The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-01
ThsO|dest Man m America;
One Hundred and Fifteen
Years Of Existence.
History Of George lie Barre.
Simplicity Of the 0lden Time.
DELAWARE WATER GAP, Pa, !
January Is, 1873.

laking slelgh aud driving thirteen
miles west Of here yesterday into wild,
unfruitful region OF country, I found in
weather beaten farmhouse on the
roadside the oldest man in America,
George lie Barre, who was born at
Mount Bethel, Northampton county, in
this State, in the fall OF 1853, and is
consequently approaching his one hun.
dred and fifteenth year. had for
companion, on the visit to this remark.
able centenarian, Mr.. Edward L. Broad.
head. a gentleman belonging to one of
the oldest families in the State. and an
authority in genealogical lore. We
stopped a. Sam Bush's tavern at the
cross roads to inquire the precise locs'
ton of LIE Barrels residence. Sam
ssked, az we were about TO leave, "Got
suthin spiritool for the old man p
"Why. no." we answered; "he wonld
not drink"
"Better fetch him Drop" continued
Sam; "he takes his nip OF whisky. and
when he chucks in two or three stiff
horns he talks like a bird You've got
10 open his heart AMI set his tongue a
going in this way or he won't tell you
anything worth cent"
PARTING INJUNCTION.
"Put a little water in that for him"
added Sam, az we departed with GIN
ger beer bottle filled with the alcoholic
sesame; cts above proof and may
bother him summit. Not much water,
mind; jest enough to prevent him from
coughing"
Sans iujunetions were properly fol.
lowed, and the result was such as we
were led to anticipate. Though every
body knew of George LIE Barre 1t was
only favorite few that appeared to
enjoy his personal acquaintance. His
residence in
VERY STERILE SECTION
of the county and away from the high
WAYS and centres Of population. kept
him apart from his neighbors; 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 habit in early
life were insensibly modelled on those
OF the Indians, of whom he knew con-
siderably more than of his own race
He was Graded in their midst, and
when the great "Indian walk" took
place in 1863 and most OF the white
settlers north Of the mountains-as
the region of country is called above
the Delaware Water Gsy-were butch"
cred and their houses destroyed, George,
his family and their home were ex-
mpted from the general doom. George,
though a mere child at the time, re-
members that terrible walk" OF the
Indians and remembers, too. how his
fathers roof gave shelter to several OIL
the unfortunate settlers. The
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF Mr.. LIZ BARRE,
a lively lass OF seventy six, with an eye
as bright and sharp as an otters, opened
the door for us, and, having stirred up
the hre in the old-fashioned hearth,
started with brisk step to tell her ven:
cradle parent that two visitors desired
70 see him. The room where we wait
ed managed to embrace the accommo-
datiops OF kitchen, reception room, store
room, sleeping apartment and museum
| of relics, consisting OF old fints, leather
leggings, Indian arrows, shot pouches,
hunting knives and all the odds and
ends tina, entered into the equipments
o. a frontiersman OF the olden time.
The house appeared to have been origi-
nally constructed Of logs, but by means
Of ciapboard facing to the exterior and
a liberal application of whitewash to
the inside it wore tolerably comforta-
HE look. Soon George entered with a
feeble step and walked slowly, without
any aid, to willow. bottomed chair near
the fire. He took but very
SLIGHT NoTIsE OF HIS VISITORS
until his daughter, whose astonishing
yiyacity at seyenty-six made US marve'
ouite AZ much as did the far-reachine
memory of her father. introduced u.s.
He told Mr.. Brosdhead that he did no,
know him, but he was we'll acquainted
with his grandfather and his great
grandfather. He was slow to talk a
| first, saying that he had q toucn o
rheumatism, but he hoped TO shake !
of when the warm weather set in, III
had never been sick but twice in his lie
and then, as he observed, it was entire
" dne to his own indiscretlon IN sleep
ing on damp ground out in the wood
at night.
VICTORY OVER TINE.
As he sat opposite to us in the char
he presented unmistakable marks o
extreme old age without the usual ac'
companime OF paralvsed or impaired
senses. His eyesight is as good as tina
of the average of men OF sixty. d,
hearing is slightly defective and MADE
it necessary Tor us to address him IN :
voice somewhat louder than the ordi
nary conversational tone.
| MINUTE MEMORY.
Hi. memory OF events prior TO Dill
one bundredth year is siugularly clear
though the further back he reaches 'n
more luminous his recollection becomes
he !. not quite sure whether his fr'en'
Depui, who was shot in the whisky IN N
snrrsctiou of 1871, died on the spot o
WA removed and fingered till the mex
dav. but he is positive thar ne ess
washington wear but one spur the Hes ga;
he rode up to the Oaks tavern in Easto o.
in the spring Of l777. He sis pos''iv
about the length of . rock fish n