Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-08


ton on the great sast-and-west rail-
road thoroughfare from San Francisco
to New York.
a Centemarian.
Last week We mentioned . family
reunion and celebration upon the occs-
sion ofthe one-hundredth anniversary
Of the birthday Of John Forsythe, Of
Clay township, and promised more
extended mention this week. From
the Pelia Blade we copy the follow
ing; ~
On Saturday last, March 27th, .
grand reunion OF the relatives and
friends Of John Fonythe, was held at
the residence ofhis grandson, w. X.
ROuSe, OF Clay township, with whom
he hiss been making his homo Of late
years, for the purpose Of celebrating
his one hundreth. birthday. There
were present several Of the family, 1t
being impossible for oil 70 attend, ow-
ing to the great ,distsnce between
them and their aged relative. Mr..
Forsythe was able TO preside at the
table and walk about the house and
yard with the assistance of his cane.
After dinner an address was delivered
on the history Of the family, reading
of the 108d Psalm and prayer by A. r.
Forsythe, the oldest son, of Green's
burg, Indiana. followed by remarks
and covenants by other members of
the family. Singing being callen for,
the younger members responded In an
appropriate piece, after which the ben
ediction was pronounced by Rev.
Mann. Father Forsyth 10 hale and
hearty considering his great age, aud
talked freely with his family by
whom he was surrounded on this
pleasant and remarkable obcasiou,
appearing ~ cheerful and full of life
as many do at sixty. He has six chill
dren living, three sons and three
daughters. Thomas III. Forsythe,
Esq, q well known citizen Of this
county, is his youngest son. The
others reside In the State of Indiana.
Father Forsythe was born March
q, 1776, In Mercer county, New Jer-
sey, and was married to Elixebeth
Antrim, Of the same county, In the
year 1907, He emigrated to Decatur
Co. Ind, In 1928, where he improved
a good farm /; planting q good orchard
Of fine fruits, and continued to reside
with his family until his children be-
cams settled In life. In 1858 his COM
paniOn having died, he removed to
this county, where he has since resi-
ded and where he will In all probable
ity end his days. Mr., Forsythe has .
distinct recollection bf seeing the sol
oilers Of the Revolutionary War drill
during the closing years of that MEM
osable contest. He. hsk voted at every
presidential election from Jefferson
down, always being an earnest advo-
cate Of the principles Of the old Whig
party up to the time of its dissolution,
after which time; ha. identified him.
self with the Republican party, vot-
Ing for Lincoln and Grant.
We cannot close this brief sketch
without referring 70 the great changes
that have occurred during the lifetime
Of Father Forsythe.s II Is sucn rare
thing to zee an individual who has
lived TO note the changes of q century
and especially one who, retaines their
% Father Forsythe. Born before the
AbCRuU5tC OAAbtSus 0OO A00 uV0u W zoo
10 grow from q feeble colony, to the
most powerful and progressive nation
on the face Of the globe. He grew to
manhood long before steam boat, the
locomotive, magnetic telegraph, or
any OF the great improvements Of the
age were thought Of. The whple
western continent was wilderness
except . strip Of country along the
Atlantic coast con tanning only about
Z, 00O, 900 people, who were then strng-
Cling with the mother country for
their Independence. He has lived to
zee the invention OF the steam engine
and It's application TO every conceive
BILE use TO which the inventive genius
Of man could apply It. Long years
after he had grown TO mans estate,
the magnetic telegraph was invented
which now sncircles the globe. He
frequently speaks Of the wonderful
progress made in the growth, devel-
opnent and power Of America during
his day. He says that In all the In
venti0ns of machinery for the use Of
mankind there are none greater than
the improvements in farm machinery.
Any one familiar with the history
Of the rise and progress Of the Amer
can Republic ~ nation, can readily
imagine the marvellous changes Faith
or Forsyth has witnessed In bis time.
We can scarcely realize the fact that
nsillions Of people have been born.
lived 70 3 ripe old ago, and passed
awsy, and that he 10 yet living, per-
haps to zee many more go before him.
We would be glad 70. snumerate and
EARTHQUAKES many more OF tho great
changes that have occurred, the mar
velous progress that has been made,
and speak of incidents in the life Of
the subject Of this sketch. but time
and space forbid. II is but seldom
that newspaper sorIbler has The OPP
portunity 10 chronicle the celebration
Of the one hundredth anniversary Of
tho birth of m. individual. This 10
the first time In our experiences, and
We can scarcely hope for, or expect
another.
-e~
A NEW WONDnR. The large
amount of glassware and groceries
daily sold At Kruek h Ely's grocery
and qussnsware, store; south side Of
Public Square. ~.