No. 68. Walnut.
