The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-17
Centennial Celebration.

The hundreth birthday of Mrs. Rebecca
Butler, was celebrated at her residence, with
her grandson, Beauman Butler, on Monday
the 18th inst; when and where were assem-
bled, Notwithstanding the unpropitious wealth
er, some four hundred persons, including
many of her descendants, of all the genera
tons down to the fifth, together with neigh
bors, townsmen and acquaintance of all
ages, from upwards of ninety years, down to
infancy. There were present upwards of
forty, over sixty years of age, and several
over eighty. The exercises of the occasion,
consisted OF social converse, prayer, music,
lnglng, collation. and addresses making
1t such an occasion as few, if any present
ever before witnessed, pleasant and impress
sive.
Mrs. Rebecca Butler was born in Rutland,
Mass, July -, 1853. Her maiden name
was Rebecca Laughtoa. When sixteen years
Of age she removed to Dummerston, this
state, where at the age Of near twenty-four
years, she was married to Abel Butler
Twenty-Five years thereafter, and ftty-four
y ears ago, they removed to this town with
their family, and settled on the place, and in
the house now occupied by Beauman Butler,
where she has lived to this day. She has
had nine children, two sons and seven
daughters, all of whom were born in Dunn
merston One of these, a daughter, died in
infancy. The remaining eight, lived to grow
10 maturity, and have families. Mrs. 3. out
lives them all save one, the youngest son,
who was present on the festive OCCASION
The last surviving daughter departed this
life in March last. Mrs. B. lived in married
life forty-two years; her husband having
died thirty-four years since. She has had
forty-one grandchildren, majority of whom
are still living. She has had about sixty
great-grand- children; most of whom are
yet living. And there is one, "a child of Mr..
Oscar Clake) of the fifth generation, now
living in town, year old, and present on the
occasion. Mrs. B. has ever been an active,
industrious, healthy woman; strictly upright,
virtuous and honorable in all the relations of
her life. She has a religious bend of mind,
is strong in christian faith, liberal in senti-
ment, pure in thought, ever cheerful and So
cable and consequently secured the conf
dence and respect of all her acquaintance,
and the affection of all her relatives and III
innate associates. She retains to the present
time in good degree, he: physical and men,
tai faculties, save that of hearing, which has
been much impaired some twenty years. She
now reads readily in a large family bible, and
reads it daily. She also reads some in the
newsprints of the day, to know the promin-
ent events of the times, and incidents in and
progress of the war, now waged in our land
She now walks all over the lower part Of the
house without any help, and usually comes
to her meals with the family; though she
has not been from home for two years. She
has done work in and taken care of her owr
rooms till last autumn And On her hundretl
birth day, she made her own bed, in good
shape. She now readily recognizes neigh.
bors and old acq1aintances, and enjoys meet
ing them, and holding social converse with
them. She received her friends at her birth
day gathering, with dignity and self-pos
session that would have done honor to an!
lady. She is indeed venerable, remark
able and interesting woman, worthy of tn
respect and imitation Of all her acquaintance