The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-05
The Oldest Man in America.


The Detroit Post gives The following &C.
count of a man VI ho lives in that city, aged
ia years:
narrow alley. branching off from Fourth
street east, between Hastings and An
tome streets, there dwells poor negro,
known among his Rindredas "Old Father
Robinson" 1t is customary to apply the
appellation cold "sto those who have pass
ed their sixtieth year, but in case OF Koo,
inson the adjective requires an additional
one to qualify it. for being now IN his ~ ~
year, he is not only very old, but is, doubt,
less, best entitled to the oft repeated
phrase. the oldest inhabitant" Nor is
his,remarkable longevity the sole feature
in this aged negro Unlike many, lis tac-
ulties have been retained unimpaired y
Up to this week his vision was undlmmed
and his hearing unusually acute, but du-
ring the last few days-h he mas failed rapid
ly until in bis own expressive language
';the clock is almost run down.
Robinson was born in August, 1853, on
the plantation of Col. Du Chiclle, in East
MARYLAND. Through the wr of the Rev
.olution. Robinson followed the fortunes of
his master, serving him III the capacity Of
body guard 1t was interesting to sit and
listen to this old man few months ago,
before the film of death had obscurcd his
mental vision, and hear him tell OF the ex-
ploits of the Revolutionary soldiers, and
describe the terrible battle scenes through
which lie had passed. A sabcr cut on the
top of his head'and the loss OF a toret1n-
gerarc the mementocs of his valor. With
especial pleasure he would relate how the
British army surrendered at Yorktown,
and would depict the scene when the proud
Lord CORVALLIS delivered up his sword to
Gen. Washington.
In the battle of New Orleans, fought on
January s, 1915, when General Jackson
overthrew the British host under Packen-
ham, Robinson also participated in the
same capacity as in the Revolutionary
war; A century is a long period to look
back upon, vet Robinson could describe
the events ot. his yonth with clearness and
vigor, which always rendered them inter
esting to. his auditors. In his humble
cabin many ofonrrespectable and wealthy
citizens have frequently assembled to min
lister to, his feeble wants, i'll return for
which he would repeat the story of his
life, and relate incidents OF. tie several
crises through which the nation has passed
from its struggling infancy to its present
grand proportions.
AS the reward gof his faithful services,
Robinson, was manumitted some forty
years. AGO. He has been married several
times, but his children and his wives were
separated from him: His. present wife,
with whom he las>bccn living over twen-
ty years, is tiity-nine years old, he being
nearly double her age.
When over eighty years of age lie was
still a,robust man, six feet in height, and
quite erect. Such is the result of a tenn
peratc and moral life. At an early
period he became connected with the
Wesleyan Mcthodists, of which Church
he is still Il member. Christian men, white
and black, frequently stand beside his
coach, andrthe impression left upon them
all is that Robinson has built his hope on
sure foundation.
One hundred and fourteen years Few
would wisl, to live so long. Life is sweet,
and men will cling to it with blind and
struggling tcnacity, but the majority
would lie willing to "fall asleep" before
century had passed over their heads
! No longer is there left anything to- bind
us to cartl, aud the soul then naturally
desires to return to the God who gave it.