Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-26
One Hundred and Nine Years Old.


HE is right here in Troy, and his name
is John Henry Blackwell, and he has seen
100 summers (when August is OUT and 10S
winters. He was, therefore, born in the
spring. John Henry lives in little, old
house in the hollow, beside a babbling but
nasty little brook, just off Lincoln avenue,
under the hill. The house is an old-style
frame, with wooden shutters, and has stood
where it now stands about forty five years.
Neither outside nor in has ever been mo-
Tested by painter. The house is weather
beaten like its owner flor Blackwell owns
it,, and looks as if the ups and downs OF
this world had had no effect upon It,
John Henry lives all alone in the house
1t cannot be called bachelors hall, be-
cause John Henry is not bachelor He
has been married, but it was so long ago
that he has almost forgotten about it. His
house is not a hall either. 1t is more like
den or hermitage. No one is ever in
vited into the place, and no one is ever al
lowed to look into it unless he does so
stealthily. John keeps the doors and win
dows securely fastened, and at night he
never uses light unless he is looking for
something that has been mislaid in the
chasm Of disorder that exists there. Then
he uses tallow candle. He is not very
sociable He has lived so long that he
imagines the present generation is pack
of fools, and he wise man The first
statement may be all right, but there is
room for debate on the latter.
John Henry is an Irishman, and has
been in this country sixty years. He
lived in New York fifteen years, and re-
members the city when it was, he says,
no bigger than Troy He has lived in
Troy forty-five years, and recollects Troy
as a small country village. He lost his
wife fifty years ago. He had three sons
and one daughter, but they have all gone
to the other world, and now the old man
is alone. He has lived alone for twenty
five years, ever since his daughter died.
who was siXty-five years old. He has no
relatives now, having outlived the whole
of them, grandchildren and all
About ninety years ago he learned the
tailoring business, and has worked in diff
ferent cities, but within the last thirty
years he has lived in very mysterious
way. He does not work, but goes away
sometimes for weeks at time, nobody
knows where. He returns as mysterious
ly as he goes, and seems to have money.
Of late years he has turned his attention
somewhat to the study of medicine; and
not only the study, but the practice He
imagines that he can cure any disease,
and will always solicit q trial of his skill
on anyone whom he sees sick or suffer
ing. Instances have been known where
he has relieved pain and cured illness,
but in more cases an opposite effect has
followed.
Blackwell seems as vigorous as man
of fifty. In fact, he is the type of very
lively old man. He can walk mile
without a cane as fast as almost anyone
seventy-tive years younger. He never
rides. He is thorough pedestrian. He
was never on a streetcar and only once on
railroad. Then he went to Albany on
the cars, got lost there, and walked back.
He thinks jackasses superior to horses for
general use, and often expresses surprise
that they are not in use. The old man
may not be aware of it, but the jackasses
are just as numerous as ever; they have
two legs, though, instead of four, and are
balky. Blackwell will not ride behind
horse. 1t is against his principles. He
believes in ancient instead of modern
civilization. The good old Oriental times
are the times for him. He believes in an
eye for an eye and tooth for tooth. He
is opposed to lawyers and puts no faith in
newspapers. Religiously speaking, John
Henry Blackwell is Protestant He
scarcely ever goes to church, however, but
he evidently reads the Bible, as he is con-
versant with its passages. He has no fear
of death, and acts as though he expects to
live forever.-Iroy (N. ~ Press.