Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-06
THE OLDEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

Joseph Crele, who was probably the Oldest
man in the world, died in Caledonia, little
town of Wisconsin, on the 9th of January
last, at the age Of one hundred and forty-one
years. Twice three score and ten years may
be called a ripe old age He attained an age
greater by twenty years than that enjoyei
by the next eldest man Of modern times,
Jeane Claude Jacob, a member of the French
National Assembly, who was called the
"Dean of the human species" and who died
at the age of one hundred and twenty-one.
This man bore arms at Braddock's defeat,
was an old man when jackson defeated
Packenham at New Orleans, venerable when
TAYLOR whipped Santa Anna at Buena Vista.
Joseph Crele was born Of French parents,
in what is now Detroit, but which was then
only an Indian trading station, in l725.
The record Of his baptism in the Catholic
church in that city establishes this fact be-
yond doubt lie was resident of Wis
consin for about century, and was the
"oldest citizen" in that State beyond any
dispute. Whenever the "oldest citizen
was alluded 10 every Wisconsonian declared
Joseph Crele was the man meant He was
first married in New Orleans in 1855, after
having grown 30 be a bachelor of thirty.
A few years after his marriage he settled at
Prairie du Chez, while Wisconsin was yet
province of France
Before the Revolutionary war, he was
employed 10 carry letters between Prairie
du Chen and Green Bay. A few years ago
he was called as witness to the Circuit
Court Of Wisconsin, in case involving the
title 20 certain real estate at Prairie du
Chen, to give testimony in relation TO events
that transpired eighty years before and
many years before the liiigants were dreamt
Of
For some years past he had resided at
Caledonia with a daughter by his third
wife. This child was little over seventy
wears of age acouple Of years ago, but we do
not know whether she survives her father or
not. He was sixty-nine when she was born.
Tn TO 1864 Mr.. Crele was as hale and
hearty as most men OF seventy. He could
walk several miles without fatigue, and was
frequently in the habit of " chopping' wood
Cor the family use. He went TO all elections
he had no bad habits, except that he was an
inyeterate smoker. In person he was rather
above the medium height, spare in flesh, but
showing evidences Of having been IN has
prime-a century or SO before-a man o.
sinewy strength. OF late years n haunting
sense Of Loneliness overwhelmed and seemed
10 sadden him. The only weakness Of mind
which he ever betrayed was in the last yea
or two Of his existence, when he frequently
remarked, with a startling air of sadness
that he feared that perhaps death haC
forgotten him . but he would always add
with more cheerfnllness that he felt sur
"God had not"
RRAzu.-Gen. w. w w. Wood has ar
rived in our city, and will deliver lectur
In the Hall Of Representatives on Monday
next, March 9Th, upon the soil climate, pro
ductions. resources, institutions and customs
OF the Empire of Brazil. We have no doub
that much interesting information viii b,
presented 70 the audience Gen. Wood viii
lecture In Vicksburg on Thursday the sth
and In Matches on Monday the l2th.-Jacs
sOa (Miss.) Clarion.