The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 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 los
winters. He was, therefore, born in the
spring. John Henry lives in little, old
house in the hollow, beside 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 for 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
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
stealthily. John keeps the doors and win
| dows securely fastened, and at night he
never uses light unless he is looking fol
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-f five years, and recollects Troy
as 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 mar
is alone. He has lived alone for twenty
five years. ever since his daughter died
who was sixty-tive years old He has nj
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 mysteriou:
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; ant
not only the study, but the practice. He
imagines that he can cure any disease
and will always solicit 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 ha'
followed.
Blackwell seems as vigorous as mar
of fifty. In fact he is the type of Il very
lively old man. He can walk a mil,
without a cane as fast as almost anyon,
seventy-tive years younger. He neve
rides. He is thorough pedestrian. H,
was never on street-car and only once OF
a railroad. Then he went to Albany OF
the cars, got lost there, and walked back
He thinks jackasses superior to horses 70
general use, and often expresses surpris
that they are not in use The old MAJ
may not be aware of it, but the jackasse
are just as numerous as ever they hav,
two legs, though, instead of four, and ar,
balky. Blackwell will not ride behind
horse, 1t is against his principles. HI
believes in ancient instead of moderl
civilization. The good old Oriental time
are the times for him. He believes in al
eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. III,
is opposed to lawyers and puts no faith il
newspapers. Religiously speaking, join
Henry Blackwell is Protestant. H,
scarcely ever goes to church, however, bu
he evidently reads the Bible, as he is con
versant with its passages. He has no feal
of death, and acts as though he expects tt
live forever-Troy IN. ~ Press.