The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-24

Death or tho Oldest MsR fn the United
States.

Death or tho Oldest Man An the United
States.
JAMES MCCORMICK. who was without doubt tho Oldest
man in tho United States, died in Newbws, N T., on
the 18th ins the good old age OF one hundred and
fourteen years. three months and five days BE was as
remarkable for health and strength as for longevity ana
his life was an excellent temperance argument
He was born August 9. $751; in the county Of Cavan
Ireland His age was accurately fixed by the fact that
in the Irish Rebellion Of 179s when ages became as i'm
portant there as they were here during the recent
draft he was then forty-seven years old In his youth
he was not remarkable for anything except health and
strength. He very early riser, often going to
bis work before daybreak ne Wo.x ~ day an ana
early When young man he lifted, on one OCCASION
q stone weighing seven hundred pounds he was also
he walked 10 Dublin from place hftytwo miles from
il, and the next day no walked back 70 the place
fair said he once awhin eighty miles, went to III
s sSo; s' days Hs ~.s not unit. be forty
i've years old He was the father Of fourteen children.
Ave Of whom died in Ireland and the other nine came
over to ths country He was among the last to come
s and wS bs 81 three spent out
west, he has always lived at New Windsor
Some OF his habits were very curiouh II was the
custom In his days. well In ours, when farmers
worked in the field 70 take pail Of water or some othor
beverage along with them to quench thirst but he
experiencod thirst as othors did He drank very little
water or any fluid and at his meals was accustomed TO
season food 80 highly with salt that no ono but himself
could eat IL and after his meal or during II he seldom
felt the want OF drink Of any kind AT ono time said
no. g was a dstiller without license, and although
handled LIQUOR e dish water mover INDUCED to please
myself or TO please my friends" His food during hi5
life was coarse but healthy He never used tea coffee
until year before his DEATH and milk he particularly
disiked believing 1t to be very unhealthy Potatoes
coned beef cabbage formed the principal part of his
daily diet and he seldom had any desire for anything
than this plain fare Pics and cake he very seldom eat
caring but little for them. In his younger days he dis
the fumes Of IT. but when he sixty five years old he
smoked his first pipe and soon became much attached to
IT, and in his old age he said 1t was such comfort that
could his daily yf food Ills hearing Of touch
feeling and smelling were all remarkably acute;
his voice strong and Clear and he con-
versed with wonderful No signs Of sec-
ond childhood or weakness Of the mind
could be detected His memory was remarkable and by
method Of association OF things, time and places he
would tell very nearly every little incident and tho time
and place of its occurrence during his life He was
never sick day. although at times he suffered with the
toohache He applied any cure, nor did he ever
have tooth drawn, but suffered them to fall out Of
their own accord At the time Of his death he had only
four tceth left His eyesght for two years previous TO
his death commenced to decline, ana whom dssolu-
ton occurred he was almost blind. His har never
.n.nad gray. lie was rebel in the Irish Rebellion Of
l7os and was wounded in ..a3 cf, leg His nvarablo
answer to the question what he thought more than any
thing else caused him to live so long was temperance
exercise plain food regular meals and regular hours IN
going to bed and getting up