The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-27
THE OLDEST Man In AMERICA
One Hundred and Fifteen Y FEARS
Of Existence.
HISTORY OF GEORGE LIE BARRE.
A Century's Experience Of Tobacco
and Whiskey.
One Who Was Too Old for the
War of 1912.
A Youth Who Shook Hands
with Washington.
SIMPLICITY OF THE 0LDEN TIMES.

the roadside the Oldest man in America, George LIE
Barre who was born at Mount Bethel, Northam mp
ton county, In this State in the Fall of 1885, and is
consequently approaching his one hundred and
afteenth year. had for q companion, on the visit
to this remarkable centenarian Mr.. Edward l..
Brodhead, Q gentleman belonging to one OF the
Oldest families in the state, and an authority in
genealogical lore. We stopped at Sam Bush's
tavern OF the cross roads TO inquire the precise
Socation OF Le Barrels residence. Sam asked, as
we were about to leave, ''Got suthn spiritool for
the old manS''
"Why, no,n we answered; "he wouldn't drink"
"Better fetch him Drop" continued Sam; 'he
takes his nip of whiskey, and when he chucks in
two or three stir horns he talks like bird.
You've got to open his heart and set his tongue
a-gOin' in this way or he won't tell you anything
worth cent" ,f
PARTING INJUNCTION.
sPut little water in that for him." added Sam
~ we departed with ginger beer bottle filed
with the alcoholic sesame; 'ft's above proof and
may bother him summit Not much water, mind;
lest enough to prevent him from coughing"
Sans injunctions were properly followed, and
the result was such as We were led to anticipate
Though everybody knew Of George LIE Barre it was
only favored few that appeared to enjoy his per-
sOnal acquaintance. His residence, in
"A VERY STERILE SECTION
of the county and away from the highways and
centres of population, kept him apart from his
neighb0rs; and, then. George from his youth had,a
fancy for solitary settlements and an aversion to
any other company than his dog and gun. His
habits in early life were insensibly modelled on
those Of the Indians, OF whom he knew considera-
bly, more than OF his own race. He was Graded in
their midst and when the great 'Indian walk'
took place in 1868 ana most Of the white settlers
''nOrth OF the mountains-as the region Of country
is called above the Delaware Water Gap-were
butchered and their houses destroyed, George, his
family and their home were exempted from the
general doom. George, though mere child at the
time, remembers that terrible "walk" OF the In
dams and remembers too, how his fathers roof
gave shelter to several of the unfortunate settlers
The
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF MR. LIE BARRE,
lively lass Of seventy-six, with an eye as bright
ana sharp as an otter's, opened the door for US,
and, having stirred up the IRE in the old-fasoned
hearth, started with brisk step to tell her vener-
able parent that two visitors desired to see him.
The room where we waited managed to embrace
the accommodations OF Kitchen, reception room,
store room, sleeping apartment and museum Of
relics consisting OF old lints, leather leggngs, In
dian arrows, shOt-pouches, huntingknives and all
the odds and ends that entered into the equip
ments OF o frontiersman OF the olden time. The
house appeared have been originally constructed
Of logs, but by means - clapboard facing to the
exterior an6a liberal application OF whitewash to
the inside 1t wore tolerably comfortable look.
Soon George entered with feeble step and walked
slowly, without any aid, to willow bottomed chair
near the fire. He took bat very
SLIGHT NOTICE OF HIS VISITORS
until his daughter. whose astonishing vivacity at
IA
the far-reaching memory OF her father, introduced
us. He told Mr.. Brodhead that he did not know
him, but he was well acquainted with his grand
father and his great grandfather. He was slow to
talk at first, saying that he had touch Of rheuma-
tism, but he hoped to shake 1t of when the warm
weather set in. He had never been sick but twice
In his e and then, as he observed 1t was entirely
due to his own indiscretion in sleeping on damp
ground out In the woods a night.
VICTORY OVER TINE.
As he sat opposite to us In the chair he presented
unmistakable marks OF extreme Old age without
the usual accompaniment OF paralyzed or impaired
senses. His eyesight is good as that Of the aver
age Of men of sixty. His hearing s slightly de-
fectve and made 1t necessary for us to address him
In voice somewhat louder tnan the ordinary con-
versatiOnal tone.
MINUTE MEMORY.
His memory Of events prior to his one hundredth
year Is slnguarly clear though the further back he
reaches the more luminous his recollection be-
comes. He Is not quite sure whether his friend
Depui, who was shot in the whiskey instruction
Of 1871, died on the spot or was removed and lin-
gered till the next day; out he Is positive that he
saw Washington wear but one spur the day he rode
mp to the Oaks tavern In Easton in the Spring OF
1i77. He is positive absut the length OF rocknsh
he caught with line made out OF horse hair in the
Spring OF 1890. Along with companion named
Van Camper he went fishing down the Delaware,
having previously stripped the tail OF q horse to
make the lines, and expecting good days sport
they carried with them two and half bushei
two feet ten inches and to this day he cannot re-
call, without laughing, the funny appearance OF
that fish, with his tan sticking Gut Of the bag.
Think OF man recalling such trining details OF his
life after lapse OF over eighty years.
CURIOUS CALCULATION.
Two such lives as lie Barrels added together
would unite the landing Of the Maynower Pilgrims
with the establishment OF the Credit Mooiier and
the efiorescence OF Hoax Aims. Three such would
take us back within generation OF the discovery
Of America by Columbus; I'VE would link US with
the Norman Conquest OF England, and seventeen
would ante-date tle birth OF Christ and the suDlu-
cation Of the Gauls by julius Caesar.
APPEARANCE OF THE CENTENARIAN.
Sitting In the chair this very old tussler OF rime
appeared no more than Jour Ieet high, though
measuring full six feet in his prime. lie was bent
almost double. His blue eyes. though not without
some lustre, had weak and watery expression
His teeth were long since gone, and his naky silver
hair remained only at the back OF his head
There was color in his cheeks, but his neck had
ance OF mummy His legs looked little larger
than the legs OF the chair on which he sat, YET
make them carry HIM q distance OF eight miles
Two years ago he might have been seen working
in the woods cutting railroad ties, and about the
same time back he made journey to Stroudsburp
20 witness the execution OF the murderer of Mr.
Brodbead, an uncle to my companion. The people
at the jail refused TO CRAFTY the old gentlemans
curiosity. "But don't you think they might rs ms
daughter innocently asked me, 'seeing he was sc
Old. Indeed" she continued, "they might at least
have let father see it, ana think It was real I'M
KIND after he went SO far, and at his agel'
HIS DESTRUCTIVE HABITS.
lie could recall the time w hru he he Gan "a
smoke and chew tobacco, but IL was certainly over
hundred years ago. He has continued the habit
ever since. IL am afraid he smokes too much
remarked his nlial offspring, "and am trying Il
break him Off it," He has also taken stimulants
regularly In the shape OF plain native whsKey
but he Jailed to remember that he ever got drunk
but twice, the lrst occasion being the day he went
TO Easton 70 see General George Washington, and